Heidi Klum Reveals Halloween Costume's Hidden Nod to Tom Kaulitz
Heidi Klum’s Halloween 2026 Costume Is Simply Out of Hand
You've got to hand it to Heidi Klum—she really is the Queen of Halloween.
The Project Runway star unveiled her spook-tacular costume at her 25th Annual Halloween Party at Cathédrale Restaurant in New York Oct. 31, transforming into a bloody severed hand. And she revealed just how much work went into her epic look.
"Literally, my left hand inspired me," Klum exclusively told E! News on the red carpet. "I looked at my hand and I was thinking, 'How can I fit my body into this hand?' There must be a way... Two legs could fit into fingers and the body in my palm, and it did work."
It took her six hours to get ready on Oct. 31, but her team has been working for months to create the prosthetics—or, as she quipped, "Many hands doing this hand."
And it's not just any old hand, but a replica of her real left hand—down to the green stone wedding ring and finger tattoo reading "Tom" in honor of husband Tom Kaulitz. As Klum noted, "I got it on our wedding day."
As for the significance of the red nail polish?
"I do like red nails," she explained at the event, presented by Apothic and Butterfinger, "but also for the photo afterwards—I think a red nail just pops, you know, on the red carpet."
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
The 53-year-old had teased the look just one week earlier, posting a glimpse of her smashing costume on Instagram Oct. 24.
Klum—mom to kids Leni, 22, with ex Flavio Briatore, as well as Henry, 21, Johan, 19, and Lou, 16, with ex Seal—showed a close-up of the prosthetic-heavy outfit with colorful shapes and textures, including several parts that appeared to look like human organs.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Of course, the model is no stranger to focusing on her fa-boo-lous look all year long, revealing to E! News that her Medusa costume from last year was one she’d been thinking about “for quite some time” and took a full five months to put together.
"Everything is hand-painted," she shared. "About 15 people have been working on this, and I think they did a fantastic job."
“I’ve seen over the years obviously many, many Medusas, and I thought, ‘You know, one day I'm going to try my own,’” she continued. “I really wanted to have snakes that were moving, a super-ugly, super-scary face, really ugly teeth, and to be like a really long rattlesnake."
Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Since moving to America from Germany, Klum has made it her mission to not only go all out for Halloween, but to also give others a place to have a gourd time.
“And it's worked,” she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2018, “because, over the years, people have become increasingly more outrageous with their costumes. The party has become almost legendary. It's epic. I feel like my love for Halloween has made other people fall in love with the holiday, too."
For a look at all their stars strutting their eerie-sistible costumes at Klum’s 2026 Halloween party, keep reading.
—Reporting by Nikaline McCarley
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Heidi Klum
The model's costume is hands down one of her best, as she dressed as her real left hand—including her wedding ring from husband Tom Kaulitz.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Neil Patrick Harris and David Burtka
The couple was unrecognizable as the twins from The Shining at Heidi Klum’s 25th annual Halloween Party.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Kyle MacLachlan and Desiree Gruber
Attending alongside his wife, the Sex and the City star was dressed as "the evil" Cliff Vandercave from his 1994 movie The Flintstones.
"This is a blast from the past with Flintstones," he told E!. "Original costume. I don't think they know it's gone, so don't tell them."
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Lou Samuel, Johan Samuel and Leni Klum
Klum's kids banded together on the red carpet for the party, which was presented by Apothic and Butterfinger at Cathédrale in New York City.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Chase Hudson
The influencer channeled American Psycho by dressing as Patrick Bateman.
“I thought this fit the New York atmosphere,” he told E! News. “A little bit of Wall Street, a little bit of money and a little bit of heartbreak and some pain.”
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
James Charles
The beauty influencer spent seven and a half hours transforming into Yzma from The Emperor's New Groove .
"I did prosthetics, and I'm not a special effects makeup artist, so that definitely tacked on a little bit more time than I would normally need," he told E!. "It's one of my favorite movies from when I was a kid. It's just a great way to combine glamor, camp, color and a lot of effort for Halloween."
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Taylor Momsen
The Gossip Girl alum embraced her rock skills for All Hallows' Eve.
"I've been on tour with AC/DC for the past three years," she told E!. "I'm Angus Young tonight."
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Questlove
The musician got in the NFL spirit with a San Francisco 49ers jersey and blinged helmet accessory.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Valentina Sampaio
You'll be green with envy over the model's Poison Ivy look.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Andrew Rannells and Tuc Watkins
The Girls alum and One Life to Live actor appear to have crashlanded on the shores of Heidi Klum's party.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Karen Mulder
The Victoria's Secret model wore Karl Lagerfeld's personal clothing while dressing as the late designer.
"These are his actual clothes, and these are his actual sunglasses as well," she told E! News on the red carpet. "They're prescription, so I'm looking at everybody a little fuzzy."
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Mariah Strongin
Wonder Woman to the rescue!
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Ida Kulis
The model was bewitching in her attire.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Christian Beck
Beck struck a pose on the carpet.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
David Kirsch
No angel is complete without silver abs.
Noam Galai/Getty Images for Heidi Klum
Rebecca Mir and Massimo Sinató
The pair coordinated in all-black ensembles.
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