American Horror Story has been disturbing, dismaying, and delighting dark-minded audiences ever since it first premiered on FX in October 2011, when a ghost-infested Murder House made the Harmon family its permanent residents. Since then, cocreators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk have introduced eerie asylums, cursed covens, sinister sideshow circuses, haunted hotels, and even the end of the world as part of the show’s macabre repertoire designed to scare and mesmerize viewers.
Now, the show will return for the lucky thirteenth installment as the iconic horror series turns its gaze back to Miss Robichaux’s Academy for Exceptional Young Ladies. American Horror Story Season 13 debuts on Thursday, September 24, at 9/8c on FX and Hulu with 13 half-hour episodes.
The original casting announcement featuring a lineup of AHS all-stars sent viewers into a frenzy, and now fans are getting their first look at the familiar faces back in action. A new teaser trailer featuring favorite characters from favorite seasons dropped on August 13, featuring Jessica Lange as Constance Lange, Evan Peters as Kai from the Cult season, Sarah Paulson as Cordelia, Angela Bassett as Marie Laveau, Emma Roberts as Madison Montgomery, as well as AHS evildoers John Carroll Lynch as Twisty the Clown and Rubber Man.
When will American Horror Story Season 13 premiere?
The premiere is set for Thursday, September 24, at 9/8c, on FX and Hulu.
Previously, via Murphy’s original Instagram post, the new season was set to premiere on Halloween, October 31, 2026. However, on April 8, that date changed. In his new post, Murphy wrote: “Coming this September.”
Who will star in American Horror Story Season 13?
Last Halloween, Murphy revealed the cast list for the upcoming Season 13 on Instagram, and for American Horror Story fans, the list is reminiscent of the Coven and Apocalypse seasons, with a few fan favorites thrown in for good measure. The cast list includes Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Gabourey Sidibe, Leslie Grossman, and the big surprise, Jessica Lange.
Lange’s casting news came after the actress previously said she would not return. In an interview in February 2025, Lange was asked if she would ever return to the anthology series, and the Oscar winner stated, “Oh Christ, no,” Lange said. “I mean, I haven’t done it for more than 10 years, 12 years, so, no, I’m not doing it.”
On April 6, Murphy posted first-look photos on Instagram of Lange, dolled up as Constance Langdon, standing in front of the window of her beloved Murder House. “American Horror Story, Season 13. Day One. The return of Jessica Lange!”
Ryan Murphy Productions / Instagram
Not only has Lange returned as the mad matriarch of the Murder House, but production has started on Season 13, and in the comment section, Murphy further confirms more story details as one fan commented, “Omg! Can’t wait! Plz make it a Coven extension! I need the witches in my life! Especially Angela Bassett as Marie Laveau,” to which Murphy then replied, “Done.”
FX
On April 8, Murphy confirmed the return of Paulson as Cordelia Chase with an Instagram post that read: “AHS 13. The Return of @mssarahcatharinepaulson as Cordelia Goode. The Supreme Rises. And yes, we have rebuilt the entire Robichaux Academy. Coming this September.”
The next day, Emma Roberts appeared in a video spouting her signature line and confirming her return as well: “Surprise, b*tch. Bet you thought you saw the last of me?”
On May 12, it was announced that Paul Anthony Kelly will join the cast following his breakout performance as John F. Kennedy Jr. in Murphy’s hit limited series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette.
On May 20, Deadline revealed that John Carroll Lynch and Mat Fraser are returning as their American Horror Story: Freak Show characters, Twisty the Clown and Paul the Illustrated Seal, while Berto Colón will play Joe the Doorman, who is employed by Lange’s character. Mena Suvari returns as Elizabeth Short, a.k.a. the Black Dahlia, after playing her in both Murder House and Apocalypse seasons. First look images of the characters were revealed by Vogue.
Also joining the cast is the Baltimore “Pope of Trash” John Waters, who announced his involvement on February 14, 2026, during one of his live shows. “I’m going to announce tonight something new: I can’t say what role, but I have a big new part in American Horror Story,” Waters told his audience at the Baltimore Soundstage.
In June, it was announced that Frances Conroy officially ended her acting retirement to reprise her iconic Coven role as Myrtle Snow. She is returning for a special cameo appearance in this all-star New York City-based season.
Originally, Ariana Grande was part of the Instagram cast reveal, but Deadline reported on July 10 that the multihyphenate had to bow out due to conflicts between the production dates and her Eternal Sunshine Tour.
What will American Horror Story Season 13 be about?
By the looks of the cast, it appears to be a fan-favorite all-stars mashup of all the best seasons. The cast, the confirmations, and the Instagram posts lean towards a return to the witchier, more magical, and bonkers seasons of AHS, much to the delight of fans who favored those seasons.
“I know which ones the fans liked the most. They love Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, and they loved Cult,” Murphy told Variety about what to expect.
Murphy also explained that some actors will be playing multiple characters from the past. “Some of them will be playing two characters from two different seasons in the same scene. Evan was, at one point, playing two different characters and talking to himself. So it was really fun and tricky to make, and I loved that. I’ve edited almost all of them, and I think they’re really good.”
In addition to the reunion, the new season will see the witches in New York, as behind-the-scenes photos from production highlighted the coven in the city.
Previously, Ryan Murphy hinted at the witches’ return. Back in 2018, during his Walk of Fame ceremony after Apocalypse’s 10-episode run, Murphy made the cryptic comment, “The witches will be back.”
American Horror Story, Season 13 Premiere, September 2026, FX (next day on Hulu)
