Top 10 new theme park attractions in the U.S. for 2026

It’s never too early to look ahead at what’s on tap for next year and 2026 is already shaping up as a good year for roller coaster enthusiasts, thrill ride junkies and theme park fans in the United States.

Consider our Top 10 for 2026 an evolving and ever-changing list of the best new rides and attractions coming to theme parks in the U.S. in the coming year.

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Many parks have already begun construction on 2026 projects while others have only announced plans or launched teaser campaigns.

We’ll update our Top 10 list for 2026 as new rides and attractions are unveiled and more details become available.

1) Universal Kids

Frisco, Texas

The new Universal theme park aimed at families with young children will boast lands dedicated to DreamWorks, Nickelodeon and Illumination film franchises when the Texas kiddieland opens in 2026.

The 97-acre Universal Kids resort will be home to a theme park and themed hotel with space set aside for future expansion.

ALSO SEE: Universal’s newest theme park brings kid-sized fun to Texas

Universal Kids will feature seven themed lands: Shrek’s Swamp, Jurassic World Adventure Camp, SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom, Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club, TrollsFest, Puss in Boots Del Mar and the Isle of Curiosity.

2) Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift

Universal Studios Hollywood

The new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift roller coaster coming to Universal Studios Hollywood will feature 360-degree rotating coaster vehicles designed to look like drifting race cars from the street racing film franchise that has earned $7 billion at the worldwide box office.

Coaster trains with four street racing cars will rocket from zero to 72 mph along the 4,100-foot-long track.

ALSO SEE: First look at Fast & Furious coaster on-track test at Universal Studios Hollywood

Riders will drift and spin in a replica of Dominic Toretto’s 1970 Dodge Charger as they ride in the new launch coaster coming to the Upper Lot of the Hollywood theme park.

3) NightFlight Expedition

Dollywood

The new first-of-its-kind attraction coming to Dollywood will take riders into the Smoky Mountains on a soaring nighttime flight that turns into a roller coaster ride and then a whitewater rafting excursion before concluding with a mysterious dark ride across a shimmering lake.

The $50 million NightFlight Expedition marks the largest single attraction investment in Dollywood’s history.

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The hybrid roller coaster/whitewater river rapids ride will be the first Mack Rides Rocking Boat Ride in the United States built by the German ridemaker.

4) SeaQuest: Legends of the Deep

SeaWorld Orlando

The new, first-of-its-kind ride coming to SeaWorld Orlando will take riders under the sea in a three-person submersible vehicle to explore sunken shipwrecks brimming with sharks, stingrays, jellyfish and other extraordinary sea creatures.

The new SeaQuest: Legends of the Deep will be the world’s first Vekoma suspended dark ride from the Netherlands-based ridemaker.

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The indoor dark ride will feature a submarine-like ride vehicle suspended from an overhead track that will swing and rotate through a series of themed environments.

The backstory for SeaQuest will involve a deep sea exploration of glowing undersea worlds filled with awe, wonder and adventure.

5) Tormenta Rampaging Run

Six Flags Over Texas

Tormenta Rampaging Run will claim the title of world’s tallest, longest and fastest dive coaster when it debuts at Six Flags Over Texas.

Tormenta will become the world’s first giga dive coaster — combining a 300-foot-plus height (giga) with a beyond vertical drop (dive) to create a completely new ride category.

ALSO SEE: Six Flags Magic Mountain pushes back new coaster to 2027

The coaster by Switzerland-based ridemaker Bolliger & Mabillard will be themed to Pamplona’s Running of the Bulls tradition.

6) Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare

Kings Island

The classic dark ride set in a haunted theater on a dark and stormy night will return to Ohio’s Kings Island in 2026 with a cast of familiar characters, a new storyline involving the Maestro’s famed pipe organ and a little interactive game play to avert disaster on opening night.

The new Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare by Florida-based Sally Dark Rides will feature 26 scenes with animatronic figures, hidden Easter eggs and sound and wind effects.

ALSO SEE: Universal Studios Hollywood 2026: All the after-hours events and seasonal festivals

Riders in enchanted opera boxes will use interactive spellbound flashlights to collect “ghost notes” released from the organ during a lightning strike.

7) Soarin’ Across America

Disney California Adventure and Epcot

The new “Soarin’ Across America” films coming to the venerable flight simulator rides at Disney California Adventure and Epcot will debut just in time for the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States.

“Soarin’ Across America” will be filmed at 33 locations across the United States with the new scenes capturing a bird’s-eye view of the “scenic wonders, amazing cities and the beauty of the coasts” in a celebration of America’s diversity and grandeur.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland sets opening date for Soarin’ Across America

Walt Disney Imagineering will use advanced cameras and lenses mounted on helicopters and drones to capture the aerial footage for the updated attractions.

Also in 2026: Disneyland will update Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run with a new adventure starring Mandalorian and Grogu while the Fantasyland Theatre will launch “Bluey’s Best Day Ever” musical comedy show.

8) Barracuda Strike

SeaWorld San Antonio

The $8.8 million Barracuda Strike inverted coaster by Switzerland-based ridemaker Bolliger & Mabillard will glide above SeaWorld San Antonio’s water ski lake.

Riders will hit a top speed of 44 mph after aboard coaster trains suspended beneath the 1,800-foot-long track.

9) Quantum Accelerator

Six Flags New England

The Quantum Accelerator straddle coaster by Switzerland-based ridemaker Intamin will blur the line between family friendly and extreme thrills with a ride aimed squarely at tweens looking for the next level of excitement.

The dual-launch coaster coming to Six Flags New England will reach a top speed of 45 mph with a tire-propelled boost in the middle of the 2,600-foot-long track filled with 11 airtime hills.

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The backstory for Quantum Accelerator turns the coaster into a steampunk-style time machine created by Professor Screamore.

10) Galaciticoaster

Legoland California and Legoland Florida

Aspiring young astronauts will design their own spaceships and train for an intergalactic mission into the Lego Galaxy aboard the new outer space-themed indoor coasters coming to Legoland California and Legoland Florida.

The first-of-their-kind Galacticoaster indoor coasters built by ridemaker ART Engineering of Germany will each travel along 1,500-foot-long tracks enclosed inside 30,000-square-foot “space port” buildings.

ALSO SEE: Legoland California trains kid astronauts for flights aboard new Galacticoaster

The galactic themed indoor launched roller coasters will send riders on an exploratory mission into the uncharted Lego Galaxy in custom Lego spacecraft where they will pass through cosmic scenes and meet other intergalactic travelers, according to the backstory for the ride.