[Interview] Rubies’ Mark Von Ohlen Previews Halloween 2026 and Party City Reborn
The year has only just begun, but the biggest Halloween industry event, the Halloween & Party Expo, kicks off today in Las Vegas, and we recently caught up with Mark Von Ohlen, head of licensed product for Rubies costume company, for a recap of Halloween 2025 trends and surprises, a preview of what he predicts in the costume space for Halloween 2026, and an update on the newly reborn Party City.
In our video conversation last week, we also discussed Rubies’ product nominations for the Spooky Awards industry honors to be presented at the Expo, and of course we talked about Von Ohlen’s own love and passion for Halloween, which he has carried with him from childhood to what he describes as the perfect job for a self-confessed pop culture geek. He also revealed that he is a massive horror fan, and teased some new genre releases coming in 2026, including new officially licensed Elvira and Jason Voorhees products.
The Halloween & Costume Association‘s 2nd Annual Spooky Awards is happening tomorrow night, Jan. 13, celebrating the Halloween industry and honoring the best new product releases of the past year, presented live during the 2026 Halloween & Party Expo in Las Vegas—an industry-exclusive event that brings together the biggest names in Halloween retail. Halloween Daily News is proud to be an official media partner of the 2025 Spooky Awards.
Von Ohlen also provided a welcome update the status of Party City, which is now owned by Ad Populum, a pop culture holding company led by Neca founder Joel Weinshanker, as part of its larger portfolio, which also includes brands like Neca, Kidrobot, Chia Pet, and more.
Watch our full exclusive interview with Rubies’ Mark Von Ohlen below, or listen on the Halloween Daily Podcast.
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