Janelle Monáe Returns to Halloween Creature Role

LOS ANGELES, Calif. Janelle Monáe is preparing for a second year as the creative force behind the Wondaween Festival, an annual Halloween celebration currently held at a secret location in Los Angeles. The 2026 edition of the event is titled Creature Carnival and is scheduled for October 29. Monáe will appear in a new prosthetic costume for the occasion, marking the second consecutive year that Bacardi has served as the official spirits partner for the festival.

The artist has described Halloween as a period of deep personal significance. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Monáe said, “Halloween is such a happy space for me. It has been since I was a kid.” She added that the holiday opens a larger conversation about becoming agents of joy, happy, and imagination. She noted that she participates in the tradition because her heart needs it.

Monáe’s approach to costume involves extensive planning and collaboration. She has stated that her previous E.T. look required two years of preparation. Designer Alex Navarro and stylist Alexandra Mandelkorn work with her to realize these concepts. For the current Creature Carnival look, Monáe is wearing a peachy pink shag wig topped with a black hat. Her face is covered in wrinkled, green-tinged prosthetic makeup. One of her eyes has been replaced with a hot pink swirl.

Her outfit includes a ruffled white blouse with black-and-white striped suspenders. Long strands of pearls mixed with black beads are layered around her neck. The costume features prosthetic hands with bloody knuckles. In one of these hands, she holds a Spookito, a seasonal drink created by Bacardi. The Spookito is a variation of the classic mojito.

The recipe for the Spookito calls for 1.5 ounces of Bacardi Superior rum, 1 ounce of lime juice, 0.5 ounces of simple syrup, and 0.25 ounces of grenadine. The drink also uses 8 to 10 mint leaves and is topped with soda water. To prepare the cocktail, the mint is muddled with the lime juice and simple syrup. The Bacardi and crushed ice are added and stirred gently. The drink is topped with soda water, drizzled with grenadine, and garnished with a mint sprig.

Monáe has built a history of elaborate Halloween transformations dating back to her childhood in Kansas City. She told Dread Central that as a child she dressed as Chucky, complete with a mask and overalls. She said she even slept in the mask. Her mother’s reaction to the costume was, “I think something’s wrong with you, but I love you.”

The artist views her costumes as full character studies. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Monáe explained that when she gets into costume, she transforms for the entire day and night. She referenced her past portrayals of characters such as the white rabbit and Diva Plavalaguna from “The Fifth Element.” She stated that Wondaween Season allows all the versions of herself inside to be fully realized.

Recent public appearances have showcased this commitment to detail. At the “Frankenstein” premiere on October 6, 2025, Monáe wore facial prosthetics with a long black coat, white shirt, skinny black tie, and bowler hat. The look included a red flower pin and black leather gloves. At a previous Wondaween event at Santa Monica Pier, she wore a black latex cape over a tattooed prosthetic chest, paired with fangs, pointed ears, and a hot pink collar.

Other notable appearances include a canary yellow suit with a matching fedora for a “The Mask” look. She also appeared on “The Jennifer Hudson Show” dressed as the Cat in the Hat, wearing a striped top hat and oversized red bow tie. In a separate appearance on the same show, she was wrapped in a white knit blanket for an E.T. look. These performances demonstrate the range of her creative output over the past few seasons.

The Creature Carnival event will take place in Los Angeles on October 29. Monáe will present her new creature look to the audience. The Bacardi partnership continues for a second year, linking the festival with the brand’s seasonal cocktail offerings. The specific location of the event remains undisclosed until the date of the gathering.