Key Takeaways:
- Petco’s 2026 Halloween collection includes more than 300 products spanning costumes, toys, decor and calming essentials.
- The drop comes as Petco works to build on first quarter momentum under its Reach for the Sky growth strategy.
- Petco is running a series of in-store events and deals through late August, including free treats, tastings and a dog training discount.
A Halloween Lineup Built Around Costumes, Value and Safety
Petco is rolling out a 2026 Halloween collection topping 300 products, with costumes leading the assortment. The lineup ranges from a taco and a shark to a cat bat, a bearded dragon devil and a guinea pig ghost, plus a new grandma costume. Headpieces include the kissing booth style and a braided wig, and the retailer is offering matching human and pet apparel, including a skeleton hoodie. Most items are priced under $20, with pieces starting at $3. Products are rolling out on petco.com, on the Petco app and in stores nationwide.
“Halloween has evolved from a fun seasonal moment into one of the biggest celebrations for pet parents,” said Jenny Wolski, SVP, General Manager of Merchandising at Petco, in a statement. She said the retailer is focused on products that reflect pets’ personalities while prioritizing calm and safety.
Petco’s glow-in-the dark safety gear. Photo courtesy of Petco.
A Seasonal Push Backed by Returning Growth
The Halloween launch lands as Petco works to build on a first quarter that returned the retailer to positive comparable sales growth. Net sales reached $1.5 billion for the quarter ended May 2, up slightly year over year, while comparable sales rose 0.7% and operating income climbed 50.5% to $24.6 million. Petco ended the quarter with 1,378 stores after closing four net locations. CEO Joel Anderson said the results validated phase three of the company’s Reach for the Sky strategy, pointing to improvement in the consumables business and continued outperformance in services.
Petco’s Reach for the Sky strategy for 2026 centers on three pillars:
- Product newness and differentiation: Innovating across categories, expanding fresh food, launching new national brands and building out owned brands in food and supplies, with an emphasis on increasing product frequency.
- Growing the wholly owned services business: Optimizing vet hospital productivity and capitalizing on cross-selling opportunities between grooming, training, vet care and merchandise.
- Strengthening community through in-store and omnichannel experiences: A planned loyalty program relaunch, along with expanded buy online, pick up in store and repeat delivery options.
Petco has not specifically tied the Halloween collection to Reach for the Sky, but the launch fits the pattern of frequent, on-trend product drops the strategy calls for. Petco reaffirmed its full year 2026 outlook alongside the Q1 report, guiding to net sales flat to up 1.5% and adjusted EBITDA of $415 million to $430 million, with second quarter net sales expected to rise about 0.3% year over year.
Treats and Haunted Home Decor
Petco is also stocking seasonal extras including plush rope voodoo and spider toys for dogs and a bat teaser for cats, plus ghost, skull and pumpkin shaped cookies. Cats can get a scratch post base with a swappable pumpkin topper, while home decor includes a “Caution: Creature Napping” bat pillow, a returning vampire fang bed and an expanded coffin bed. Small pet offerings include a Frankenstein themed bed and haunted decor for fish, birds and reptiles.
A few Petco costumes and toys for Halloween 2026. Photo courtesy of Petco.
Calming and Safety Push
With trick-or-treat traffic in mind, Petco is highlighting calming products including weighted Thundershirts, calming chews and sprays, alongside glow-in-the-dark gear to keep pets visible after dark. The retailer is also promoting its Petco Love Lost database, which uses AI photo matching to help reunite lost pets with their families.
Brand and Product Newness
Beyond the Halloween assortment, Petco is refreshing its Well & Good by Petco grooming line in August and expanding So Phresh litter and cleanup offerings. The retailer is also launching new Hill’s Science Diet fresh dog food rolls online and in stores over the coming months, alongside additional Merrick, Royal Canin and Instinct products.
Petco Promotions and Events Through August
Petco is running several promotions tied to the season, including a free treat event for shelter dogs on Aug. 1, a buy three get one free deal on treats and chews from Aug. 2 to 13, and free pumpkin spice lattes for dogs on Aug. 25. The retailer is also offering $30 off training classes with code SCHOOL and hosting food tasting events throughout August.
