The Today Show Halloween 2026 celebration brought television nostalgia, creative costumes, and memorable entertainment moments to NBC’s morning broadcast. Held on Friday, October 30, this year’s event carried special significance as NBC prepared to celebrate its 100th anniversary. Rather than choosing a traditional Halloween theme, the production took viewers on a nostalgic journey through the network’s history, featuring famous television characters, comedy personalities, sports icons, and entertainment legends.
Savannah Guthrie, Jenna Bush Hager, Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer, and other familiar TODAY personalities transformed into recognizable figures from different generations of American television. Their costumes celebrated the programs and performers that helped shape NBC’s identity over the decades. The broadcast also featured special appearances from Martha Stewart and 30 Rock actor Jack McBrayer, along with entertaining performances and references to classic television.
From the world of Friends to memorable Saturday Night Live characters, the celebration connected different generations of entertainment. It also highlighted TODAY’s own broadcasting history, making the annual Halloween special more than a costume reveal. Instead, the 2026 production became a playful tribute to NBC’s legacy and its lasting influence on American television.
Today Show Halloween 2026: What Happened During the Special?
The TODAY show transformed its October 30 broadcast into a celebration of NBC’s entertainment history. The hosts appeared in costumes inspired by famous television characters, performers, and personalities associated with the network. However, this year’s production went beyond a traditional Halloween costume presentation. It followed a fictional guided tour of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, with Savannah Guthrie welcoming her fellow hosts as visitors exploring NBC’s headquarters.
The celebration featured several recognizable transformations. Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager represented Rachel Green and Phoebe Buffay from Friends. Al Roker brought back Gumby, the memorable character associated with Eddie Murphy’s Saturday Night Live performances, while Craig Melvin transformed into Snoop Dogg. Dylan Dreyer recreated Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie, and Willie Geist paid tribute to Johnny Carson. Meanwhile, Sheinelle Jones joined the Radio City Rockettes, Laura Jarrett represented Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, and Carson Daly transformed into country singer Ella Langley.
Special appearances and entertainment segments added more excitement to the broadcast. Martha Stewart joined the celebration alongside Craig Melvin, while Jack McBrayer returned as Kenneth Parcell from 30 Rock. Together, these costumes and appearances created a nostalgic Halloween experience that celebrated NBC’s contributions to television, comedy, music, and sports.
When Did the TODAY Show Celebrate Halloween in 2026?
The TODAY show held its 2026 Halloween celebration on Friday, October 30, one day before Halloween. The special aired as part of the program’s regular morning broadcast and continued the show’s tradition of presenting elaborate costumes and entertainment segments ahead of October 31.
This year’s celebration also coincided with an important milestone for NBC. The network will mark 100 years since its first broadcast on November 15, 1926. Consequently, the production used Halloween as an opportunity to revisit memorable television programs, recognizable personalities, and important moments from the network’s history.
The broadcast also carried significance for TODAY itself, which celebrates its 75th anniversary during the 2026–27 season. These milestones gave the production an additional reason to revisit the shows and entertainment traditions that connected generations of American viewers. Rather than focusing exclusively on Halloween costumes, the hosts combined holiday entertainment with a celebration of television history.
Why NBC’s 100th Anniversary Became the Main Theme
NBC’s upcoming centennial provided the inspiration for the 2026 Halloween theme. The network began its broadcasting journey on November 15, 1926, with a radio program. Over the following decades, NBC expanded into television and became home to influential sitcoms, dramas, comedy programs, sporting events, and major entertainment broadcasts.
The Halloween production celebrated that history through references to programs and personalities that helped shape American television. These included Friends, Saturday Night Live, I Dream of Jeannie, The Tonight Show, and 30 Rock. Each reference represented a different part of the network’s entertainment identity.
NBC’s influence also extends beyond scripted television. Its Olympic coverage, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Rockefeller Center Christmas traditions have become familiar parts of American broadcasting. The Halloween special brought these different elements together through costumes, comedy, and performances.
This approach allowed the hosts to celebrate several generations of television instead of concentrating on one particular decade. It also gave viewers an opportunity to recognize familiar characters while revisiting the entertainment history behind them.
How the NBC Centennial Theme Shaped the Celebration
NBC’s 100th anniversary influenced more than the hosts’ costume choices. It shaped the production’s storytelling, location changes, and entertainment segments. The special followed a fictional guided tour of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, connecting different television references through a single storyline.
Savannah Guthrie served as the tour guide, welcoming her colleagues as tourists visiting NBC’s headquarters. This concept gave the production a natural way to introduce individual costumes and performances. Instead of presenting each transformation separately, the hosts moved through different areas associated with the network’s history.
The tour also created opportunities for comedy and surprise appearances. One segment revisited classic late-night television, while another celebrated popular sitcom characters. Other moments highlighted sports personalities and familiar holiday traditions.
Most importantly, the centennial theme gave viewers a reason to look beyond the costumes. Each transformation represented a recognizable part of NBC’s broadcasting legacy. As a result, the Halloween celebration connected holiday entertainment with the network’s broader cultural influence.
A Nostalgic Journey Through 100 Years of NBC
The celebration opened with a black-and-white sketch imagining NBC’s earliest broadcasting days. Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin appeared as traditional television anchors, establishing the historical atmosphere before the program moved into its main Halloween adventure.
Guthrie subsequently transformed into an NBC page and welcomed her fellow hosts as tourists exploring 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Craig Melvin played Greg from North Carolina, Al Roker became Bob from Oswego, Carson Daly appeared as Kyle from Boise, and Jenna Bush Hager portrayed Tammi from Texas.
This fictional group provided the foundation for the guided tour. The production then explored different parts of NBC’s entertainment history through costumes, comedy sketches, and performances.
Willie Geist revisited Johnny Carson’s late-night television era, Dylan Dreyer represented a classic sitcom character, and Guthrie and Bush Hager brought back familiar personalities from Friends. Other segments celebrated Saturday Night Live, Olympic gymnastics, and the Radio City Rockettes.
The combination of comedy, music, sports, and television nostalgia helped the broadcast represent NBC’s broad entertainment legacy. It also allowed viewers from different generations to recognize familiar references throughout the celebration.
The Tour Through 30 Rockefeller Center
The guided tour through 30 Rockefeller Plaza served as the central setting for the Halloween production. Located in New York City, the building has a longstanding connection with NBC and the TODAY show. Its studios and production spaces provided a fitting backdrop for a celebration focused on the network’s history.
During the broadcast, Guthrie guided the fictional tourists through different areas connected to NBC programming. One stop highlighted The Tonight Show and introduced Willie Geist’s tribute to Johnny Carson. Another featured the network’s prop department, where Dylan Dreyer appeared as Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie.
The tour then explored the worlds of Friends and Saturday Night Live before moving into sports and holiday entertainment references. Sheinelle Jones’s appearance with the Radio City Rockettes added a live performance element to the celebration.
The production eventually returned to the world of 30 Rock, where actor Jack McBrayer appeared as Kenneth Parcell, the enthusiastic NBC page from the comedy series. His surprise appearance created a fitting connection between Guthrie’s fictional tour guide and NBC’s television legacy.
Through this creative format, the TODAY show connected the famous Rockefeller Center building with the programs, performers, and traditions that helped make NBC recognizable across generations.
Today Show Halloween 2026 Costumes: What Each Host Wore
The TODAY show Halloween 2026 celebration gave its hosts an opportunity to recreate some of the most recognizable personalities in television and entertainment. Each transformation connected with NBC’s centennial theme, bringing together sitcom nostalgia, music, comedy, and pop culture. Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager revisited the world of Friends, while Craig Melvin stepped into the role of Snoop Dogg. Meanwhile, Al Roker brought back one of Eddie Murphy’s most memorable Saturday Night Live characters. The costumes also included personal touches and entertaining performances, making each appearance more than a simple change of outfit.
Savannah Guthrie as an NBC Page and Rachel Green
Savannah Guthrie appeared as an NBC page, guiding fictional tourists through 30 Rockefeller Plaza. Her uniform supported the centennial-themed storyline and connected the celebration with NBC’s broadcasting history.
Guthrie also transformed into Rachel Green from Friends. Originally played by Jennifer Aniston, Rachel remains one of the sitcom’s most recognizable characters.
Her fashion, relationships, and personal growth made Rachel a fan favorite. Guthrie’s costume also connected with Jenna Bush Hager’s Phoebe Buffay transformation.
Together, the hosts recreated the friendship between two beloved Friends characters. Their costumes brought nostalgia and humor to the Halloween broadcast.
Jenna Bush Hager as Phoebe Buffay
Jenna Bush Hager transformed into Phoebe Buffay, the quirky musician from Friends. Lisa Kudrow originally portrayed the character, known for her unusual humor and memorable songs.
Bush Hager recreated Phoebe’s look with a blonde wig and a distinctive outfit. She also performed the character’s famous song, “Smelly Cat,” on guitar.
Jenna Bush Hager’s work on TODAY continues beyond special holiday broadcasts. Her on-air partnership with Sheinelle Jones has also attracted attention, including a memorable moment when Jenna arrived late to the morning show. Read more in our coverage of Today With Jenna & Sheinelle: Why Jenna Bush Hager Was Late to TODAY.
Her real-life cat, Maisie, joined the performance. Bush Hager even changed the lyrics to “Sheinelley Cat” as a playful reference to colleague Sheinelle Jones.
The performance captured Phoebe’s unusual charm. Alongside Guthrie’s Rachel Green costume, it became one of the celebration’s standout sitcom tributes.
Craig Melvin as Snoop Dogg
Craig Melvin brought music into the Halloween celebration by dressing as Snoop Dogg. The rapper’s decades-long influence on popular culture made him a recognizable choice.
Melvin recreated Snoop’s signature style with a Team USA-inspired outfit and familiar accessories. The costume also reflected the rapper’s presence in sports and television entertainment.
The segment became even more entertaining when Martha Stewart made a surprise appearance. Her well-known friendship with Snoop Dogg added another layer of humor.
Their unexpected pairing gave Melvin’s transformation a memorable celebrity connection. It also showed how music, lifestyle entertainment, and television can come together during the Halloween special.
Al Roker as Gumby from Saturday Night Live
Al Roker chose a classic comedy reference by dressing as Gumby, the character famously portrayed by Eddie Murphy on Saturday Night Live.
Murphy turned the familiar clay character into an exaggerated comedy personality. His memorable sketches helped make Gumby a standout part of the show’s history.
Roker’s transformation brought that sketch comedy legacy into the TODAY Halloween celebration. It also highlighted Saturday Night Live as an important part of NBC’s entertainment history.
The costume offered a recognizable tribute to Murphy’s performances. It added another nostalgic comedy moment to a celebration filled with television and pop culture references.
More TODAY Show Halloween 2026 Costume Transformations
The TODAY Show Halloween 2026 celebration featured more costumes inspired by classic television, sports, and music. Dylan Dreyer revisited a beloved sitcom, while Willie Geist honored a late-night television legend. Sheinelle Jones, Laura Jarrett, and Carson Daly added even more variety to the celebration. Together, these transformations highlighted the lasting influence of television and pop culture.
The celebration also reflected how morning television continues to evolve through new presenters, changing formats, and special entertainment segments. Our coverage of Today With Jenna & Sheinelle explores another development in the TODAY show’s morning programming.
Dylan Dreyer as Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie
Dylan Dreyer transformed into Jeannie from the classic sitcom I Dream of Jeannie. Barbara Eden originally played the magical genie in the NBC series, which premiered in 1965.
The show followed the humorous adventures of an astronaut who discovers a genie. Jeannie’s distinctive costume and playful personality made her a memorable television character.
Dreyer’s transformation brought that familiar look to the Halloween celebration. It also introduced a classic 1960s sitcom to a modern morning-show audience. Her appearance offered a nostalgic reminder of NBC’s television history.
Willie Geist’s Tribute to Johnny Carson
Willie Geist honored Johnny Carson, the legendary host of The Tonight Show. Carson led the program from 1962 to 1992 and became one of America’s most influential late-night television personalities.
Geist recreated Carson’s famous comedy character, Carnac the Magnificent. The character wore a distinctive turban and humorously predicted answers hidden inside envelopes.
The costume brought back memories of Carson’s signature comedy routine. It also celebrated NBC’s long history of late-night entertainment. For longtime viewers, the tribute offered a nostalgic moment. Younger audiences could also discover the influence Carson had on American talk shows.
Sheinelle Jones Joins the Radio City Rockettes
Sheinelle Jones joined the Radio City Rockettes in a sparkling green costume. Her appearance brought live dance entertainment to the Halloween celebration.
The Rockettes are famous for their synchronized choreography and high kicks. They have performed at Radio City Music Hall for decades.
Jones participated in the performance alongside the professional dancers. This connected the TODAY celebration with New York City’s entertainment traditions.
Her appearance also highlighted the relationship between television, live performances, and Rockefeller Center.
Laura Jarrett as Simone Biles
Laura Jarrett represented Olympic gymnastics champion Simone Biles during the NBC centennial celebration.
Biles has become one of the world’s most recognizable athletes. Her Olympic achievements and influence have made her a major figure in modern gymnastics.
Jarrett’s costume connected the Halloween broadcast with NBC’s sports coverage. The network has a long history of broadcasting major sporting events, including the Olympic Games.
The tribute also showed how athletes contribute to television entertainment. It brought a sporting icon into a celebration otherwise filled with sitcom characters, musicians, and television personalities.
Carson Daly’s Ella Langley Transformation
Carson Daly brought country music into the celebration by dressing as singer-songwriter Ella Langley.
His country-inspired outfit recreated the singer’s recognizable style. However, the musical performance became the highlight of his transformation.
Daly lip-synced to Langley’s popular song “Choosin’ Texas.” The segment added a contemporary music reference to the Halloween broadcast.
His appearance also reflected his background as a music television presenter. While several hosts revisited classic television characters, Daly introduced a modern country music personality.
This mix of classic and contemporary references gave the celebration broader entertainment appeal.
Special Guests, Performances and Memorable Moments
The TODAY Show Halloween 2026 celebration featured more than costume reveals. Surprise appearances, musical performances, and interactive segments added variety to the broadcast.
Martha Stewart and Jack McBrayer brought familiar entertainment connections. The hosts also participated in performances and an NBC-themed trivia challenge.
Together, these moments turned the Halloween special into a broader celebration of television and pop culture.
Martha Stewart’s Surprise Appearance
Martha Stewart made a surprise appearance during Craig Melvin’s Snoop Dogg transformation. Her cameo referenced her well-known friendship with the rapper.
The pair have appeared together in television projects, advertising campaigns, and public events. Their friendship has become a recognizable part of modern entertainment culture.
Stewart’s appearance added humor to Melvin’s costume segment. It also connected music, lifestyle entertainment, and sports broadcasting.
The surprise moment gave viewers an additional celebrity highlight beyond the costume reveal.
Jack McBrayer Returns as Kenneth from 30 Rock
Actor Jack McBrayer joined the celebration as Kenneth Parcell from the NBC comedy 30 Rock. The character became popular for his cheerful personality and enthusiastic dedication to the fictional network.
His appearance was especially fitting because Savannah Guthrie also portrayed an NBC page during the broadcast.
Together, their characters connected NBC’s real history with the fictional world of 30 Rock. McBrayer’s return also strengthened the guided-tour storyline.
For fans of the sitcom, the appearance added another nostalgic moment to the Halloween celebration.
The Performances and NBC Trivia Highlights
The entertainment continued beyond the costume reveals. Jenna Bush Hager performed Phoebe Buffay’s famous song “Smelly Cat” from Friends.
Carson Daly brought country music into the broadcast with “Choosin’ Texas.” Meanwhile, Sheinelle Jones joined the Radio City Rockettes for a dance performance.
The hosts also competed in an NBC-themed trivia game. They divided into Team Friends and Team Seinfeld, representing two of the network’s most recognizable sitcoms.
Team Friends, featuring Jenna Bush Hager, Willie Geist, Dylan Dreyer, and Sheinelle Jones, defeated Team Seinfeld. The opposing team included Al Roker, Craig Melvin, Laura Jarrett, and Carson Daly.
The winning team received Peacock pillows as their prize. The lighthearted competition celebrated NBC’s television history while adding a playful finish to the broadcast.
The History of the TODAY Show Halloween Tradition
The TODAY show’s Halloween celebration has become one of the program’s most recognizable annual traditions. Every October, the hosts entertain viewers with creative costumes, comedy sketches, musical performances, and celebrity-inspired transformations.
Over the years, the production has grown beyond ordinary Halloween outfits. Each celebration introduces a different theme, allowing the hosts to explore popular movies, television characters, musicians, and cultural icons.
The 2026 edition continued this tradition with a special focus on NBC’s 100th anniversary. The production revisited the network’s history through recognizable characters and memorable television moments.
How the Annual Costume Celebration Developed
The TODAY show’s elaborate Halloween tradition dates back to 1994. Since then, the annual broadcast has developed into a major entertainment production featuring coordinated costumes, rehearsed performances, and creative comedy segments.
The hosts regularly participate in the creative process, portraying famous personalities and recreating recognizable entertainment moments. Some performances also involve choreography, special costumes, and carefully planned production sequences.
Over time, these celebrations have become something viewers anticipate every October. The combination of humor, creativity, and familiar television references has helped TODAY establish a distinctive Halloween identity.
Previous Halloween Themes and Memorable Costumes
The 2024 and 2025 celebrations demonstrated how the TODAY show continued to experiment with different Halloween concepts.
In 2024, the hosts embraced a VHS rewind theme inspired by memorable movies and entertainment moments. Their costumes included references to Beetlejuice, Legally Blonde, and Titanic.
The 2025 celebration shifted toward famous personalities and pop culture icons. Savannah Guthrie portrayed Miranda Priestly, while Jenna Bush Hager transformed into Anna Wintour. Craig Melvin paid tribute to Prince, and Dylan Dreyer recreated Frankie Valli.
These celebrations established a pattern of exploring different entertainment themes every year. However, the 2026 production took a different direction by focusing on NBC’s history and its contribution to American television.
What Made the 2026 NBC Halloween Special Different?
The 2026 celebration stood out because it connected the TODAY show’s Halloween tradition with NBC’s upcoming 100th anniversary.
Earlier productions often focused on movies, celebrities, music, or broader pop culture themes. This year, however, the hosts explored the network’s history through a fictional guided tour of 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
The concept connected different costumes and performances through one storyline. It also allowed the production to celebrate several generations of television, from classic sitcoms to modern entertainment personalities.
References to Friends, Saturday Night Live, I Dream of Jeannie, and The Tonight Show created a strong sense of nostalgia. Meanwhile, appearances inspired by Simone Biles, Snoop Dogg, and Ella Langley expanded the celebration beyond traditional television characters.
Television Nostalgia Meets Modern Morning Entertainment
One of the strongest elements of the 2026 production was its combination of classic television and modern pop culture.
Characters such as Rachel Green, Phoebe Buffay, Jeannie, Gumby, and Carnac the Magnificent represented different periods in American television history. Each costume brought back a familiar entertainment reference.
At the same time, the appearances inspired by Snoop Dogg, Simone Biles, and Ella Langley introduced contemporary music and sports personalities. This combination helped the celebration appeal to viewers with different entertainment interests.
The performances also made the references more accessible. Jenna Bush Hager’s rendition of “Smelly Cat” and Willie Geist’s Johnny Carson tribute gave audiences recognizable moments without lengthy explanations.
Ultimately, the mixture of old and new entertainment helped define the 2026 Halloween celebration.
The Creative Work Behind the Costume Transformations
Producing the TODAY show’s annual Halloween special requires much more than selecting costumes. The production team develops a theme, assigns characters, arranges outfits, coordinates music, and prepares sketches and performances.
The hosts also contribute ideas and participate in shaping their transformations. Once the concept takes shape, the team coordinates rehearsals, choreography, video elements, and other production requirements.
Some performances require additional preparation because the hosts must recreate familiar television moments or participate in dance routines.
The 2026 centennial production introduced another challenge: connecting numerous television references through one guided-tour storyline. Careful coordination helped the broadcast feel like a complete entertainment production rather than a collection of unrelated costume appearances.
TODAY Show Halloween vs. Live with Kelly and Mark
The TODAY show was not the only daytime television program celebrating Halloween on October 30, 2026. Live with Kelly and Mark also presented its annual Halloween special, titled Halloween Shockin’ Eve.
Although both programs featured elaborate costumes, celebrity appearances, and entertainment segments, their creative approaches were different.
TODAY focused on NBC’s centennial and the network’s television history. In contrast, Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos built their special around a New Year’s Eve-inspired countdown featuring popular culture references and entertainment moments.
Understanding the difference is important because these were separate television productions with different hosts, themes, and costume concepts.
Two Different Shows, Two Different Halloween Celebrations
The TODAY show used its NBC100 theme to revisit famous television programs, personalities, and broadcasting traditions. Its hosts explored 30 Rockefeller Plaza through a fictional guided tour that connected the costumes with NBC’s history.
Meanwhile, Live with Kelly and Mark: Halloween Shockin’ Eve concentrated on contemporary entertainment trends, celebrity references, and humorous sketches.
Ripa and Consuelos presented more than 60 costume changes throughout their special. Their transformations included references to Marvel characters, musicians, television personalities, and popular culture.
The opening sequence featured Consuelos as Spider-Man and Ripa as Yelena Belova. Former co-host Ryan Seacrest also made a surprise appearance, while Lisa Rinna and Jerry O’Connell joined the program as celebrity guests and costume contest judges.
Both broadcasts demonstrated the creativity of daytime television’s Halloween tradition. However, their different themes gave audiences two distinct entertainment experiences.
The TODAY show celebrated NBC’s broadcasting history, while Live with Kelly and Mark focused on contemporary pop culture and the year’s entertainment highlights.
Why the TODAY Show Halloween Celebration Matters to Viewers
The TODAY Show Halloween 2026 celebration offered more than costumes and entertainment. It brought together television history, popular culture, and familiar personalities in a format that appealed to different generations of viewers.
The NBC centennial theme gave the broadcast an additional purpose. By revisiting classic sitcoms, comedy characters, music personalities, and sporting icons, the hosts highlighted the network’s influence on American entertainment.
The celebration also demonstrated why the TODAY show’s annual Halloween tradition remains popular. Viewers enjoy seeing familiar presenters step outside their usual roles and participate in creative performances.
Moreover, the combination of nostalgia and humor makes the event accessible to audiences with different entertainment interests. Whether someone remembers Johnny Carson’s late-night performances or recognizes the characters from Friends, the broadcast offers something familiar to enjoy.
The Appeal of Classic Television Characters and Pop Culture
Classic television characters continue to attract audiences because they represent memorable stories, personalities, and entertainment moments. The 2026 Halloween celebration used that connection to bring several generations of television together.
Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager’s Friends transformations appealed to sitcom fans, while Al Roker’s Gumby costume revisited an iconic Saturday Night Live comedy character. Willie Geist’s Johnny Carson tribute also recognized the importance of classic late-night television.
At the same time, contemporary references such as Snoop Dogg, Simone Biles, and Ella Langley introduced modern entertainment personalities into the celebration.
This balance helped the production connect older television traditions with current popular culture. It also gave viewers an opportunity to revisit familiar programs and discover entertainment references they might not know.
Ultimately, the celebration demonstrated how television history can remain relevant when presented through humor, creativity, and recognizable personalities.
Final Thoughts on Today Show Halloween 2026
The Today Show Halloween 2026 celebration successfully connected NBC’s broadcasting history with the show’s annual Halloween tradition. Its centennial theme brought together classic television characters, comedy legends, musicians, sports personalities, and memorable entertainment performances.
From Savannah Guthrie and Jenna Bush Hager’s Friends transformations to Al Roker’s Gumby costume and Willie Geist’s Johnny Carson tribute, the hosts delivered a variety of recognizable television references.
The appearances by Martha Stewart and Jack McBrayer added further entertainment, while the Radio City Rockettes performance brought a festive touch to the broadcast.
More importantly, the production demonstrated how NBC’s entertainment history continues to connect with modern audiences. The 2026 celebration was not simply about dressing up for Halloween; it was also an opportunity to recognize the programs and personalities that shaped American television.
For viewers who enjoy television nostalgia, celebrity transformations, and creative morning-show entertainment, this year’s celebration offered plenty of memorable moments.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the TODAY Show reveal its 2026 Halloween costumes?
The TODAY show presented its 2026 Halloween celebration on Friday, October 30, one day before Halloween. The broadcast featured costumes inspired by NBC’s television history and upcoming 100th anniversary.
What was the TODAY Show Halloween 2026 theme?
The central theme celebrated NBC’s upcoming 100th anniversary. The hosts explored different parts of 30 Rockefeller Plaza while recreating famous television characters, entertainment personalities, and memorable broadcasting traditions.
What did Savannah Guthrie wear for Halloween 2026?
Savannah Guthrie appeared as an NBC page who guided the fictional tour through 30 Rockefeller Plaza. She also transformed into Rachel Green from the popular sitcom Friends.
What did Jenna Bush Hager dress up as?
Jenna Bush Hager portrayed Phoebe Buffay from Friends, the character originally played by Lisa Kudrow. She also performed Phoebe’s famous song “Smelly Cat” during the Halloween broadcast.
Why did Al Roker dress as Gumby?
Al Roker chose Gumby as a tribute to Eddie Murphy’s memorable portrayal of the character on Saturday Night Live. The transformation celebrated one of NBC’s recognizable comedy references.
Did Martha Stewart appear on the TODAY Show Halloween special?
Yes. Martha Stewart made a special appearance during Craig Melvin’s transformation into Snoop Dogg. Her appearance referenced her well-known friendship with the rapper and added a surprise moment to the celebration.
Was Kelly Ripa part of the TODAY Show Halloween celebration?
No. Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos hosted a separate Halloween special called Halloween Shockin’ Eve. Their program featured its own costumes, celebrity appearances, and entertainment segments.
Why did the TODAY Show celebrate NBC’s 100th anniversary?
NBC began broadcasting on November 15, 1926. Its upcoming centennial provided an opportunity to recognize the network’s contributions to television, news, sports, comedy, and entertainment. The 2026 Halloween special used familiar television characters and personalities to celebrate that history.
