Nighttime Shows on Hogwarts Castle at Universal Orlando

Nighttime Shows on Hogwarts Castle at Universal Orlando

Nighttime Shows on Hogwarts Castle at Universal Orlando

This article is your complete guide to Hogwarts Always, the nighttime show at Universal Orlando! On Hogwarts Castle, guests can see a nighttime show that has four different endings for each of the Hogwarts houses! On top of this, Universal has also brought back the Hogwarts Dark Arts nighttime show and the Hogwarts Christmas nighttime show for Halloween and Christmas.

We hope you find this post helpful! Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to help you save time and money on your next Universal Orlando vacation!  If you are planning a trip to Universal Orlando be sure to check out the latest deals on Universal Orlando vacation packages and our discounted Universal Orlando tickets which include EARLY PARK ADMISSION to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you need help picking the best time to visit Universal Orlando for your next vacation be sure to check out our Universal Crowd calendar!

 Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar

What are the Nighttime Shows on Hogwarts Castle?

Universal Orlando recently released a brand new Wizarding World show called Hogwarts Always, a seven-and-a-half-minute show with projections of some of our favorite Harry Potter scenes. This brand-new show also gives guests the opportunity to see four different endings for each of the Hogwarts houses! In addition, Universal has also brought back the Hogwarts Dark Arts nighttime show and the Hogwarts Christmas nighttime show in years past.

What are the Nighttime shows on Hogwarts Castle in Islands of Adventure?

• Hogwarts Always – Select nights throughout the year
• Dark Arts at Hogwarts Castle – On select nights during the spooky season (October)
• The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle – Select nights from mid-November to January

Make sure to head to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter when the sun starts to go down to catch Hogwarts at Night. Personally, I think the Christmas Harry Potter Nighttime Lights are our favorite as the Wizarding World truly lights up with holiday cheer.

Related post: Complete Guide to Planning a Trip to Harry Potter Universal Orlando

What Time Does Hogwarts Always Start?

Hogwarts Always Show times vary depending on the day you visit. Hogwarts Always runs from dusk to park close, every 20 minutes. Typically, nighttime shows begin around 7:15 PM, or 8:15 PM depending on daylight savings time.  One of the only things we don’t enjoy about this show is that showtimes are not posted in the Universal Orlando app.

We always recommend asking a team member to confirm the show’s start time if you are unsure but just know when it gets dark, head to the castle!

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Hogwarts Always at Universal’s Islands of Adventure Park ⚡️ #Universalorlando #universalparksandresorts

♬ Harry Potter (El mundo mágico de Harry) – Film Symphony Orchestra

How often is the Hogwarts always Show?

The current Hogwarts always schedule is every twenty minutes from when it begins at dusk. One of our favorite ways to end the night is to grab an ice cream in Hogsmeade from Honeydukes and to watch the Nighttime Lights show on Hogwarts Castle a few times! Your little wizards will not want to miss this spectacular show at Hogwarts Castle. 

Hogwarts Always Show Dates

You can expect Hogwarts Always to run throughout the year EXCEPT for Halloween season (September – October) when it will transform into Hogwarts Dark Arts nighttime show and Christmas (November – December) for The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle.

Related Page: Harry Potter Early Park Admission Tickets 

Hogwarts Always Tips and Tricks

• The later showtimes are the best to view the nighttime spectacular! Make sure to try to catch shows later in the night when it is darker. It should be less crowded and have the best viewing.
• Flight of the Hippogriff is open during the nighttime light showings. The wait time is less since most guests are enjoying the lights. This is a great time to ride it especially because you can see the castle on the ride!
• The best viewing spot for the Hogwarts Castle Light Show is by the Frog Choir stage. This area does get very busy since it does have the best view of the castle.
• For the Dark Arts show, be sure you can see the left side of the castle for a special magic surprise!
• The Nighttime Lights show does not have a set schedule every week.
• Guests will have to check the Universal Orlando App for nightly showings.
• Be sure to visit all Harry Potter rides during early park admission to leave more time at night.
• Nighttime Lights show times will run every 15-20 minutes on nights the show does operate.

Related post: How Much Should I Budget for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter?

Harry Potter Nighttime Show FAQ

How long is Hogwarts Always Show?

The current Nighttime Lights show at Universal is right above 7 minutes! We suggest showing up about 15 minutes early to get a good spot.

What is the Hogwarts Dark Arts Light Show?

The Hogwarts Dark Arts Light Show at Universal Orlando appears during the Halloween season, giving Hogsmeade a spooky transformation. The Universal Studios castle is taken over by Lord Voldemort’s “cruel legions,” like Death Eaters, Dementors, mountain trolls, Inferi, and Aragog the Acromantula. Outside of Halloween Horror Nights, this is one of our favorite things to experience when visiting Universal Orlando during the Halloween season!

What is the Hogwarts Christmas Light Show?

Another Harry Potter show at Universal Orlando is The Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle. The nighttime lights at Hogwarts Castle are scheduled to show exclusively at Universal Orlando during Christmas which is from mid-November through early January.

Is the Magic of Christmas at Hogwarts Castle the same show?

The Hogwarts Christmas Light Show is a different show than the regular castle show. Guests can still enjoy projections of their favorite Harry Potter moments but with a holiday twist! This universal castle show during Christmas features the sights and sounds of the holiday season, including a majestically large Christmas tree, the Hogwarts ghosts singing carols, a recreation of the Yule Ball, and students riding broomsticks and creating snowmen.

Are There Fireworks at the Hogwarts at Night?

Yes, there is a brief Harry Potter fireworks display at the finale of the Harry Potter light show at Universal Studios. These are the only fireworks displays at Islands of Adventure.

Is the Hogwarts light show every night?

The Hogwarts Light shows happen to be periodically, and Universal will typically update their mobile app if there is going to be a show that night. The Hogwarts Light Show schedule isn’t set but can be seen most nights in Islands of Adventure.

When Is The Best Time To Visit Universal Orlando?

Our Universal Orlando Crowd Calendar is the best tool to help you get the most out of your time in the parks. We break down the park crowds, park hours of operation, ticket prices by day, and average temperature.

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Universal Orlando Trip?

If you’re ready to plan your trip to Universal Studios, be sure to check out Universal Orlando Tickets! Not only will you save money vs buying direct, but all of our Universal Orlando tickets come with some amazing benefits that can help save you up to three hours in the parks!

And to stay up to date on everything inside the theme parks be sure to check out our partners at Themeparktoday.com!