The dust from New York Comic Con has settled, and hopefully we've all recovered from our Con Crud (I'll admit, I still have a cough).
We've all freaked out about the stellar announcements, cried over the nostalgia, and binge-watched all of the releases that premiered in our favorite panels. And for us cosplayers, we've just now started getting feeling back into our feet again.
And yes, we've reviewed the photographs and compiled all of our favorite looks! Here are the best horror cosplays of New York Comic Con 2026.
Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th
A very timely cosplay, considering the franchise's prequel series, Crystal Lake, just came out! The detail is incredible, especially his sunken, cloudy eye.
Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street
This throwback is one of my favorites from the con. It was made all the better by the cosplayer's dedication to the character, muttering menacingly as I snapped the photo.
Dani Ardor from Midsommar
This is such an impressive cosplay, I get excited every time I see it at a con. This nod to the pivotal choice Dani makes in Midsommar takes a lot of commitment—both in creation and lugging it around all day!
The Minotaur Oni from Dead by Daylight
Dead by Daylight is one of the most popular horror video games out there right now—and for good reason. This talented cosplayer paid homage to the game by showing off his look as the ultra rare Minotaur skin for the Oni.
Art the Clown from Terrifier
I guess Art got a little tired from all the murder and had to sit down to catch his breath for a minute. He's an icon either way.
Casey Becker from Scream
A perfect cosplay to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Scream! And this Casey Becker comes complete with an adorable Ghostface labubu.
Pinhead from Hellraiser
Okay, this isn't a cosplay, per se. But who doesn't love a puppet?
Especially a sadistic puppet like Pinhead.
Grace Le Domas from Ready or Not
This is one you don't see often, but is always a delight to find! Considering she's not doused in blood yet, it seems this version of Grace has no idea what kind of night she's in for.
Golden Freddy from Five Nights at Freddy's
If there's not at least a dozen cosplays from Five Nights at Freddy's at NYCC, then the world is probably ending. But it's popular for a reason.
And this cosplayer really put in the work!
Custom Ghostbuster from Ghostbusters
I always love to see people put a custom spin on the Ghostbuster uniforms. You can't beat a classic!
Elizabeth Lavenza from Frankenstein
Now this one made me jump up and down.
The intricate peacock blue organza dress from Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein was a delight to see in the wild. A true love letter to romantic horror!
The Batman Who Laughs from DC's Dark Multiverse
Okay, maybe we don't typically think of Batman and horror together, but DC's Dark Multiverse really delivers on the darkness and uneasiness we look for in the genre. And what's scarier than Batman becoming infected with a toxin that turns him into a supervillain that mirrors his ultimate nemesis?
Plus this cosplay really freaked me out to look at…
Buffy the Vampire Slayer x Pop Music Crossover
And then, of course, there's the annual group cosplay my friends and I roll up with. Inspired by the amazing trend of nerdifying Sabrina Carpenter's iconic Short N' Sweet tour looks, we combined our love of pop music with our love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Meet Slaybrina Carpenter, Faithlivia Rodrigo, and Harry Gyles!
