AMC FearFest 2026 Schedule: 30th Anniversary Horror Marathons and AMC's DIRECTV Channel
Horror fans, clear your calendar. AMC's FearFest kicked off Thursday, October 1, 2026 on AMC and AMC+ and runs all month. This is FearFest's 30th anniversary, and AMC is celebrating with more than 650 hours of horror movies, series and specials, plus a famous host: the Crypt Keeper from Tales from the Crypt.
Here is where to find AMC on DIRECTV, what's new this year and the full marathon schedule.
What channel is AMC on DIRECTV?
AMC is on DIRECTV channel 254. Turn on series recordings for the marathons you want and your DVR does the rest. AMC is also part of DIRECTV's MyEntertainment Genre Pack, which also includes AMC+ (with ads), so you can stream AMC+ originals and the FearFest titles it carries. Package lineups vary, so confirm AMC is in your plan.
Not sure AMC is in your package? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884 to check DIRECTV options at your address.
What's new for FearFest 2026
- The Crypt Keeper hosts. Voiced again by John Kassir, the Crypt Keeper introduces the month in new segments directed by special-effects artist Greg Nicotero, who rebuilt the puppet.
- Tales from the Crypt marathons air on AMC, and all seven seasons stream on AMC+ and Shudder.
- The Terror: Devil in Silver airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC through its October 25 finale. Every episode is already streaming on AMC+.
- YAGA, a new supernatural thriller with Carrie-Anne Moss, Noah Reid and Hudson Williams, premieres with two episodes on AMC+ on Friday, October 23. New episodes follow weekly through November 27.
- Themed marathons including Stephen King, Chucky, Final Destination, Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, "Creature Feature" and "Fear the '80s."
AMC FearFest 2026 schedule
All times are Eastern as AMC published them. Late-night listings after midnight air early the next morning, and the overnight hours on October 30 and 31 are packed with more Halloween films. Check your DIRECTV guide for exact local times.
| Date | Theme | Lineup (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Thu., Oct. 1 | Halloween Kickoff Marathon | 11 a.m. Halloween III: Season of the Witch; 1 p.m. Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers; 3 p.m. Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers; 5 p.m. Halloween II (1981); 7 p.m. Halloween (1978); 9 p.m. TNA iMPACT!; 11 p.m. Tales from the Crypt marathon |
| Fri., Oct. 2 | Insidious Marathon | 8 p.m. Insidious (15th anniversary); 10:30 p.m. Insidious: Chapter 2; 1 a.m. Insidious: Chapter 3 |
| Sat., Oct. 3 | Stephen King Marathon | 6:30 a.m. Graveyard Shift; 8:30 a.m. Pet Sematary; 10:30 a.m. Silver Bullet; 12:30 p.m. Stephen King's It Part 1; 2:45 p.m. Stephen King's It Part 2; 5 p.m. Christine; 7 p.m. It (2017); 10 p.m. Carrie (2013); 12:15 a.m. Misery |
| Sun., Oct. 4 | Slasher Sunday | 12:15 p.m. Halloween (2007); 2:45 p.m. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984); 5 p.m. Friday the 13th (1980); 7 p.m. Halloween II (1981); 9 p.m. The Terror: Devil in Silver |
| Mon., Oct. 5 | Final Destination Marathon | 8 p.m. Final Destination (2000); 10 p.m. Final Destination 2; midnight The Final Destination (2009) |
| Tue., Oct. 6 | Movie night | 5:45 p.m. Thir13en Ghosts; 7:45 p.m. Ghost Ship; 9:45 p.m. Jeepers Creepers |
| Wed., Oct. 7 | Chucky Marathon | 3 p.m. Child's Play 3; 5 p.m. Child's Play 2; 7 p.m. Child's Play (1988); 9 p.m. Bride of Chucky; 11 p.m. Seed of Chucky; 1 a.m. Curse of Chucky; 3 a.m. Cult of Chucky |
| Thu., Oct. 8 | Movie night | 4:30 p.m. Stephen King's It Part 1; 6:45 p.m. Stephen King's It Part 2; 9 p.m. TNA iMPACT!; 11 p.m. Carrie (2013) |
| Fri., Oct. 9 | Run Michael Run Marathon | 1 p.m. Halloween 4; 3 p.m. Halloween 5; 5 p.m. Halloween II (1981); 7 p.m. Halloween (1978); 9 p.m. Halloween (2007); 11:30 p.m. Halloween II (2009) |
| Sat., Oct. 10 | Creature Feature | 11 a.m. Leprechaun; 1 p.m. Gremlins; 3:30 p.m. The Fly; 5:30 p.m. The Thing; 8 p.m. Tremors; 10 p.m. Lake Placid; midnight Cujo |
| Sun., Oct. 11 | Stephen King Marathon | 7 a.m. Silver Bullet; 9 a.m. Children of the Corn; 11:15 a.m. Misery; 1:45 p.m. Christine; 3:45 p.m. Carrie; 6 p.m. It (2017); 9 p.m. The Terror: Devil in Silver |
| Mon., Oct. 12 | Nightmare on Elm Street Marathon | 11 a.m. A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child; 1 p.m. A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master; 3:15 p.m. Wes Craven's New Nightmare; 5:45 p.m. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors; 8 p.m. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984); 10:15 p.m. A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge; 12:15 a.m. A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010); 2:15 a.m. Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare |
| Tue., Oct. 13 | Movie night | 5:30 p.m. House of Wax; 8 p.m. Thir13en Ghosts; 10 p.m. Ghost Ship |
| Wed., Oct. 14 | Movie night | 6 p.m. Halloween (1978); 8 p.m. Christine; 10 p.m. It (2017) |
| Thu., Oct. 15 | Movie night | 4 p.m. Halloween II (2009); 6:30 p.m. Halloween (2007); 9 p.m. TNA iMPACT!; 11 p.m. Ghost Ship |
| Fri., Oct. 16 | Friday the 13th Marathon | 10 a.m. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday; noon Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan; 2 p.m. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives; 4 p.m. Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood; 6 p.m. Friday the 13th (1980); 8 p.m. Friday the 13th Part 2; 10 p.m. Friday the 13th Part III |
| Sat., Oct. 17 | Movie night | 7 p.m. Final Destination (2000); 9 p.m. Final Destination 2 |
| Sun., Oct. 18 | Freddy vs. Jason Marathon | 6:15 a.m. Friday the 13th Part III; 8:15 a.m. Friday the 13th (1980); 10:15 a.m. Friday the 13th Part 2; 12:15 p.m. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors; 2:30 p.m. A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge; 4:30 p.m. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984); 6:45 p.m. Freddy vs. Jason; 9 p.m. The Terror: Devil in Silver |
| Mon., Oct. 19 | Movie night | 5 p.m. From Dusk Till Dawn; 7 p.m. Tremors; 9 p.m. Jeepers Creepers |
| Tue., Oct. 20 | Movie night | 6 p.m. Friday the 13th (2009); 8 p.m. Halloween (2007); 10:30 p.m. Halloween II (2009) |
| Wed., Oct. 21 | Insidious Marathon | 7 p.m. Insidious; 9:30 p.m. Insidious: Chapter 2; midnight Insidious: Chapter 3 |
| Thu., Oct. 22 | Movie night | 5 p.m. Tremors; 7 p.m. Lake Placid; 9 p.m. TNA iMPACT!; 11 p.m. Final Destination (2000) |
| Fri., Oct. 23 | Movie night | 5:45 p.m. Carrie; 8 p.m. It (2017); 11 p.m. Silver Bullet |
| Sat., Oct. 24 | Fear the '80s | 7:30 a.m. The Return of the Living Dead; 9:30 a.m. Cujo; 11:30 a.m. The Fly; 1:30 p.m. Fright Night; 4 p.m. The Lost Boys; 6 p.m. Christine; 8 p.m. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984); 10:15 p.m. Friday the 13th (1980); 12:15 a.m. Halloween III: Season of the Witch |
| Sun., Oct. 25 | Halloween Marathon | 10:30 a.m. Halloween 4; 12:30 p.m. Halloween 5; 2:30 p.m. Halloween (2007); 5 p.m. Halloween II (1981); 7 p.m. Halloween (1978); 9 p.m. The Terror: Devil in Silver |
| Mon., Oct. 26 | Friday the 13th Marathon | 9 a.m. Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives; 11 a.m. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning; 1 p.m. Friday the 13th Part VII: The New Blood; 3 p.m. Friday the 13th Part VIII: Jason Takes Manhattan; 5 p.m. Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday; 7 p.m. Friday the 13th (2009); 9 p.m. Friday the 13th (1980); 11 p.m. Friday the 13th Part 2; 1 a.m. Freddy vs. Jason |
| Tue., Oct. 27 | Nightmare on Elm Street Marathon | 4:45 p.m. Freddy vs. Jason; 7 p.m. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984); 9:15 p.m. A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge; 11:15 p.m. A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors; 1:30 a.m. A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) |
| Wed., Oct. 28 | Final Destination Marathon | 6 p.m. Final Destination (2000); 8 p.m. Final Destination 2; 10 p.m. The Final Destination (2009) |
| Thu., Oct. 29 | Movie night | 6 p.m. It (2017); 9 p.m. TNA iMPACT!; 11 p.m. Thir13en Ghosts |
| Fri., Oct. 30 | Halloween on Halloween Marathon | Halloween movies all day, including 1 p.m. Halloween (1978); 3 p.m. Halloween II (1981); 5 p.m. Halloween 4; 7 p.m. Halloween 5; 9 p.m. Halloween (1978); 11 p.m. Halloween (2007) |
| Sat., Oct. 31 | Halloween on Halloween Marathon | 6 a.m. Halloween II (1981); 8 a.m. Halloween 4; 10 a.m. Halloween 5; noon Halloween II (2009); 2:30 p.m. Halloween III: Season of the Witch; 4:30 p.m. Halloween (2007); 7 p.m. Halloween (1978); 9 p.m. Halloween II (1981); 11 p.m. Halloween (1978) |
The marathon spills into Sunday, November 1 with a "Halloween Hangover." Check your guide for that day's lineup.
Streaming FearFest on AMC+
AMC+ carries AMC originals plus Shudder, Sundance Now and IFC Films Unlimited, along with live channels. For the season, AMC is advertising a limited-time deal: a year of AMC+ Premium for $39.99 for new customers and upgrading subscribers, available through October 12, 2026. If you'd rather keep everything on one bill, DIRECTV's MyEntertainment Genre Pack includes AMC+ with ads. Learn more about how AMC Networks joined MyEntertainment, or see other ways to watch AMC without cable.
Prefer family-friendly frights? Freeform's 31 Nights of Halloween runs all month too. Freeform is on DIRECTV channel 311. See what channel Freeform is on DIRECTV.
Want AMC, Freeform and AMC+ covered for October? Call 1-855-690-9884 for a quick DIRECTV comparison.
Frequently asked questions
When does AMC FearFest 2026 start?
FearFest started Thursday, October 1, 2026 on AMC and AMC+ and runs through Halloween, with a "Halloween Hangover" on November 1.
What channel is AMC on DIRECTV?
AMC is DIRECTV channel 254. AMC and AMC+ (with ads) are also part of the MyEntertainment Genre Pack.
Who is hosting FearFest this year?
The Crypt Keeper from Tales from the Crypt, voiced by John Kassir, with segments directed by Greg Nicotero for FearFest's 30th anniversary.
When is the Halloween marathon on AMC?
Halloween marathons air on October 1, October 9 and October 25, and the "Halloween on Halloween" marathon fills October 30 and 31. Individual Halloween films also air on other nights; see the schedule above.
Is there an AMC+ deal for FearFest?
AMC is advertising a year of AMC+ Premium for $39.99 for new and upgrading subscribers through October 12, 2026.
Questions about AMC at your address? Call 1-855-690-9884.
Details reviewed October 1, 2026. Schedules are set by AMC and may change; check your on-screen guide for local times. Offers, prices and package lineups are set by each provider and may change. AMC, AMC+, Shudder, DIRECTV and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.