Halloween is (boo)ming in Australia, with more than half of Australian households (58%) now celebrating the spooky season — a huge leap from just 29% of Australian adults who remember celebrating as kids. Another 5% say they plan to join the fun this year, showing the holiday is a firm fixture on the Aussie calendar.
Once reserved for children, Halloween has become a cross-generational celebration. Three-quarters (74%) of parents now take part, but so too do child-free adults, with over half (53%) without children marking the occasion. Younger Aussies are leading the charge, with 75% of Millennials and 71% of Gen Zs embracing the holiday.
Two-thirds (66%) of Australians agree that Halloween has become a bigger cultural moment in recent years, driven by a boom in events, decorations and themed experiences. The most popular traditions include indulging in lollies and chocolate (35%), trick-or-treating (32%), decorating homes (27%) and dressing up in costume (27%). Households say they expect to spend an average of $970 on celebrations this year, and almost one-third (30%) plan to spend more than they ever have before.
The spooky spirit is even making waves at sea. One in three Aussies (33%) agree the idea of a Halloween cruise appeals to them, while 26% say a Halloween-themed holiday would motivate them to travel — proving October is cementing itself as a holiday season in its own right.
For Aussies keen to get involved without hosting at home, Carnival Cruise Line has long embraced Halloween at sea. Throughout October, every Carnival cruise sailing from Sydney and Brisbane will feature frightfully fun Halloween celebrations — transforming the ships with themed décor, parties, activities and entertainment layered onto the usual line-up of fun.
Guests can look forward to costume competitions, Halloween trivia, trick-or-treating, themed parties for all ages, special guest appearances, and plenty of surprises for the whole family. Carnival’s Halloween cruises are part of its broader commitment to seasonal and themed cruise experiences, giving guests more reasons to cruise, more often.
Halloween-themed sailings start from $444*pp, twin share (based on an interior cabin on a 3-day Getaway departing October 2026, *subject to change).
