Universal Studios Hollywood has revealed a fresh wave of food and drink offerings for the return of Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026, expanding on last year’s highly themed menu with even more franchise-inspired creations and returning fan favourites.

Taking place on select nights from 23rd April to 16th May 2026, Fan Fest Nights is a separately ticketed after-hours event that blends immersive attractions, live entertainment, and curated dining inspired by major fandoms such as One Piece, Scooby-Doo, Dungeons & Dragons, Super Nintendo World, Harry Potter, and more.

A bigger focus on themed dining

Food has become one of the event’s standout features, and this year’s preview highlights how Universal is leaning further into storytelling through cuisine. Each menu item is designed to tie directly into specific franchises and in-world locations across the park, turning snacks and meals into part of the experience rather than just refreshments.

One of the most anticipated returning locations is Sanji’s Galley at Hollywood & Dine, themed to One Piece. The menu continues to build on its anime-inspired concept with dishes such as Luffy’s Meat on the Bone and Sanji’s Seafood Fried Rice, alongside playful desserts like Luffy’s Straw Hat and other character-inspired sweets and drinks.

Elsewhere in the park, Scooby-Doo Meets the Universal Monsters will also feature themed food items served from backlot locations, tying into the mystery-based walkthrough experience set among classic Universal film sets.

Drinks and desserts designed for fans

Alongside the savoury offerings, this year’s selection places noticeable emphasis on desserts and speciality drinks that mirror the tone of each fandom. From colourful, character-driven beverages to oversized themed sweets, the focus is clearly on visual presentation as much as flavour.

Returning favourites from previous previews also suggest continued experimentation with textures and presentation styles, including layered desserts and novelty drinks designed for photo moments during the event.

Dining as part of the experience

Fan Fest Nights continues to treat food as an extension of the attractions themselves. Much like Halloween Horror Nights, menus are closely tied to each themed area, encouraging guests to “taste” their way through different worlds in between shows and rides.

A Dining Pass option is also expected to return, allowing guests to sample multiple items across the event for a fixed price, reinforcing the festival-style approach to eating throughout the night.

Final thoughts

The 2026 update makes it clear that Universal is treating Fan Fest Nights less like a traditional food festival and more like a fully immersive culinary extension of its themed worlds. With anime-inspired dishes, classic monster nods, and Nintendo and wizarding world influences all appearing across the menu, the event continues to blur the line between theme park dining and storytelling.

If the preview is anything to go by, food will once again be one of the strongest parts of the Fan Fest experience this year, not just something you stop for, but something you actively explore.