If you’ve been doom-scrolling through FX schedules or refreshing Ryan Murphy’s Instagram like it's your job, I have some news. It’s been a long wait. Honestly, a brutal one. American Horror Story: Delicate wrapped up in early 2024, and since then? Total radio silence. Until now.
We finally have a date. When does the new American Horror Story start? Mark your calendars for October 31, 2026.
Yes, Halloween. It is almost too on the nose, but for a show that built its brand on leather suits and haunted asylums, a Halloween premiere feels like a homecoming. This isn't just another season, though. It’s Season 13. In the horror world, that number is basically a holy relic. Ryan Murphy knows exactly what he’s doing with this timing.
The Massive 2026 Premiere and Why It Took So Long
A three-year gap between seasons is unheard of for this franchise. Usually, we get our yearly dose of trauma like clockwork every fall. So why the delay?
Basically, the industry shifted. Between the Hollywood strikes that pushed everything back and Ryan Murphy’s dizzying slate of other projects—like The Beauty and Monsters—AHS sort of sat on the back burner. But there's a silver lining here. The extra time seems to have been used to wrangle the most "impossible" cast in the history of the show.
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Filming is reportedly set to kick off in February 2026 in New York and New Jersey. If you’re a local, keep your eyes peeled for those "AHS" production signs on street lamps. They’re heading back to the East Coast, which usually means a grittier, more grounded vibe than the California seasons.
When Does the New American Horror Story Start: Breaking Down the "Greatest Hits" Cast
This is the part where everyone loses their minds. The cast list for Season 13 reads like a fever dream from 2013.
- Jessica Lange (The Queen is actually back.)
- Sarah Paulson
- Evan Peters
- Angela Bassett
- Kathy Bates
- Ariana Grande
- Emma Roberts
Let’s talk about Jessica Lange for a second. She has spent the last decade telling every reporter who would listen that she was done with AHS. "Oh Christ, no," she said as recently as early 2025. And yet, here we are. Something changed. Maybe it was the script, or maybe Ryan Murphy just gave her a call she couldn't refuse.
Evan Peters is also returning after taking a much-needed break from the darker roles that he said were "hurting his soul." In recent interviews, he’s sounded genuinely hyped to get the old gang back together. He called it an "alumni" season. That's a very specific word to use.
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The Ariana Grande Factor
You’ve likely seen her as Glinda in Wicked, but don't forget she got her "scream" start in Scream Queens. Her joining the cast adds a level of pop-culture weight that usually signals a "high camp" season. Think Coven meets 1984.
Theories: Is This Coven 3.0?
The internet is currently a mess of theories. Most people are looking at that cast list—Paulson, Bassett, Bates, Roberts, Sidibe—and shouting "WITCHES!" from the rooftops.
The teaser released on Halloween 2025 used the song "I’ll Be Seeing You," and the font was the classic AHS Willow. There’s a heavy rumor that Season 13 might be a direct sequel to Coven and Apocalypse. Some fans are calling it "AHS: Hell," suggesting we might finally see what happened to the characters trapped in their own personal eternities (looking at you, Misty Day and Fiona Goode).
However, there’s a counter-theory. Some think 13 will be the final season. If it is, a "Greatest Hits" vibe makes total sense. We might see a multiverse situation where different characters from different seasons finally cross paths in a way that makes sense of the "all seasons are connected" lore.
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What to Do While You Wait
October 2026 is a long way off. You can't just sit there. Here is how to actually prepare for the return:
- Re-watch Coven and Apocalypse: If the rumors are true and this is a "Witch-heavy" season, you're going to want the lore fresh in your brain. Pay attention to the timeline reset at the end of Apocalypse—it changed everything.
- Watch "The Beauty": This is Ryan Murphy’s other 2026 project starring Evan Peters. It’s sci-fi horror, and it’ll give you a good feel for the tone Murphy is currently into.
- Check the FX/Hulu Hub: AHS usually drops "American Horror Stories" (the bite-sized anthology) during the off-season. Keep an eye out for a summer 2026 drop there, as they often hide clues for the main series in those episodes.
Honestly, the stakes for Season 13 are sky-high. After Delicate received a mixed reaction from the die-hard fans, Murphy is clearly swinging for the fences by bringing back the "Holy Trinity" of Lange, Paulson, and Peters. It’s a calculated move to reclaim the throne of cable horror.
Whether it’s the end of the road or a brand-new beginning, the 2026 premiere is shaping up to be the television event of the year. Get your black hats ready.
Actionable Next Steps: Check your Hulu subscription status around September 2026 to ensure you have access to FX on Hulu for the premiere. If you're looking for filming updates, follow New York City production trackers on social media starting in February 2026 to catch glimpses of the cast on set.