The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor made a splash Sunday at Midsummer Scream, detailing a packed 2026 Halloween slate featuring an all-new WWII-themed maze, expanded lore, and a shocking twist: One of the event’s 13 icons will be murdered live during this season’s run.
Moderated by actor (and former Thirteenth Floor scare actor) Fiona Rene, the panel featured Thirteenth Floor Entertainment Group CEO Chris Stafford, Director of Halloween Attractions Amy Hollaman, VP of Experiential Operations Brett Bertolino, Production Manager Doug Bailey, and Dark Harbor General Manager Star Romano.
New Maze
The panel’s marquee reveal was Shipwrecked: Brace For Impact, an all-new maze inspired by the ocean liner’s WWII service as a troop transport. The attraction introduces a new icon, The Commander, who strictly enforces orders never to stop the ship. The storyline follows a tragic collision where the vessel slices through an enemy submarine, sending hundreds of sailors to underwater deaths. Now, the vengeful spirits of the drowned crew board the ship to exact revenge on guests.
Returning Mazes and Story Evolutions
Dark Harbor’s returning attractions will feature significant narrative shifts and layout updates across the ship. Fan-favorite maze Lullaby enters its next chapter focusing on iconic ghost child Scary Mary. This year, the teddy bear gifted to Mary in life and drowned with her aboard the ship returns possessed, whispering demonic thoughts into her head while taking guests through an all-new path and finale. Fans looking to dive deeper into the lore can participate in Lady Mabel’s Dark Séance, an interactive experience attempting to contact Mary that leads directly into the Lullaby maze entrance for seamless immersion.
Elsewhere on the grounds, Big Top Terror: Carnival of Chaos expands its traditional circus setting by incorporating a new faction of rebellious, anarchist punk clowns. The accompanying scare zone will also grow to feature neon bumper cars, an “Alien Abduction” attraction, a new speakeasy, and live entertainment. Meanwhile, Voodoo: The Queen’s Curse returns to showcase the Voodoo Priestess’s dark quest to claim the ship using an army of undead sailors.
The event’s interconnected storyline continues to evolve through its remaining attractions. Following the retirement of the Feast maze, its central character, The Chef, lives on, locked inside Cell Block 13 as part of the returning Breakout maze. Additionally, Infirmary: The Siren’s Song expands on the lore of Gale’s Requiem, following iconic spirit Graceful Gale as she breaks free from Dr. Edwin Masters, wielding a weapon from her past in a revamped finale. Guests who missed Gale’s Requiem during the springtime event Dark Masquerade will also have an opportunity to experience an expanded version set deep within the belly of the ship.
A Shocking Murder Mystery
The panel concluded with one of the most shocking announcements of the hour: Dark Harbor will kill off one of its 13 icons in front of live audiences during the 2026 run. The victim’s identity remains secret, requiring fans to attend the event to discover who meets their end.
The Queen Mary’s Dark Harbor runs select nights from Sept. 18 through Nov. 1. Discount pre-sale tickets are available now online.
