Splatoon 3 is getting a new Splatfest in October, giving Inklings and Octolings one more reason to fight it out in Turf War. Splatoon 3 Splatfests are one of the most celebrated events in the game, and this one will likely draw a lot of players in.
Splatoon 3 remains a popular shooter with fans on the original Nintendo Switch, while gamers who have a Nintendo Switch 2 have been excitedly diving into Splatoon Raiders. Although Splatoon 4 has yet to be announced, the franchise as a whole is still doing well, and events like these keep players coming back.
Splatoon 3 Halloween Splatfest is Back
Splatoon 3 is gearing up to celebrate Halloween, and with it, a new Splatfest has been announced. The theme this time around asks players what they would be if they lived in a fantasy world, with the option of joining Team Wizard, Team Knight, or Team Ninja. As with all Splatfests, Splatsville, Inkopolis Plaza, and Inkopolis Square will be decked out with their accompanying idols singing and dancing during the duration of the event. However, since this is a Halloween Splatfest, special decorations will be in place, Deep Cut idols Shiver, Frye, and Big Man will be wearing unique outfits, and Anarchy Rainbow will get a spooky remix to celebrate. Gamers can participate in the event starting on October 30 at 5 pm PT, with the Splatfest wrapping up on November 1 at 2:59 PM PT.
Long-time fans of Splatoon 3 may recall that this is a returning theme for Halloween. Splatoon 3 celebrated Halloween in 2025 with a repeat of the Zombie vs Skeleton vs Ghost theme, which was originally held in 2023. Accordingly, Splatoon 3 is bringing back the theme that was originally held in 2024 this year. While Splatfests have continued to be held in Splatoon 3, the game has largely moved on from unique themes since the 2024 Grand Festival, which served as the concluding Splatfest for Splatoon 3‘s active update cycle. The game did see one Splatfest with a completely unique theme earlier in 2026, when players could choose between Speed, Power, and Tactics. However, that was held in order to celebrate the release of Splatoon Raiders, so it was a one-time instance.
Repeated Splatfest themes offer a unique opportunity to flip past results. For example, when the Zombie-Skeleton-Ghost Splatfest was originally held in 2023, the winning team was Ghost. Its repeat in 2025, however, saw Zombies take home the prize. Splatfests are decided based on a variety of factors, including the number of wins a team brings home in both Splatfest Battles and Tricolor Battles, as well as the number of players who join each team, and the quantity of Conch Shells collected. However, some of these repeated themes have also seen shake-ups due to the game changing the way that Splatfest results are determined, which transpired over a series of game updates.
Choosing a Splatfest team as early as possible lets team members maximize how many Conch Shells they can gain to support their team’s Sneak Peek score. Splatfests typically allow players to choose a team about a week before the event kicks off, so players should plan on checking in to Splatoon 3 on October 23.
- Released
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September 9, 2022
- ESRB
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E10+ for Everyone 10+: Cartoon Violence
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo
