Cracking down on parties this Halloween weekend

Key Takeaways

• Airbnb’s anti-party technology will be in place over the Halloween weekend to help reduce the risk of disruptive parties
• Last Halloween weekend, our defenses deterred over 23,500 people in the United States and nearly 3,000 people in Canada from booking an entire home listing
• Booking for minors is banned and could have serious consequences for the account holder

This Halloween, Airbnb’s heightened anti-party defenses are back on across the United States and Canada to help promote responsible stays and strengthen our partnership with local communities. This technology helps block potentially higher-risk bookings, with the aim of reducing the chance of disruptive and unauthorized parties – which are banned on Airbnb. This is the sixth consecutive year we’ve activated this elevated system for Halloween weekend.

The technology looks at a number of factors to help identify attempted bookings that could be higher risk for a disruptive party, and either blocks the booking or redirects guests to alternative accommodations on Airbnb, including private room listings and hotels.

Last year over the Halloween weekend, more than 23,500 people in the United States were deterred from booking an entire home, including approximately 3,230 people in Texas, 3,170 people in Florida, and around 1,600 people in Georgia. In Canada, nearly 3,000 people were deterred from booking an entire home, including approximately 1,240 people in Ontario, 660 people in Quebec, and close to 560 people in Alberta.

Roger Kaiser, Vice President of Fraud and Safety Operations at Airbnb, said: “Most people who book on Airbnb over Halloween weekend are doing what you’d expect: visiting family, taking a fall getaway, or catching a football game. Hosts, neighbors, and Airbnb want responsible stays, and our anti-party defenses are designed with that goal in mind.”

Barbara Culligan, a host in Nashville, Tennessee, said: “I appreciate that Airbnb is taking steps to help prevent unauthorized parties, especially around Halloween. As hosts, we work hard to protect our properties, provide a great guest experience, and be good neighbors. I still pay close attention to reservations and communicate with guests, but it’s reassuring to know Airbnb is also working behind the scenes to help identify potentially problematic bookings. Helping to prevent disruptive parties is a shared responsibility, and having Airbnb as a partner in that effort makes a real difference.”

New guidance for hosts

As part of our support for hosts and the communities they call home, this year we’re also sharing updated guidance with practical steps hosts can take to help prevent disruptive and unauthorized parties in their listings. This guidance covers how hosts can set clear expectations through listing descriptions and house rules, potential signs to look out for, questions to ask, and how to contact Airbnb Support to report concerns. We’re sharing this guidance with hosts across the US, to support them to feel confident and prepared when welcoming guests over the holiday and throughout the year.

Year-round party prevention

Our Halloween defenses are just one layer of our anti-party measures that are in effect year-round, including our global reservation screening technology, which uses machine learning to block or redirect potentially higher-risk bookings throughout the year.

Disruptive parties on Airbnb remain incredibly rare. In 2025, around 0.06% of reservations in the US resulted in a report of a party to us, and we believe the defenses we’ve built over the years, including these Halloween measures, have helped play a part in that.

A reminder for parents and guardians

Halloween events are a tradition for many, so ahead of the holiday weekend, we also have two important reminders for parents, grandparents, and other adults: minors under 18 cannot have Airbnb accounts, and adult account holders may not book a stay for a minor unless they are present for the entire trip.

Our rules are strict, and the consequences fall on the adult whose account was used. Violating these policies could result in losing your Airbnb account, having upcoming trips cancelled, and facing financial liability for property damage caused during a stay. The account holder could also face liability if law enforcement becomes involved following a disruptive party.

We encourage parents and guardians to stay informed about their children’s plans and to make sure their own accounts are secure by keeping login credentials private. If anyone has concerns about unexpected bookings or charges, or about a potential party being planned through their account, we urge them to reach out to Airbnb Support.

Additional resources and support

Over Halloween and beyond, Airbnb offers resources and support to hosts, guests and neighbors, including:

• Our Neighborhood Support Line for local residents to report issues to us, like a party in progress at a home they believe is listed on Airbnb
• A 24-Hour Safety Line for hosts and guests to reach our Safety team for support
• A noise sensor offer for hosts, which can help get ahead of issues before they start while respecting guest privacy
• Support for law enforcement through a dedicated channel and specialized response team, in the rare event of an issue that potentially involves an Airbnb listing or stay

Read more about: Trust

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5.5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2.5 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays, experiences, and services that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.