‘American Horror Story’ Season 13: Fan Favorite Characters Return in Terrifying Trailer
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. The official trailer featuring favorite characters from past seasons dropped on September 10, above, showcasing 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.”
View this post on Instagram
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?”
View this post on Instagram
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, Thursday, September 24, 9/8c, FX (next day on Hulu)
Conversation32 Comments
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R
I think I was most disappointed when my favorite actors starting dropping out. Let’s face it, if Evan Peters, Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, Finn Whitlock and the rest of the crew were in the last few seasons, it would have been magic no matter what the theme was.
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G
The Coven and the Apocalypse were my favourite. You can keep on rolling those out and I will keep on watching, non of that Kardashian trash, didn't watch the last season because of her
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B
It sounds like AHS is back for real. None of this NYC or Delicate shit. I didn’t ever get through NYC
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L
What about Lily Rabe? She was on several seasons and should be on Season 13.
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T
Please no more Kardashians good choice with A.Grande
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C
😀 "Pepper, Pepper, bo-bepper, banana-fana, fo-fepper" My favourite was Coven.🧙♀️
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E
You're confused, Dementia Joe is gone.
2
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T
I miss how they use to break out in song just when things got too heavy. You would think the inclusion of Gaga in season 5 would've kept it going, but the musical numbers ended with freak show.
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J
And now Dementia Don is far, far worse.
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M
last season was awful, i didnt even finish it.. im excited jessica lange is coming back. Her and kathy bates are my fav along with evan peters
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R
Jeez, you really are a misery guts, aren't you. How about just letting your mind go blank and taking each of them as a story, without trying to turn yourself into the internet critic of the year and spending the entire series whining about how bad it is. Your friends must really suffer. Do you really think that anyone is interested in what you personally think should be rated above or below worst on par? Get over yourself and stop being such a keyboard warrior.
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K
I wasn’t sure about Delicate but I gave it a try. It’s wasn’t the best but I still liked it. Kim k did better than I expected her too. And I enjoyed seeing the main character from the Resident as the leading male role. I think he’s worth bringing back.
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J
roanoke had some good moments kathy bates is always a win. and that lady who played indra on the 100 ( i hate that i can never remember her name.)
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J
you didnt miss anything, delicate wasnt that entertaining.
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J
right? i loved hotel, its my favorite.
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S
Was NYC the detective one set in AIDS epidemic 1980s etc?
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H
I need them to drop a refresher “everything you need to know” trailer
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D
I can’t wait!!
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T
I love the fact that some of the original people are back. I missed Evan Peters. I loved American Horror Story from the start. I rewatch each new season so I will start now
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J
3th again?
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J
3th?
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K
I recently rewatched murder house and coven and the acting and the story in Murder House was so phenomenal so great and then I think of over the years how it just went so far down from where it began it was sad to even see what AHS had become so I really hope that this is not going to be a repeat of last season delicate because that was probably the worst I've ever seen. I sure hope that we're going to see Michael come back I mean if they're going to do an apocalypse crossover how can they not have Michael in it and the warlocks?
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K
How can it be a coven apocalypse Crossover with no Cody fern I mean Michael was the protagonist in season 8 he was the most important character in Apocalypse so if he's not in the cast I certainly hope they're not going to get anyone else to play Michael because I don't think anyone else could do justice to that role I'm hoping that he will maybe be a guest star in a couple of episodes or maybe a last minute add on but I certainly hope he's going to appear not going to sit through 16 episodes just to hear Madison Montgomery say hey bitch I bet you thought you'd Seen the Last of Me.. that's getting kind of old.
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T
Is Zoe and Queenie coming back
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J
Anything with a Kartrashian will be at the bottom of the barrel. And not just Ryan Murphy's shows. ANYTHING!
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T
I believe American Horror Story is the most ingenious TV series of all time!-The writing, the characters, & the actors, actresses are absolutely superb!!-I thoroughly enjoyed all 12 seasons, and am very happily anticipating season 13, 2026!!
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E
I think Roanoke and Delicate share the honor of being "the worst". Actually Cult was pretty bad too.
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E
Witches? Yes, great idea .. they haven't done that before🙄.
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E
It's a toss up for me ... Coven and Freak Show were equally phenomenal. Honorable mention for Apocalypse.
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A
the sequence of five about seasons of the witches: 3th season - 8th season - 13th season. there's the last season about the witches, and the last season of american horror story
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A
in the tens of 10, i think the 13th season is gonna be the best
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A
the new season needs to save american horror story. i think about this show everytime, and well, let's be formal: ahs it's not the same anymore. praying for this season looks like the 3th season ''coven''.
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