The scenic Telluride Horror Show has wrapped its 17th edition, but not without packing days 2 and 3 of the fest full of screenings and events, from the Horror Book Fair and guest author signing to the annual Pig Roast, and more late-night horror.
Day two kicked off with author talks and a book fair that featured book signings with all 2026 guest authors: Nat Cassidy, Tananarive Due, Steven Barnes, CJ Leede, and Jeremy Robert Johnson.
The biggest event of day two belongs to the Pig Roast, the fest’s annual barbecue that serves up roasted hog and all the trimmings at the Oak. It’s not only yet another opportunity to socialize with the guests, staff, and attendees while nomming on a tasty meal, but the event also came with a few surprises. That entailed a zombie flash mob on Saturday, but also an annual rite of passage among the fest’s staff and guests: the downing of flaming hot pig eyeball shots.
That’s exactly what it sounds like, and the Telluride Horror Show’s Instagram stories were filled with clips of daring participants reacting to the adventurous libation.
As one of this year’s guest hosts, my hosting duties included introducing and moderating the Q&A for the highly entertaining documentary Rubberhead: The Life & Monsters of Steve Johnson and American Dollhouse, an unsettling proto-slasher set in Austin, Texas. I also got to unleash New Zealand body horror comedy Mum, I’m Alien Pregnant upon a crowd for its second screening at the fest.
Sunday, Day 3, began with introducing many of the filmmakers featured in the “Vault of Humor” short block at the historic Sheridan Opera House to a packed house. This particular block of short films delivered a variety of horror-comedy that kept the audience enraptured and in stitches, kicking off with the 30th anniversary 4K restoration of Michael Dougherty’s “Season’s Greetings“. It was one of many curated short block screening events that continued to fill seats all weekend long; Telluride Horror Show attendees love horror shorts and often prioritize these screenings (shorts filmmakers take note!).
Other screening highlights, hosted and otherwise, included Breeder, Recluse, Black Sheeps, The Glorious Dead, closing night film Victorian Psycho, and more.
Just like that, though, a whirlwind weekend of horror, picturesque autumnal views, and friendship drew to a close, culminating in one final party at the Last Dollar Saloon to celebrate. I’ve said it before, but this festival is magical. Founder Ted Wilson, programmers Erik Cooper and Brady Richards, and Director of Communications Anna Wilson and an entire crew of staff and volunteers pull together an incredible event, one that’s warm and welcoming as if you’re one of their close horror neighbors.
It’s the type of event where you can make friends with fellow horror fans by simply walking down the street, in between screenings and events. It’s also, by nature of its setting and time of year, the only fest that fully encapsulates a nostalgic Halloween atmosphere.
I’ll be back next year to get my Halloween/Telluride Horror Show fix. Keep an eye on when badges go on sale for 2027 if you’d like to, too.