35 Halloween costume ideas inspired by myths, legends and fairy tales

Elaborate Halloween Costume with Lace Blouse and Red-Brown Skirt — An elderly woman with a wrinkled face and long, gray, messy hair is dressed in a detailed, elaborate costume. She has elongated, gnarled fingers adorned with long nails. Her outfit includes a white lace blouse with intricate designs, a red-brown skirt, and a collection of hanging charms and trinkets around her waist. She wears a black shawl over her shoulders and has a pendant necklace with a large stone. The background is a warm, rustic hue, adding to the mystical and eerie ambiance.

Each year, the Halloween costume craze has reached new heights of creativity and of course, brings a lot of desperation for those who have no idea how they should dress. If you are tired of vampires and zombies costumes, then we have compiled 35 ideas for Halloween costumes that are inspired by the myths, legends and fairy tales. If you recognize the essential features of nature, you can also combine the accessories and makeup.

Halloween Costume Ideas – Greek Mythology

Medusa with snake hair

Medusa-Inspired Green and Silver Costume with Black Staff — A person is dressed in an elaborate Medusa-inspired costume. The outfit features a teal and silver fabric with snake-like patterns, flowing sleeves, and a cinched waist. The headdress includes lifelike green snakes that wind across the head. The character is holding a black staff and is wearing strappy high heels. The costume is both intricate and mythical, embodying the essence of Medusa.

Greek mythology gives rise to many legendary figures, gods and evil hybrids. Let your imagination run wild and think about the different parts and accessories that you can combine the body.

Hydra – Many headed monster

Green Dragon Heads in Misty Waters — A fearsome three-headed dragon rises from turbulent green waters, each head displaying menacing features with sharp teeth and glowing eyes. The creature’s scales reflect hues of green and gray, adding to its mythical aura. Mist surrounds the dragon, contributing to the ominous atmosphere.

Cerberus – Cerberus

Three-headed black dog guards misty entrance — An eerie scene depicts a mythological landscape with a foreboding three-headed dog guarding an entrance, accompanied by ghostly figures shrouded in mist. The backdrop features dark, ominous skies with swirling clouds, and ancient, deteriorated stone structures.

Dog in Black Costume with Stuffed Dog Heads — A dog is wearing a unique Halloween costume that includes two additional stuffed dog heads attached to its harness. The dog is standing on a concrete surface with a weathered green wall in the background. The costuming fabric is primarily black with some red accents on the collars of the stuffed animal heads.

Chimera – a hybrid creature with three heads and the head of a snake for a tail

Mythical Creature in Rocky Terrain with Dragon Wings — An epic mythical creature with the head and body of a lion, wings of a dragon, and multiple snake-like heads. The creature is perched on a rocky terrain with an intense, ferocious expression. The scene is set against a cloudy, ominous background.

Harpies – Women with bird wings

Mythological Harpies with Dark Wings Against Swirling Clouds — A surreal, mythological scene featuring two harpy-like creatures with powerful, dark wings. One creature is perched on a rocky outcrop while the second swoops down from the sky. The background is filled with swirling clouds in shades of yellow, brown, and gray, adding to the dramatic and otherworldly atmosphere.

Elaborate Fantasy Creature Costume on Grass — A person is dressed in an elaborate fantasy costume with detailed face paint resembling a mythological creature. The makeup includes fierce, dark eyes and sharp black designs accented with red. The individual wears wings and stands in a grass-covered outdoor area, striking a dramatic pose.

Person with Black Feather Wings in Mythical Costume Outdoors — A person is dressed in an elaborate Halloween costume inspired by myths and fairy tales. The individual has painted skin in pale hues and dark, dramatic makeup. They are adorned with large, intricate black wings made of feathers. The costume includes a black top and a skirt with a tattered appearance. The background shows an outdoor area with grass and a few trees.

Mermaid – a beautiful woman with a fish's tail, which attracted passing vessels with their song

Black Tail Mermaid in Mystical Cave — A mystical scene with a mermaid resting on a cluster of rocks within a dimly lit cave. The mermaid has long flowing black hair and a shimmering black tail. Around her are scattered human skulls, partially submerged in the water. In the background, a ghostly ship is seen sailing across misty waters, framed by the cave’s rocky archways.

Fairy-tale Inspired Blue Dress and Scaled Makeup — A person with curl blonde hair is wearing a blue dress and has detailed makeup that involves blue and silver scales along the face and neck. The background is a lush green outdoor setting, suggesting a fairy-tale or mythical creature inspiration. The detailed makeup includes glitter and hues of blue and purple around the eyes.

Sphinx – monster with wings – head and chest of a woman and the body of a lion

Griffin on Rocky Terrain with Misty Mountains — An imposing griffin with a majestic, human-like face and lion’s paws lounges on a rocky terrain. The griffin’s body, including large, powerful wings, stands in contrast to a distant small figure approaching in admiration. The landscape is an open, mysterious valley with mist-covered mountain peaks visible in the distance.

Gold and Black Headpiece, White Wings Myth Costume — A person dressed in a mythological costume kneels on the ground. The costume features a headpiece with gold and black colors, angelic white wings, and fur elements on the shoulders and arms. The outfit includes a brown sleeveless top and sparkling golden shorts, with additional fur and claw-like glove accessories on the hands.

Golden Egyptian Sphinx Sculpture on White Surface — A detailed egyptian sphinx sculpture with a golden body, black striped headdress and painted details in black, green, and red. The sculpture lies on a smooth white surface, radiating an air of ancient luxury and mystique.

Manticore – a mythical creature with the body of a lion, the wings of a dragon and the tail of a scorpion

Mythical Creature on Rocky Cliff — A fierce mythical creature stands on a rocky cliff, largely resembling a lion but with bat-like wings and a scorpion’s tail. Its mane is fiery orange while its wings and tail are dark, almost black. The creature’s body is covered in light fur, contrasting with the dark, ominous sky filled with distant flying figures. Below the creature lies a skeleton and discarded sword, adding to the menacing scene.

Fantasy Combat Scene with Lion Costume and Warrior — A fantasy-themed scene with a person in a detailed lion costume wielding a staff adorned with a skull. Another person, dressed as a warrior with leather armor and boots, brandishes a round weapon while kicking at the lion. A third person in a red outfit and brown boots holds a long wooden staff behind them.

Minotaur – a mythical creature with a human body and a bull's head

Bull-headed Warrior in Golden Armor — A powerful warrior with a bull’s head stands on a rock, wielding a large battle axe. The character is adorned in ornate golden armor that reflects the sunlight streaming from above. A vast labyrinth lies beneath, with intricate, swirling pathways. The background features a bright, almost celestial light that creates a sense of drama and grandeur. The rich details in the warrior’s armor and the dynamic pose convey strength and mythological significance.

Mythical inspired costume with black twisted horns — A dramatic and intense costume with a dark, mythical theme features an individual with long, twisted black hair styled to resemble tall, twisted horns. The expression on the face is fierce, with bared teeth, emphasizing the character’s ferocious demeanor. The costume includes an elaborate, dark-colored collar with intricate designs, enhancing the mystical and formidable appearance.

Centaur – combination of man and horse

Child in Brown Centaur Costume Outdoors — A child is dressed as a centaur, a mythical creature with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse. The costume comprises a brown furry outfit that extends to form the horse’s body and hind legs. The setting is outdoors with dry grass and green foliage in the background, creating a rustic and natural environment.

Scylla – sea monster with the upper body of a woman and an abdomen of six dogs

Mythical figure with wolves and sailboat — A mythical figure stands atop a rock, partially submerged in water. The figure is flanked by several ferocious black wolves with glowing eyes, while a large, snake-like tail coils behind them. In the distance, a small sailboat with a white sail navigates on the water, against a background of dark, cloudy skies creating a mystical atmosphere.

Colorful Mythical Creature Costumes — Three individuals in intricately designed costumes pose dramatically against a colorful backdrop. The costumes feature a mix of blue, green, and black hues with various textures and layers, resembling mythical creatures.

Dragon

Phoenix

Mythical Firebird Costume with Red and Yellow Design — A vibrant scene featuring a person in a mythical firebird costume. The outfit includes an elaborate headpiece with flames, yellow and red body suit with intricate designs, and large, theatrical wings. The left side shows the person outdoors with greenery in the background, while the right side highlights the costume details under stage lighting.

Satyr or Faun

Person in magical creature costume with golden horns — A person dressed in a mythical creature costume with long, dark curly hair, intricate face makeup resembling a deer, and large, curved golden horns. The costume includes a detailed, earth-toned top with ornate patterns. The background features a turquoise curtain.

Halloween Costume Ideas – Nordic Mythology

Fenris Wolf

Mythical Battle with Dark Beast — A dramatic and intense scene of a powerful mythical battle. A giant ferocious beast with dark fur and razor-sharp teeth is clamping its jaws around a muscular warrior. Bright lightning bolts illuminate the dark stormy sky, while black ravens fly ominously in the background.

Vampire-themed Gothic Makeup with Light-colored Dresser and Floral Wallpaper — A person with gothic makeup and vampire-like features, including sharp fangs, dark eye makeup, and intense yellow eyes. They have long black hair and are wearing a costume ensemble indicative of a mythological or legendary vampire. The background includes a light-colored dresser and wallpaper with subtle floral patterns.

Fafnir Dragon

Knight Confronts Dragon in Cavern — In a mystical cave with rugged rocks and shadows, a knight holding a glowing sword confronts a dragon. The dragon is perched on a pile of treasure, including gold coins and artifacts. The cavern has a dramatic lighting effect, enhancing the tension of the scene.

Octopus

Colossal Sea Monster Tentacles with Red Eye — A dramatic seascape painting depicting a colossal sea monster with large tentacles emerging from the depths of the ocean. The creature has a menacing red eye, and it looms beneath a small sailing ship on the ocean’s surface. The sky is painted in warm hues, contrasting with the dark, turbulent waters.

Basilisk – the king snakes

Black and White Serpent Dragon Illustration — An intricate illustration depicts a serpent-like dragon with scales and wings in a medieval setting. The dragon’s body coils around a column, its mouth open with a threatening expression. Surrounding the dragon are medieval artifacts like a broken hourglass, a fallen cup, and scattered debris, all drawn in shades of black and white. Gothic architectural elements, such as arches and stone pillars, frame the background, enhancing the mythical atmosphere.

Snake-Face Halloween Costume with Black Hat — A person is wearing a black hat and has detailed face paint resembling a snake with green scales, large black and white eyes, and a red forked tongue. The face paint covers the entire face, with black paint around the mouth and jaw area, mimicking the snake’s maw. The person is also wearing earrings and a nose ring.

Green and Yellow Reptilian Face Paint on Child — A child is wearing face paint that mimics the look of a reptilian or dragon-like creature, with predominant green and yellow hues, intricate black designs, and detailed coloring around the eyes and mouth. The paint gives a fierce and mythical appearance.

mild Cyclops

Blonde wig with Cyclops costume and yellow purple jacket — A person in a unique costume featuring a large single eye and mouth mask is standing outdoors. The costume includes a blonde wig, a colorful shirt with cartoon graphics, and a yellow and purple jacket. The background shows several people, some of whom appear to be taking photographs, and greenery in the distance.

Cross –

Mythical Griffin on a Rocky Cliff with a Red Sky — A mythical griffin stands majestically on a rocky cliff. The creature, a blend of lion and eagle, has the muscular body and legs of a lion with brown fur, while its head and massive wings are those of an eagle, featuring intricate brown and golden feathers. The backdrop showcases a dramatic, misty landscape with towering mountains and a vivid sky transitioning from pale blue to a striking red hue.

Mythical Bird Costume in Forest — A series of six images featuring a person dressed in a mythical bird costume. The costume includes a fluffy bird mask with a bright orange beak, a green vest, a white blouse, and a patterned brown skirt. The person wears blue gloves, and the background displays a lush, green forested area.

Indian gods

Colored body paint, multiple hands, flower garlands and Indian symbols – and the brand of Indian gods. Hanuman, Ganesha, Kali, Durga, Brahma and Vinschu are some of the main gods of 133 Indians.