Most Searched Halloween Candy 2026: Sour Patch Kids Hold No. 1 as Candy Corn Jumps to No. 2
In the three weeks before Halloween, candy corn jumped from No. 8 in year-round search interest to No. 2 nationally, trailing only Sour Patch Kids, according to an Innerbody Research analysis of Google Trends data covering all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Sour Patch Kids are the country's most-searched Halloween candy in 2026, holding the No. 1 position both in the three weeks leading up to Halloween and over the previous 12 months, according to a new analysis by Innerbody Research of Google Trends data. The analysis covered all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
The seasonal reshuffle is sharpest for candy corn, which ranked only No. 8 in year-round search interest but jumped to No. 2 as October 31 neared, Innerbody found. Snickers ranked third in the Halloween period, followed by Twix, Skittles, KitKat, Reese's, Starburst, Twizzlers and Nerds.
Year-round, the picture is more fruity: Sour Patch Kids, Skittles and Snickers are America's most-searched candies over the full year, with Starburst and Twix also in the top five, according to the analysis. Innerbody noted the rankings reflect search interest, examined separately over the past 12 months and over the three weeks leading up to Halloween.
The stakes are large for candy makers: Halloween accounted for roughly 18.4 percent of annual U.S. confectionery sales in 2025, according to the analysis. For District households stocking a bowl tonight, the search data points to a sour-first mix, with candy corn the polarizing No. 2.
