Halloween Horror Nights is here for The Weeknd

For those unfamiliar with the multi-grammy award winning singer, producer, and actor, The Weeknd put out an album in 2020 titled After Hours. Along side that, he released a short horror film of the same name that gave a visual to the themes you’ll find throughout the album. Even if you’re completely unfamiliar, I will bet you that you’ve heard the song “Blinding Lights”, which too had a psychologically chilling music video. Naturally he got the horror community buzzing in addition to the music world at large where he led the Super Bowl LV halftime show with performances that revealed more of the world of After Hours for viewers worldwide.

In a move that I still can’t believe with how perfect the pairing could be, The Weeknd is collaborating with Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights for themed haunted houses. Here’s what Universal had to share about the collaboration:

For the first time ever, multi award-winning artist The Weeknd joins forces with Universal Studios’ Halloween Horror Nights to inspire all-new, terrifying haunted houses based on his record-breaking “After Hours” album. Beginning September 2 at Universal Orlando Resort and on September 8 at Universal Studios Hollywood, guests will spiral into the twisted mind of this mysterious artist to experience “The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare.”

Global phenomenon, The Weeknd, is renowned for his groundbreaking music that blends daring, provocative lyrics with innovative sounds and ominous undertones. “After Hours” is The Weeknd’s fourth consecutive number one album and has spawned multiple chart-topping hits, including “Too Late,” “Heartless,” “In Your Eyes” and the wildly popular single “Blinding Lights” – which is ranked as the #1 Greatest Hot 100 Hit of All Time by Billboard. This fall, select tracks from the riveting album are being reimagined as a horror movie soundtrack for the outrageously haunting experience at Halloween Horror Nights.

The dark undercurrent behind The Weeknd’s enigmatic persona will permeate the all-new Halloween Horror Nights haunted houses on both coasts. With the eerie sounds of “After Hours” reverberating throughout the experience, guests will step into a surreal living nightmare filled with grotesque characters and themes inspired by The Weeknd’s music and short films. As they’re stalked by slashers, bandaged maniacs, gruesome toad-like creatures and other unfathomable horrors from the mind of the artist, guests will be challenged to survive the night while trapped within the terrifying, unexpected world of “The Weeknd: After Hours Nightmare” – a place that only exists in The Weeknd’s vivid imagination and from which one may never escape.

Of all the themed mazes and haunts announced to this point, this is the one I’m personally the most excited to check out. For any of you readers who are feeling similarly, I’d encourage revisiting the album and companion music videos as we wait for September to be upon us. Universal also made an announcement video that reinforces that this collaboration is sure to make me scream as I dance to the good music 😛