The #1 trending Halloween costume of 2026
Buddy the Unicorn costume: how to make it and why it’s #1
The Buddy the Unicorn costume is #1 on Google’s list of trending Halloween costumes for 2026. Buddy is the bright orange unicorn who hosts a creepy children’s TV show in the horror comedy Buddy. Here is what to know about the film, how to make the costume at home, and how to turn your costume photo or fan art into a drawing video.
Make a Buddy the Unicorn drawing video
TV Host UnicornBuddy the Unicorn: quick facts
- Character
- Buddy, a bright orange unicorn who hosts the fictional kids’ show “It’s Buddy!”
- Film
- Buddy (2026), horror comedy directed by Casper Kelly
- In theaters
- August 28, 2026 (US), after a Sundance premiere in January 2026
- At home
- Digital from October 13, 2026; Blu-ray and DVD from December 8, 2026
- Google 2026 rank
- #1 trending Halloween costume
- US costume searches, Sep 2026
- About 22,200, up from zero in July
What is Buddy the Unicorn?
Buddy is the title character of Buddy, a 2026 horror comedy from Casper Kelly, the creator of “Too Many Cooks.” The film takes place in 1999 inside the world of a children’s TV show, “It’s Buddy!”, hosted by a cheerful, tyrannical orange unicorn.
The look is the joke: a soft, smiling kids’ mascot in a story that is anything but soft. That contrast is exactly why it works as a Halloween costume.
Why the Buddy the Unicorn costume is trending
Google’s 2026 Halloween trends put Buddy the Unicorn at #1 on the costume list, ahead of NeeDoh and Nikki. In our Keyword Planner pull, US searches for “buddy the unicorn costume” went from zero in July to about 1,900 in August and 22,200 in September 2026, while searches for “buddy movie” passed 2.7 million in September.
Buddy costume ideas for every budget
Four ways people are doing the look this year.
Onesie upgrade
An orange fleece onesie with a felt horn, felt ears and a yarn mane sewn to the hood. The quickest homemade version.
Full mascot head
A foam or papier-mâché head with oversized eyes and a wide painted smile, worn with an orange sweatsuit. The creepiest version.
Kids’ version
Orange hoodie, headband horn and a rainbow tutu or tail. Soft and safe for trick-or-treating.
Group costume
One Buddy plus friends dressed as a 1999 TV studio crew or kids in matching show T-shirts.
Makeup and details that sell the Buddy look
The costume reads as Buddy because of a few details, not because of an exact replica. Get these right and people will recognize it from across the room.
Eyes
Big, round, unblinking. Glue two white felt circles with black pupils onto the hood, or use white eyeliner to make your own eyes look wider.
Smile
A wide, fixed grin. On a mask, paint it a little too far toward the cheeks; with face paint, keep it soft and friendly.
Color
One bright, flat orange from head to toe. Mixed shades look like a fox or a tiger instead of a unicorn host.
Host props
A bow tie, a toy microphone or a cardboard TV frame around your face points straight at the kids’ show.
Where to watch Buddy
Buddy opened in US theaters on August 28, 2026. It has been available to buy or rent digitally since October 13, 2026, and the Blu-ray and DVD follow on December 8, 2026. Check your usual digital store for availability in your country.
How to make a DIY Buddy costume
About two hours, with a glue gun and basic craft supplies.
- 01
Start with an orange base
An orange onesie, hoodie or sweatsuit. Fleece holds glue and stitches well.
- 02
Make the horn
Roll yellow felt or craft foam into a cone, stuff it with fiberfill and glue it to the top of the hood.
- 03
Add ears
Cut two pointed ears from orange felt with a lighter inner piece and glue them on either side of the horn.
- 04
Attach the mane and tail
Tie pastel yarn into loops and glue them down the back of the hood; use the same yarn for a tail.
- 05
Finish the face
For the mascot look, wear a big friendly smile and wide eyes, or use face paint for rosy orange cheeks.
Turn your Buddy costume into a drawing video
Draw your costume or upload fan art, and SpeedPainter turns it into a video of the picture being sketched and colored by hand, ready for Reels or TikTok.
Make a Buddy the Unicorn drawing videoBuddy the Unicorn costume: common questions
What is Buddy the Unicorn from?
From Buddy, a 2026 horror comedy directed by Casper Kelly. Buddy is the orange unicorn host of a fictional children’s TV show.
When did Buddy come out?
It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2026 and opened in US theaters on August 28, 2026.
Where can I watch Buddy?
It has been available digitally since October 13, 2026, with Blu-ray and DVD from December 8, 2026.
Is a Buddy costume too scary for kids?
The film is a horror comedy, but the costume itself is just an orange unicorn. A smiling onesie version works fine for trick-or-treating.
Can I make a video of my costume drawing?
Yes. Upload a drawing or fan art to SpeedPainter and it becomes a hand-drawn video. It animates your picture; it does not generate one.
Sources: Google Frightgeist 2026 costume list; Google Keyword Planner (US, pulled October 20, 2026); film release dates as reported by the distributors.