What to Write on Halloween Awards?

What to Write on Novelty Awards for Halloween?

Halloween contests bring out the best (and weirdest) in everyone. Nothing caps off the night like handing out awards for the costumes that made people laugh, thrill with delight, or do a double-take. Whether you’re running a classroom party, an office costume contest, a neighborhood bash, or a shindig at a bar or restaurant, the right wording turns a fun little prize into something people actually keep on a shelf. So, it’s important to know what to write on novelty awards for Halloween.

This guide breaks down Halloween award wording across every award format — medals, trophies, plaques, crystal, and acrylic — with tone options for both kids’ parties and corporate events.

The Anatomy of What to Write on Novelty Awards for Halloween for a Great Inscription

What to write on novelty awards for Halloween includes:

Recipient’s name (or leave blank for a fill-in-the-blank keepsake)
The award title
A short, punchy tagline that matches the costume category
Event name or company/organization
Date or year

Halloween awards don’t need to be fancy — a little humor goes a long way. Save the formal tone for the trophy case; here, playful wins.

Choosing the Right Award Format

A display of What to Write on Novelty Awards for Halloween-themed trophies and plaques. Includes a gold figure trophy, a pumpkin-shaped medal, and a clear recognition award featuring a ghost design.

Medals — Great for kids’ parties. Lightweight, wearable, and instantly makes every winner feel like a champion. Best for large groups where everyone gets something.

Trophies — The classic “prize” feel. Works well for a single standout winner in each category, kids or adults.

Plaques — More formal and durable — ideal for corporate contests where the award might hang in an office or cubicle afterward.

Crystal — Elevated and elegant, best suited for corporate costume contests that want a premium keepsake with a touch of humor engraved into something upscale.

Acrylic — Modern, colorful, and budget-friendly. Great for printing full-color Halloween graphics (pumpkins, bats, ghosts) alongside the text.

Best Overall Costume Award Wording for Novelty Awards for Halloween

A decorative trophy for a Halloween costume contest, featuring a pumpkin design on top, surrounded by autumn leaves, a lit candle, and a carved pumpkin in the background.

The category everyone wants to win. Wording should feel like the top prize of the night.

Best Costume Award NAME For the Spookiest, Coolest Costume of the Whole Party! EVENT · DATE	Best Overall Costume Presented to NAME For Going All In Head to Toe Excellence COMPANY · DATE
Halloween Champion NAME Best Costume, Best Effort, Best Night Ever DATE	Costume Contest Champion NAME Proof That Adults Never Outgrow Halloween COMPANY · DATE

Shop the Floating Halloween Medal Trophy here.

Funniest Costume Award Wording for Novelty Awards for Halloween

A trophy for the 'Funniest Costume Award' featuring a gold pumpkin figure, set on a black marble base with an engraved plate for name and date.

Lean into the punchline. This category rewards wit, puns, and full commitment to the bit.

Funniest Costume NAME For Making the Whole Room Laugh Out Loud DATE	Funniest Costume Award Presented to NAME For the Pun We’re Still Laughing At COMPANY · DATE
Class Clown Costume Award NAME Guaranteed to Bring the Giggles EVENT · DATE	Most Likely to Get a Laugh in a Meeting NAME COMPANY · DATE

Shop the Stadium Insert Halloween Plaque here.

Scariest Costume Award Wording for Novelty Awards for Halloween

Three Halloween-themed medals displayed on a wooden table, featuring a sparkling pumpkin medal, a black circular medal with a gold pumpkin design, and a golden glittery medal with ghosts and pumpkins. Background includes autumn leaves and a 'Trick or Treat' sign.

Give the frights their due. This one should feel a little dramatic.

Scariest Costume NAME For the Costume That Gave Us Actual Chills DATE	Scariest Costume Award Presented to NAME For Bringing Nightmares Into the Break Room COMPANY · DATE
Master of Spooky NAME For Being Too Scary for the Front Porch EVENT · DATE	Most Terrifying Transformation NAME We Didn’t Recognize You Still Shivering COMPANY · DATE

Shop Halloween Medals here.

Need more ideas? Check out our article, What To Write on a Medal.

Best Couple Costume Award Wording for Novelty Awards for Halloween

A wooden award plaque for 'Best Costume' featuring a circular emblem with a mask design, displaying the text 'BEST DUO COSTUME', placeholders for names, and the phrase 'STOLE THE SHOW! DATE' against a Halloween-themed backdrop with pumpkins and decorations.

Celebrate the duos who coordinated (or somehow ended up matching by accident).

Best Duo Costume NAME & NAME Two Costumes, One Perfect Idea DATE	Best Couple Costume Presented to NAME & NAME For Coordination Skills That Should Go on Their Performance Review COMPANY · DATE
Dynamic Duo Award NAME & NAME Better Together — Even in Costume EVENT · DATE	Best Paired Costume NAME & NAME Two Ideas. One Perfect Execution. COMPANY · DATE

Shop Classic Walnut Vertical Insert Halloween Plaques here.

Best Group Costume Award Wording for Novelty Awards for Halloween

A decorative award plaque showing What to Write on Novelty Awards for Halloween for 'Best Group Costume' featuring a ghost and pumpkin design, set against a festive autumn background with pumpkins and candles.

Recognize the crews who pulled off a full theme together.

Best Group Costume TEAM/GROUP NAME For Teamwork That Started Way Before Halloween DATE	Best Group Costume Presented to DEPARTMENT/TEAM NAME For Proving This Team Can Actually Agree on Something COMPANY · DATE
Squad Goals Costume Award NAME, NAME, NAME & NAME The Best Executed Theme Ever EVENT · DATE	Most Coordinated Team Costume TEAM NAME Planning This Took More Effort Than the Q4 Budget COMPANY · DATE

Shop Executive Black Shiny Insert Halloween Plaques here.

A Few Final Tips for Writing Halloween Award Wording

• Keep it short. 15–30 words is the sweet spot, long enough for a laugh, short enough to fit on a medal ribbon or acrylic plaque.

• Match the format to the crowd. Medals and acrylic for kids’ parties and casual fun; plaques and crystal for corporate events that want something office-appropriate afterward.

• Let humor lead, except for “scariest.” Most categories work best with a playful line, save the dramatic tone for the scary category.

• Use real names when you can. “NAME” placeholders are fine for planning, but a personalized engraving is what makes people actually keep the award.

• Don’t skip the date. A dated Halloween award becomes a fun “remember when” the following year.

A good Halloween award doesn’t just mark a win — it becomes the thing people bring up again next October. Get the wording right, and the costume contest becomes the party’s most memorable moment. Now you know exactly what to write on novelty awards for Halloween!