Witchcraft is moving into the mainstream this autumn, with a new crop of films, venues and events. September sees the release of Practical Magic 2, the sequel starring Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock as the Owens sisters. In November, Disney's animated film Hexed arrives in cinemas, and the first UK flagship Harry Potter store is set to open in central London.
Online interest is also high, with 9 million posts using the hashtag #WitchTok, covering tarot readings, spell tutorials, crystals and manifestation.
In Britain, Witch Festival takes place in Cornwall on 24 October, offering workshops, ceremonies and a collective fire ritual. Witchfest Market makes its debut in Lewes on 14 November with stalls and esoteric talks.
The Dreaming, an arts and crafts country house in the Elan Valley in mid-Wales once owned by Laura Ashley, has been transformed into a healing centre by singer and activist Charlotte Church. Its witch retreats, created with High Priestess Tree Carr, are held a handful of times a year and sell out quickly. "The response has been pretty extraordinary," Church said. "We're adding as many dates as we realistically can, because the appetite for it is clearly there."
In the United States, Salem in Massachusetts expects more than a million tourists for Halloween, with 2026 also marking the city's 400th anniversary. The Haunted Happenings parade kicks off in early October. In Los Angeles, the Witch's Cottage has recently opened as a café, restaurant, bar and event space.