American Horror Story Season 13 Unleashes a Star-Studded Cast

Get ready for a major comeback! Ryan Murphy just dropped the bomb on American Horror Story Season 13, featuring pop superstar Ariana Grande alongside a legendary lineup of returning fan favorites.

TL;DR: Here's the Quick Scoop on AHS Season 13

• Ariana Grande joins American Horror Story Season 13, reuniting with creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk, plus former Scream Queens co-stars.
• Fan-favorite legends Jessica Lange, Evan Peters, and Sarah Paulson are officially back, alongside a host of other iconic franchise alums.
• The new season is slated to premiere on Halloween 2026 on FX and Hulu, with strong hints suggesting a potential return to the beloved Coven storyline.

Well, happy Halloween, horror hounds! Just when we thought this spooky season couldn't get any better, Ryan Murphy decided to pull out all the stops and give us the ultimate treat. On October 31, 2025, the official Ryan Murphy Productions Instagram page lit up the internet with a spine-chilling announcement that has American Horror Story fans absolutely buzzing: the full, star-studded cast for Season 13!

And let me tell you, this isn't just any cast. It's an Avengers-level assembly of talent, bringing back some of the most iconic faces from the show's dark and twisted history. Plus, there's a dazzling new face ready to step into the nightmare: none other than global superstar Ariana Grande!

The Unforgettable American Horror Story Season 13 Cast Reveal

The anticipation for AHS13 has been building, and Murphy’s reveal certainly didn't disappoint. The announcement came via a spooky video featuring the cast members’ names in the signature American Horror Story font, all set to Vera Lynn’s haunting cover of “I’ll Be Seeing You.” But the real kicker? A quote that flashed across the screen: "Surprise, bitch. I bet you thought you'd seen the last of me." Any true fan knows that line instantly belongs to Emma Roberts’ fabulous and deadly character, Madison Montgomery, from American Horror Story: Coven. Talk about a tease!

So, who’s officially returning to the fold, and who's making their grand entrance? Here’s the killer lineup:

• Ariana Grande (New to AHS, but not to Murphy's horror universe!)
• Jessica Lange
• Sarah Paulson
• Evan Peters
• Angela Bassett
• Kathy Bates
• Emma Roberts
• Billie Lourd
• Gabourey Sidibe
• Leslie Grossman

Seriously, take a moment to let that sink in. It’s a murderer's row of fan favorites, many of whom haven't graced our screens in seasons. This is shaping up to be one of the most exciting cast announcements in AHS history, and it's already sparking endless theories about what horrors await us.

Jessica Lange's Stunning Return to the Franchise

Let's be real, the biggest gasp-inducing news is the return of Jessica Lange. Our beloved Supreme, the queen of AHS's early seasons, hasn't been a main cast member since Season 4’s Freak Show and only made a special guest appearance in Season 8’s Apocalypse in 2018. She was so iconic as Constance Langdon in Murder House, Sister Jude in Asylum, Fiona Goode in Coven, and Elsa Mars in Freak Show, winning multiple awards for her captivating performances.

What makes her return even more shocking? Earlier this year, Lange was reportedly asked at the Glasgow Film Festival if she'd come back to the series, and her response was a firm, "Oh Christ, no. I mean, I haven't done it for more than 10 years, 12 years, so, no, I'm not doing it." Well, it seems Ryan Murphy has a way of convincing even the most resolute, and we are absolutely thrilled she's had a change of heart. Her presence alone elevates any season she's in.

"Surprise, bitch. I bet you thought you'd seen the last of me!"

— Emma Roberts' Madison Montgomery, a line prominently featured in the Season 13 announcement video from Ryan Murphy Productions.

What the Teaser and Cast Hints Mean for Season 13's Theme

Now, let's talk theories! With so many beloved actors returning, especially those with deep ties to specific seasons, fans are already working overtime trying to decipher the theme of AHS13. The biggest clue, of course, is that "Surprise, bitch" quote from Madison Montgomery. Emma Roberts played Madison in both Coven (Season 3) and Apocalypse (Season 8), a season that famously brought back characters from Coven, Murder House, and Hotel for a massive crossover event.

The return of Jessica Lange, Angela Bassett (who played the legendary Marie Laveau in Coven and reprised the role in Apocalypse), Kathy Bates (the terrifying Madame Delphine LaLaurie in Coven), Gabourey Sidibe (Queenie from Coven), along with Evan Peters and Sarah Paulson (who were in nearly every early season, including Coven), strongly suggests a Coven-centric theme. Could we be getting a direct sequel? A new take on the Salem witches? The possibilities are deliciously wicked.

Adding another layer to the mystery is the song choice in the teaser: Vera Lynn’s “I’ll Be Seeing You.” While a beautiful and melancholic tune, some eagle-eyed fans recall a popular, though unconfirmed, story linking the song to NASA’s final message to the Mars rover Opportunity as it lost power. This has led to wilder speculation: could Season 13 blend the magic of Coven with the extraterrestrial horror of Asylum (Season 2)? While a fun theory, it's important to remember that the Mars Rover connection to the song's lyrics is a widely circulated rumor, not officially confirmed by NASA. But hey, this is American Horror Story, where anything can happen!

Ariana Grande's Dive Back into Horror TV

It's not just the returning legends making waves; Ariana Grande's casting is huge! While she’s a pop music icon and a bonafide movie star with her role as Glinda in the upcoming Wicked films, her last scripted TV series role was nearly a decade ago. That, of course, was in Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s horror-comedy series, Scream Queens, where she played Chanel #2.

This means a delightful reunion for Grande with Murphy and Falchuk, as well as her former Scream Queens co-stars Emma Roberts (Chanel Oberlin) and Billie Lourd (Chanel #3). Seeing these three back together in a horror setting, this time in the more serious (usually!) world of AHS, promises some electric on-screen chemistry. Grande got her start in TV on Nickelodeon’s Victorious and its spin-off Sam & Cat, before skyrocketing to music fame and now conquering the big screen. Her return to the small screen, especially in a franchise as popular as AHS, is truly exciting.

Looking Back at American Horror Story Season 12: Delicate

For those keeping track, Season 13 follows American Horror Story: Delicate, which wrapped up its two-part run in April 2024 after premiering in September 2023. That season starred Emma Roberts as an actress grappling with a mysterious, potentially evil pregnancy, and notably featured Kim Kardashian in her first major acting role. Billie Lourd and Leslie Grossman were also part of the Delicate cast, so their immediate return for Season 13 means they're not strangers to the recent chilling narratives.

Each season of AHS stands alone with its own unique premise, but Murphy has a knack for weaving connections and bringing back beloved actors to play entirely new (or sometimes familiar) characters. This rich history makes the speculation for Season 13 even more intense and fun for fans.

When and Where to Catch the Next Chilling Chapter

Mark your calendars, because American Horror Story Season 13 is expected to premiere on October 31, 2026 – perfectly timed for next Halloween! You’ll be able to catch all the scares and thrills on FX, with episodes also available for streaming on Hulu. Get ready to dim the lights, grab a blanket, and prepare for another dose of Murphy's signature brand of horror.

American Horror Story Season 13: Frequently Asked Questions for Fans

When does American Horror Story Season 13 officially premiere?

American Horror Story Season 13 is expected to premiere on October 31, 2026, just in time for Halloween!

Where can I stream or watch American Horror Story Season 13?

You can watch new episodes of American Horror Story Season 13 on FX. They will also be available for streaming on Hulu.

Is Ariana Grande really joining the cast of AHS Season 13?

Yes, absolutely! Ryan Murphy Productions officially announced that Ariana Grande has been cast in American Horror Story Season 13, marking her return to scripted television.

Will American Horror Story Season 13 be a Coven sequel or crossover?

While not officially confirmed, many fans are speculating that Season 13 could be a sequel or heavily feature elements of AHS: Coven. This theory is fueled by the prominent return of several key Coven cast members, including Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates, Gabourey Sidibe, and Emma Roberts (whose character Madison Montgomery’s iconic line was used in the announcement teaser).

Sources

• Ryan Murphy Productions Instagram (@ryanmurphyproductions)
• Various news outlets citing the official announcement from October 31, 2025.