The spooky season is arriving in The Elder Scrolls Online (ESO) as the Witches Festival returns from October 21 to November 4, 2026. Running on October 21 until November 4, this annual Halloween celebration gives adventurers a chance to earn rare collectibles, hunt special bosses, and collect seasonal rewards across Tamriel.

One of the biggest attractions is the 100% bonus to experience points (XP) available throughout the event. Players can also farm Plunder Skulls, collect exclusive style pages, complete special daily quests, and exchange event currency for a variety of cosmetics and collectibles. Whether you're a new adventurer or a veteran looking to expand your collection, the Witches Festival offers plenty of reasons to join the festivities.

How to Join the Witches Festival and Get Double XP?

Getting started is straightforward. Visit the in-game Crown Store and claim the free introductory quest, The Witchmother's Bargain. You'll need to collect a Pumpkin, some Guts, and an Essence of Death. The Essence of Death can be obtained by defeating a Delve Boss anywhere in Tamriel.

Once you have all three ingredients, visit Witchmother Olyve at her home in a starter zone, such as Auridon, Glenumbra, or Stonefalls, to complete the quest. Your reward is the Witchmother's Whistle, a collectible that summons the Witchmother's Cauldron. Drinking from the cauldron transforms your character into an undead creature.

More importantly, the event provides a passive 100% XP bonus to all players while it is active. You don't need to activate the whistle or drink from the cauldron to receive this bonus. It's an excellent opportunity to level up characters, develop new builds, and make progress on other activities while enjoying the Halloween festivities.

Plunder Skulls: Your Main Source of Festival Rewards

Boss hunting is at the heart of the Witches Festival. Defeating bosses across different activities rewards players with Plunder Skulls alongside their usual loot. These containers can include Halloween-themed recipes, furnishing plans, crafting reagents, collectible fragments, and Hollowjack or Dremora style items.

Your first boss kill of each eligible boss type each day can also grant a Dremora Plunder Skull, which contains additional rewards. These special containers are particularly valuable for players hunting Dremora Motif Pages, Witches Festival Writs, Glenmoril Treasure Maps, and the new Zhekleg armor style pages.

Dremora Motifs and New Zhekleg Armor Styles

Dremora Motif Pages remain a major target for collectors. Different pages drop from different boss categories, encouraging players to explore a wide range of ESO content.

Here's a breakdown of the Dremora Motif rewards associated with each boss type:

Arena final bosses: Bows or Legs
World event bosses: Daggers or Gloves
Delve bosses: Staves or Belts
Final dungeon bosses: Helmets or Maces
Public dungeon bosses: Shields or Boots
Final trial bosses: Swords or Chests
World bosses: Shoulders or Axes
Tho'at Replicanum in the Infinite Archive: Any weapon page

Complete Witches Festival Writs for Exclusive Collectibles

Witches Festival Writs are special holiday crafting assignments that provide another route to seasonal rewards. They're generally quick tasks, making them a convenient addition to your daily event routine.

Completing 13 Witches Festival Writs unlocks the Witch's Infernal Hat collectible, while completing 28 writs grants the exclusive Witch title. If you want both rewards, start working on these assignments early rather than leaving everything until the final days.

These writs also provide a nice change of pace from repeated boss fights. Combining crafting tasks with regular gameplay can help you make steady progress toward the event's cosmetic rewards.

Plucking the Crow: Hunt the Crowborne Horror

Players looking for a more unusual challenge can take on the Plucking the Crow daily quest. Speak to Witchmother Taerma at Olyve's Brewery or near an Impresario tent to get started.

Your objective is to collect 50 Cursed Feathers, which can drop from Plunder Skulls or be obtained by defeating crow-like enemies. Once you've gathered enough feathers, you'll be able to open a portal and challenge the Crowborne Horror.

Defeating this unique boss rewards you with a Crowborne Horror Dremora Plunder Skull. It also offers a small chance of obtaining a complete style book for either the Dremora or Zhekleg motif, making the daily quest particularly attractive to collectors.

Because the encounter can be challenging, prepare your character properly before entering the fight. Bringing a reliable build or teaming up with other players can make the experience more manageable.

Face Lord Hollowjack for Additional Rewards

The Witches Festival also features Lord Hollowjack, a powerful seasonal boss that provides another challenge for players seeking special loot.

To access this encounter, accept the associated daily quest from Priest Maxien inside Olyve's Brewery. The fight is tougher than the Crowborne Horror encounter, so consider bringing friends or forming a group before taking him on.

Defeating Lord Hollowjack can reward players with a special Dremora Plunder Skull, an achievement, and a trophy furnishing. If you're interested in completing seasonal achievements or collecting Halloween-themed decorations, this encounter deserves a place on your event checklist.

Earn Trade Bars and Visit the Impresario

The Witches Festival offers another incentive for daily boss hunting: 300 Trade Bars for your first eligible boss defeat each day. These can be spent at the Impresario, the event merchant who stocks limited-time collectibles and other useful items.

Depending on the available inventory, players can spend their Trade Bars on:

Fragments for the Roseblood Bat Pet and its morphs
Fragments for the Roseblood Wings Recall customized action
Fragments for the Thorn's Bite Withersteed mount
The first fragment for the Grotto of Desires home
Zhekleg armor style pages, which are bound
Event-specific furnishings
Group Repair Kits
Companion Guild Commendations
Witches Grab Bags containing collectibles from previous festivals

The Impresario's Assistant, Philius Dormier, also offers fragments for several collectibles from earlier events. These include the Unstable Morpholith Pet, Dagonic Quasigriff Mount, Soulfire Dragon Illusion Pet, Daggerfall Paladin outfit, Passion Dancer's Blossom Pet, and Passion Dancer Garment Costume.

Since some items require multiple fragments, check the merchant's inventory early and prioritize the rewards you want most. This helps you avoid spending currency on less important items before securing the collectibles you're missing.

Indrik Vendor: Seasonal Mounts and Pets

Mount collectors should also visit the Indrik Vendor during the Witches Festival. The vendor's seasonal inventory includes items connected to several Indrik collections, giving players another opportunity to obtain rewards that may not always be available.

The listed options include:

Feathers for the Nascent Indrik Mount
Berries for the Pure Snow Indrik Mount
Berries for the Crimson Indrik Mount
Frost-Light Indrik Pet
Rosethorn Indrik Pet

If you're working toward a particular mount or pet, review the required fragments and berries before spending your event currency. Availability and inventory can vary by event, so confirm the items currently offered in-game.

The ESO Witches Festival 2026 runs from October 21 to November 4, bringing double XP, spooky boss encounters, special loot, and a wide selection of seasonal collectibles to Tamriel. Prepare your character, gather your friends, and make the most of this year's Halloween celebration before the festivities end.