Jinkies! Are you ready for Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot during 2026 Universal Fan Fest Nights? We joined the Mystery, Inc. team to help iconic characters uncover an incredible mystery in an insane immersive walkthrough experience. The fun continued with themed dining and shopping opportunities, too.

With hosted tickets, we were given access to the park to uncover all the fun for ourselves. Here’s a look at everything you need to know about Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot for 2026 Universal Fan Fest Nights at Universal Studios Hollywood.

The Experience

Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot is an unfolding adventure that takes places several times over the course of the evening with recognizable characters appearing all night for special moments recreating iconic character moments from the Scooby-Doo cartoons. Think of this as living through key moments of the classic show and you have a chance to have a direct hand in helping solve the mystery. Come on, gang, it’s far out!

Video

Check out just some of the magic that happens for Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot with our video below.

What to Know

Head to the Studio Tour on the Upper Lot to embark on a tram that begins your adventure.

  • Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot is an at-your-own pace experience that can last as long as you want it to as it runs continuously throughout the evening. The final tram will typically depart at 11:30pm but be sure to check with Team Members at the location for the most current details. Always check the official Universal app during your visit for the latest information.
  • Characters you can interact with throughout the evening include Shaggy, Scooby-Doo, Fred, Daphne, and Velma plus you might come across iconic Universal Monsters including  Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein and Wolf Man.
  • Your story begins on the tram ride to the set of a new monster movie before there’s a slight mishap at the iconic Universal Monsters mural where The Phantom Director makes his first appearance and reveals his evil scheme involving the Universal Monsters.
  • You’ll head to the Little Europe and Court of Miracles backlot (where real iconic Universal Monster movies were ACTUALLY filmed) and use your Mystery Manual to discover Mystery Markers where you need to help Fred, Velma, Daphne, and Shaggy find clues to solve the case.

Quick Tips

  1. This is an interactive experience where your participation is welcome. Interact with the characters, answer their questions, and help solve the puzzles to advance.
  2. Pay close attention to the instruction given by the characters so you can follow along and help.
  3. You do not have to complete any of the activities to fully enjoy this experience. You can explore each of the sets, meet and greet with the characters and monsters, and make your way to the Big Reveal that ends the experience. Every part long the way is optional, including the Big Reveal.
  4. The Big Reveal is separated from the main activities and happens on a fairly frequent recurring schedule, every 10-15 minutes, or so.
  5. Don’t be a meddling monster. Immerse yourself into the world but don’t try to take the characters out of theirs by talking about the movies or shows.

Photos

20260502_211800

Tram

Board the Studio Tour tram on your way to Little Europe where you’ll be interrupted by the Phantom Director!

20260502_202646(0)

20260423_205453 20260423_210321 20260423_211737 20260423_212004

20260502_202612(0)

20260502_201725 20260502_201637 20260502_201801(0) 20260502_201829(0)

Mystery Inc. Manual

Here’s a complete look at the full Mystery Inc. Manual which you will need to help figure out and solve the mystery.

The suspects are Producer Max Flash, Publicist Karla Spinn, Art Director Arty Pressman, and Head of Security June Steele.

20260423_212927

20260424_085312 20260424_085321 20260424_085403 20260424_085425 20260424_085332 20260424_085345 20260424_085440 20260424_085454

Welcome Little Europe

Arrive at the backlot set in Little Europe where you’ll find Scooby and the gang who need your help to solve the mystery. Groovy!

universal-fan-fest-nights-official-ScoobyxMonsters-at-2026-FFN---21

20260423_213759 20260502_203137

Fred’s Mini HQ: Grip Department

Help Fred track the foot prints of the Phantom’s trail to help figure out which suspects can be eliminated based on what items were snagged by the thorny bushes in the cemetery set.

20260423_215435

20260502_203222 20260423_215054 20260502_203342 20260502_203228

20260502_203307

Velma’s Mini HQ: Video Village

Help Velma figure out which cloaked figure was caught on surveillance feeds! You’ll have to head to Daphne’s Mini HQ to figure out WHO was in the cloak!

20260423_220525

20260423_215921 20260502_204028 20260502_203921 20260502_203956

20260423_220104

Daphne’s Mini HQ: Wardrobe Dept

Help Daphne figure out the identity of the cloaked figures using the studio’s secure code system!

20260423_221445

20260423_221048 20260423_221355 20260502_205028 20260502_204927

Shaggy’s Mini HQ: Craft Services

Help Shaggy use the studio bulletins to find out which prop was stolen from the set!

20260423_221001

20260423_220832 20260502_205508 20260502_205623 20260502_205822

Universal Monsters

Roaming Little Europe, you might run into Frankenstein’s Monster, The Bride, Wolfman, and Dracula. Plus, VIP guests will be granted audience with the Invisible Man.

20260423_213825(0)

universal-fan-fest-nights-official-ScoobyxMonsters-at-2026-FFN---28 20260502_210515 20260502_203444(0) 20260502_204252 20260502_203638 20260502_210446 20260502_205317 20260502_204255

More to Explore

Little details are peppered all around the historic Little Europe sets.

20260423_212508

20260502_203317(0) 20260502_204443 20260502_204459 20260502_204356 20260502_204522 20260502_204619 20260502_204631 20260502_204536 20260502_204750 20260502_204640 20260502_205422(0) 20260502_210300 20260502_210308 20260502_211108

The Big Reveal

Think you’ve figure out the mystery? Rendezvous with the Mystery, Inc. crew and see if your sleuthing skills are on the level!

20260423_222407(1)

20260502_212015 20260502_211909 20260502_212026 20260423_222546

Spoiler Alert

Ready to know who the Phantom Director is?

Expand / Collapse Spoiler

It’s Max Flash! Did you get it right?

20260502_211942

20260423_222646

20260423_224138

Dining

A wealth of Scooby-approved snacks and treats await. Throughout Little Europe, guests can find Scooby Snacks as well as the Super Shaggy Sandwich, a stacked club sandwich sharable with your own Mystery Gang. Additionally, fans can satisfy their monstrous hunger with a Universal Monsters 22” Dog.

MORE INFO: MENU: 2026 SCOOBY-DOO MEETS UNIVERSAL MONSTERS Food and Drink at Universal Fan Fest Nights

universal-fan-feset-nights-dining-2026-cover

Shopping

Of course, you can expect there to be a frighteningly fun selection of merch. Scooby-Doo and Universal Monsters are no strangers to having merch in the park but even more items are joining the line up including cross-over merch that features both the Mystery, Inc. team and the Universal Monsters. Highlights include an event tee and hoodie promoting the immersive walk-through experience.

MORE INFO: MERCH RUN: Scooby-Doo Meets Universal Monsters items at Universal Fan Fest Nights

20260419_103357

See it for Yourself

Universal Fan Fest Nights takes place at Universal Studios Hollywood on select dates from April 23 through May 16, 2026.

Event dates include April 23-25; May 1-3, 7-9, and 15-16. The event will begin each event night at 7pm and tickets are now available for purchase.

Check out our in-depth guides and coverage with everything you need to know!

MORE INFO: Check out all MouseInfo coverage for Universal Fan Fest Nights

20260423_213937