Fan Fest Nights returns for a second time at Universal Studios Hollywood. This year features new experiences, shows, food, and more! The new additions include Scooby Doo Meets the Universal Monsters, Forbidden Forest at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, ONE PIECE: Grand Pirate stunt show, and the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon short film from Japan. Dungeons and Dragons makes a return as the fan favorite.
This event immerses guests in the world of fantasy, anime, gaming, and sci-fi with specially crafted experiences. Headed to Fan Fest Nights this year? Here are some of the experiences you don’t want to miss.
1. ONE PIECE: Grand Pirate Show
The ONE PIECE characters came to life at last year’s Fan Fest Nights as a meet-and-greet experience. This was so popular with fans that the line queue seemed to go on forever. This year, the Straw Hat Crew returns in a new explosive, high-energy stunt show – The ONE PIECE: Grand Pirate Show, which takes place at the Waterworld venue.
Out of all the experiences from this year’s Fan Fest Nights, The Grand Pirate show is the most fun and entertaining. The story sees the Straw Hat Crew as they sail upon Midori Island while searching for Pop Greens; however, they’re not the only ones. The Marines, as well as other adversaries, are also on the hunt.
Chaos and fighting ensue, and it is perfectly choreographed and executed. The show utilizes lighting, projections, pyro, and sound design to bring iconic anime fight scenes to life. The crowd cheered loudly throughout the action-packed show. Unlike Waterworld, there is no splash zone, so fans can feel comfortable sitting towards the front without fearing getting soaked – but there will probably be a bit of mist as the performers do get very close to the audience.
Our favorite moment was during the fight with Buggy the Clown. Given his Chop-Chop fruit power, we didn’t know how the show would showcase it. Without spoilers, the way Universal’s team crafted Buggy’s fight scene with the Straw Hats and Marines is extremely creative. We were blown away by how good it looked and by how they incorporated it throughout the entire venue at the same time. It was very impressive.
This is a show you must see in person, and whether you’re a fan of the anime or not, The Grand Pirate Show should be one of your priorities.
There are only three showtimes for the Grand Pirate Show: 8:30 PM, 10:00 PM, and 12:00 AM, so plan your night accordingly.
2. Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot
Jinkies! There’s a phantom director on the loose at Universal Studios, and they are releasing the Universal Monsters to take over the backlot. It is up to the guests, with the help of the Scooby-Doo gang, to catch them.
One of the best parts about this immersive experience is getting to walk around in Little Europe and the Court of Miracles – the actual filming location for classic Universal Monster films. It’s not every day that one can walk around and explore Little Europe, so definitely take the opportunity during Fan Fest Nights and make your way down for this experience.
Each guest receives a pamphlet containing clues and a list of suspects to help narrow down the identity of the Phantom Director. Not only will you get to explore every part of Little Europe to find clues, but you can also interact with Shaggy, Daphne, Fred, and Velma for additional hints. It truly feels like you’re dropped into an episode of Scooby-Doo.
Don’t forget about the Universal Monsters! Wolfman, Dracula, The Bride, and Frankenstein’s Monster are loose on the backlot, and you might just come face-to-face with them as you search for clues.
There is no time limit or duration for this experience – you can choose to stay as long as you’d like while solving clues or keep it short and head to “The Big Reveal” once you’ve had your fill of exploring. The Big Reveal is in a separate area where all the Scooby-Doo gang are on stage for the unmasking of the Phantom Director.
Overall, this is a very immersive experience. You’ll get to explore Little Europe, have close interaction with the characters, and the Big Reveal wraps everything up in a nice bow.
3. Sailor Moon Meet-and-Greet
Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon makes her debut at Universal Studios Hollywood. During Fan Fest Nights, guests can check out the Japanese anime short film “Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon the Miracle: Moon Palace Chapter Deluxe” at the DreamWorks Theater. Separate from the anime short film is the meet-and-greet with Sailor Moon herself.
The meet-and-greet is a separate line; you do not need to watch the show inside DreamWorks Theater to meet her. The Sailor Moon line queue will be located outside next to the Theater. For fans who want a chance to meet Usagi, definitely make this the priority. Due to her popularity, the line fills up quickly and will be closed to ensure she can greet each guest in line.
Since every guest will be interacting with Sailor Moon, the line will move slowly. Be patient, and try to make your way to the meet-and-greet if this is something you want to do.
The interaction we had with her was extremely sweet – she taught us her classic pose, and we chatted about the Sailor Moon Bento Box that was created for the event. As someone who grew up watching Sailor Moon, the nostalgia hit hard, and the emotions hit even harder afterward.
There is so much to do at Fan Fest Nights, including the return of Dungeons & Dragons: Secrets of Waterdeep and the new walkthrough experience Forbidden Forest: Search for the Hippogriff in the Wizard World of Harry Potter. Don’t forget to meet the colorful Yoshis in SUPER NINTENDO WORLD.
Fan Fest Nights runs on selective nights: April 23-25; May 1-3, 7-9, 14-16, 2026. This is a separately ticketed event. For event and ticketing details, check out Universal Studios Hollywood’s official site: Universal Fan Fest Nights
