11 best athlete Halloween costumes of 2026

Halloween gives athletes another great excuse to show off their fun side. Stepping away from games and practices, stars swapped out their jerseys for outfits inspired by their favorite movies, TV shows, music and pop culture trends. Some went all out with heavy makeup and costumes, while others went for quick, funny looks that got a good laugh.

Team parties brought some of the best moments. The Detroit Lions showed up dressed as classic movie characters and musicians, while the San Francisco 49ers got creative at a bye-week get-together hosted by Brock Purdy and his wife, Jenna. Even retired stars got in on the action, including a well-known couple who dressed up as another famous pair.

A great costume doesn't always need to be super fancy. Some hit the mark because the details were just right, while others were simply fun to see because of who was wearing them. Knowing how well these players are doing in their actual seasons made the looks even better.

Here are 11 of the best athlete Halloween costumes from 2026.

11. Brayden Willis & Tatyanah Bass as Mermaid Man & Barnacle Boy

San Francisco 49ers tight end Brayden Willis and his girlfriend, Tatyanah Bass, picked two familiar characters from "SpongeBob SquarePants." They dressed as Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy, the older superhero duo from the popular animated series.

Their costumes were part of the 49ers' Halloween party hosted by the Purdys. Bass shared videos from the gathering on her TikTok account, which has more than one million followers. Her posts gave fans a look at the players enjoying their time away from football.

The timing worked well for San Francisco. The 49ers were on their bye week after suffering their first loss of the season in Week 7. The gathering gave the team an opportunity to relax and spend time together before returning to the field.

Former tennis star Genie Bouchard went with a famous pop-culture look for Halloween 2026. She re-created Britney Spears' outfit from her memorable 2001 MTV Video Music Awards performance.

Bouchard completed the look with a fake python wrapped around her shoulders. The snake was an important part of Spears' original performance, making it a clear reference for fans who remember the iconic moment.

Although Bouchard has stepped away from professional tennis, she remains active on social media. Her costume brought back memories of one of the most recognizable performances in MTV awards history. The nostalgic tribute also showed her interest in pop culture beyond the tennis court.

9. Brock & Jenna Purdy as Sulley & Mike Wazowski

The San Francisco 49ers quarterback and his wife hosted the team's Halloween party in 2026. The couple dressed as Sulley and Mike Wazowski from Pixar's "Monsters, Inc."

Purdy took on the role of Sulley, the large blue monster, while Jenna dressed as the small green Mike Wazowski. Their costumes brought two of the film's most recognizable characters to the gathering.

The party took place during San Francisco's bye week. Purdy used the time to host a relaxed gathering and bring teammates together away from football.

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nate Hobbs delivered one of the most unusual costumes of the season. He dressed as Daejon Love, the man accused of impersonating a professional football player online. Hobbs wore a Love jersey at the team's Halloween party.

TSN Sports shared the clip on X. Bass documented the party on her popular TikTok account, which has around 1 million followers.

Love's story gave the costume its unusual context. He was arrested before the season began and is accused of defrauding dozens of women of $1.3 million. He allegedly used a false professional football identity to gain their trust. Netflix is also planning a documentary titled "Wide Deceiver" about the case.

7. Caroline Wozniacki & David Lee as Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce

Retired tennis star Caroline Wozniacki and her husband, former NBA player David Lee, chose a celebrity-inspired couples costume. They dressed as singer Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

Wozniacki wore a blonde wig, a short dress, boots and a microphone accessory. Lee completed the look in a Chiefs uniform associated with Kelce. Their outfits offered a clear nod to one of the most talked-about celebrity couples in sports and entertainment.

Wozniacki shared photos on social media and tagged Swift. She also asked followers what they thought of the costumes.

The pair got an early start on Halloween and picked a costume that many fans could recognize immediately. Their outfits also connected two worlds that Wozniacki and Lee know well, professional sports and celebrity culture.

6. Amon-Ra St. Brown as old-school rapper

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown went with a simple throwback look. He dressed like a 1990s rapper, wearing a red bandana, fitted cap and dark sunglasses.

The outfit relied on familiar hip-hop fashion rather than a detailed character transformation. Its simplicity made it a good fit for a team Halloween party.

St. Brown entered the season as one of Detroit's leading offensive players. The four-time Pro Bowler was listed with a rest designation on the Lions' Week 8 injury report. That allowed him to manage physical wear while remaining an important part of the team's plans.

St. Brown's costume was among the more relaxed looks from a Lions group that included several players in the celebrations.

Niners wide receiver Ricky Pearsall chose the International Man of Mystery for his Halloween costume. He dressed as Austin Powers, the fictional spy made famous by Mike Myers.

Pearsall's outfit re-created the character's recognizable style. The choice brought some comedy to the 49ers' internal Halloween gathering, where several players and their partners showed off their costumes.

Sports media praised Pearsall's look as one of the better outfits at the event. However, his season has been disrupted by an injury.

His costume offered a lighter moment during a difficult campaign. It also showed that players can make an impression at team events even when they are not available on the field.

4. Nick Bosa & Ella Ailiff as The Crimson Chin & Cleft the Boy Chin Wonder

San Francisco defensive end Nick Bosa and his girlfriend, Ella Ailiff, went with a cartoon-inspired costume. Their look was based on The Crimson Chin and Cleft the Boy Chin Wonder, superheroes associated with Timmy Turner in "The Fairly OddParents."

The costume featured the character's superhero mask and cape. Ailiff revealed the outfits in a TikTok video, showing the couple embracing the animated theme instead of choosing a traditional horror look.

3. Jared Goff & Christen Goff as Bobby Boucher & Vicki Vallencourt

Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff and his wife, Christen, re-created a couple from the 1998 sports comedy "The Waterboy." Goff dressed as Bobby Boucher, the fictional football player portrayed by Adam Sandler. Christen took on the role of Vicki Vallencourt.

Goff wore the orange and blue SCLSU Mud Dogs football uniform. Christen completed her outfit with a red crop top and cap, matching the character's familiar style from the film.

The choice was a natural fit for an NFL quarterback. "The Waterboy" remains a recognizable sports comedy, and its main character gives the costume a clear football connection.

Detroit running back Jahmyr Gibbs paid tribute to Michael Jackson at the Lions' Halloween party. He wore a sparkling blue jacket, dark sunglasses and a curly wig inspired by the pop star's 1980s appearance.

The outfit was easy to identify and brought a music legend into the team's celebrations. His costume paired a recognizable pop-culture tribute with strong recent numbers on the field.

1. Karl-Anthony Towns & Jordyn Woods as Night King & White Walker

Karl-Anthony Towns and his wife, Jordyn Woods, delivered one of the most detailed athlete Halloween looks of 2026. The New York Knicks center transformed into the Night King from "Game of Thrones" , while Woods dressed as a White Walker.

The couple debuted their outfits at a restaurant on Prince Street in SoHo, N.Y. Towns used heavy prosthetics to recreate the Night King's icy appearance. Woods matched him with a similarly chilling look. Costume designer Sabrina Spanta and special-effects makeup artist Roger Baena worked on the transformation, which included frostbite-inspired makeup and piercing blue eyes.

The outfits drew attention from HBO's official social media accounts, which called them the coldest couple in New York. Towns is also a known "Game of Thrones" fan. In April 2026, he joked to actor Kit Harington that he would bend the knee if his own knee did not hurt.