Halloween music is finding a new generation of listeners in 2026, as TikTok trends and Spotify streaming data reveal a growing mix of viral favorites and enduring seasonal classics. China Anne McClain’s “Calling All the Monsters” is emerging as a Gen Z favorite, while Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and Tame Impala & JENNIE’s “Dracula” are building momentum ahead of October 31.
According to TikTok data, “Calling All the Monsters” has inspired more than 805,000 creations on the platform, reinforcing its status as a recurring Halloween anthem. The song recently earned a Platinum certification in the United States, prompting McClain to thank fans on TikTok. Its popularity has even sparked comparisons with “Thriller,” with listeners debating whether the Disney-era hit could challenge Jackson’s longstanding place at the center of Halloween music culture.
Your daily dose of music news, trends, and fresh drops.
InMusic Newsletter
Meanwhile, “Dracula,” Tame Impala’s collaboration with BLACKPINK’s JENNIE, is enjoying another surge. The song, which currently sits at No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100, has benefited from its existing popularity and its association with spooky-season playlists. Lady Gaga’s “Bloody Mary” is also trending again on TikTok.
Spotify’s charts offer a clearer picture of the annual Halloween effect. On the Global Daily Chart dated October 27, “Thriller” ranked at No. 96 with 1.3 million streams worldwide, while “Zombie” by The Cranberries reached No. 69 with 1.5 million streams.
Jackson’s classic is gaining ground in the United States, too. Billboard reported that “Thriller” accumulated 5.9 million official on-demand U.S. streams during the tracking week ending October 15, 2026, up approximately 44% from 4.1 million during the equivalent week in 2025. On October 24, the song generated nearly 1.7 million U.S. streams in a single day, its highest daily total since November 1, 2025.
Other Halloween staples are experiencing their own seasonal returns. On Spotify’s U.S. chart dated October 27, Tame Impala’s “Loser” climbed eight places to No. 18, while “Thriller” re-entered the top 30 at No. 28 with approximately 487,000 streams. Ray Parker Jr.’s “Ghostbusters” rose 18 positions to No. 64, with “Zombie” at No. 72, “Monster Mash” at No. 74 and “This Is Halloween” at No. 91.
Last year’s Halloween charts showed just how dramatically the holiday can affect streaming. On October 31, 2025, “Monster Mash” climbed to No. 3 on Spotify’s Global Daily Chart with more than 6.3 million streams, while “Ghostbusters” reached No. 4 with 6.1 million and “Thriller” landed at No. 5 with 5.6 million. Those figures set a high bar for this year’s seasonal peaks, although the October 27, 2026, snapshot captures an earlier stage of the buildup.
Leave a Reply