Halloween is a huge night for DJs and (in some places) the biggest night of the year. So picking a few songs to give your sets that Halloween vibe is definitely a good idea.
Ahead of Halloween 2025, we did a quick poll of our team here at the Digital DJ Tips school to find what Halloween tracks have worked for them over the years. Here’s a handful of favourites, with a few notes as to why we like them, plus video links so you can have a listen.
Tips for DJing Halloween gigs
When you’re playing your Halloween gigs, don’t feel obligated to play too many songs that are Halloween-themed or from this list. Two or three well-placed throughout your set is good enough – think of the way the radio handles Christmas, for instance. If you want to play a song that’s in a different theme or style and you’re not sure whether it’s going to work, then playing it at the end of the event might be a way to do it.
It’s also a good idea to figure out how you’re going to mix in and out of songs that are Halloween-based, especially if they’re slightly different from what you’d normally play…which is why planning ahead of time is a good idea.
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Our Top Halloween Tracks
11. Sophie-Ellis Baxter – “Murder on the Dancefloor”
Danceable, with lots of mentions of “murder” and “killing”…there’s even a Tiesto mix knocking around (but we like the original).
10. The Specials – “Ghost Town”
Eerie, haunting, and dark. Proper atmosphere. Pick your time wisely though (it’s pretty slow).
9. DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince – “A Nightmare On My Street”
Real hip-hop, storytelling, and fun! And it’s by our very own tutor, DJ Jazzy Jeff.
8. The Rolling Stones – “Sympathy for the Devil”
Devilish theme, iconic, gets people moving. It’s over six minutes long, so you can mix out early if needed.
7. The Cure – “Lullaby”
Eerie atmosphere but still danceable. Appeals to the alternative crowd without alienating the mainstream punters.
6. Santana – “Black Magic Woman”
Properly groovy, very dark! The Fleetwood Mac original works too.
5. Stevie Wonder – “Superstition”
Groovy, funky, and thematically appropriate without being pantomime.
4. Talking Heads – “Psycho Killer”
New wave crowds will love it. Twitchy, energetic, as well as being lyrically perfect. Singalong chorus.
3. Rockwell – “Somebody’s Watching Me”
A classic from the first synth riff. That chorus is infectious, and the paranoia theme is spot-on.
2. Lady Gaga – “The Dead Dance”
“Straight in at number one”, an instant Halloween classic that pushes all the right buttons.
1. Ray Parker Jr. – “Ghostbusters”
Spooky from the first note. Singalong factor is huge. Works for all ages.
What’s your favourite track to drop on Halloween? Any we missed? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Phil Morse
