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Busch Gardens Williamsburg has announced Verbolten: Forbidden Turn, a reimagined version of its roller coaster Verbolten, set to debut in 2026.
The updated attraction will introduce a darker narrative and enhanced storytelling elements all centered around Germany’s legendary Black Forest
Originally opening in 2012, Verbolten is a family-friendly launched roller coaster housed largely indoors. The new iteration aims to refresh the ride experience through immersive narrative updates rather than a complete rebuild.
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The new 'TEA Global Experience Index' (formerly known as the 'Theme Index and Museum Index Report') is a collaboration between the Themed Entertainment Association, research partners, and editorial partners that provides critical insight into trends shaping leisure and entertainment markets worldwide.
It identifies the most visited theme parks, water parks and museums around the world, including North America's top theme parks by attendance in 2024.
The 2024 TEA Global Experience Index is presented in partnership with Storyland Studios.
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Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is preparing to introduce one of its most significant wildlife expansions in over a decade with the announcement of Lion & Hyena Ridge, an expansive new savanna habitat set to open in Spring 2026.
Designed to immerse guests deeper into the natural world of two of Africa’s most iconic predators, the new experience will more than double the size of the park’s existing habitat footprint.
Covering nearly 35,000 square feet, Lion & Hyena Ridge introduces a dramatic reimagining of the African landscape within Busch Gardens. The newly expanded terrain will serve as home to a pride of five young male lions—Pascal, Lou, Henri, Hugo, and Herman—born in 2024, along with two playful hyenas, Cazi and Dazi.
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Kentucky Kingdom is taking family fun to new heights with the announcement of its brand-new roller coaster, Flying Fox, set to open in Spring 2026.
This all-new family-friendly coaster marks the park’s first new roller coaster since 2019 and will become the sixth coaster in Kentucky Kingdom’s lineup — the most of any theme park in the state.
With an investment of $14 million, Flying Fox invites guests to join the daring adventures of local legend and crop-dusting pilot Jeb Fox, soaring high above a vibrant Kentucky farmland setting.
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Get ready to spread your wings once again! Disney has officially announced Soarin’ Across America, an all-new version of the fan-favorite flying adventure, debuting Summer 2026 at both Disney California Adventure and EPCOT.
This exciting new version of the signature Soarin' experience will take guests on an awe-inspiring journey across the United States—from sea to shining sea—as part of Disney’s celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday.
The updated attraction will showcase the country’s most breathtaking landscapes, natural wonders, and iconic cityscapes, all experienced through Soarin’s signature blend of flight simulation, sweeping cinematography, and immersive scents.
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SeaWorld San Antonio is expanding its rapidly growing roller coaster collection with the announcement of Barracuda Strike, a brand-new attraction set to debut in spring 2026.
Touted as Texas’ first inverted family roller coaster, the new ride promises a fast, fluid, and highly accessible thrill experience suspended beneath the track.
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Lagoon Amusement Park in Utah has announced an all-new attraction for the 2026 season: Nutcracker, a towering Screamin’ Swing thrill ride that will send guests soaring to heights of 135 feet and speeds of up to 68 mph.
The new thrill ride will rank among the tallest and fastest swing rides in North America, representing one of the park’s most ambitious projects to date.
To bring Nutcracker to life, Lagoon has once again teamed up with S&S Worldwide, the Utah-based amusement engineering company behind the park’s acclaimed Rocket tower ride.
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Six Flags Over Texas is preparing to rewrite roller coaster history with plans for Tormenta Rampaging Run, a jaw-dropping new attraction set to open in 2026.
This groundbreaking ride will not only introduce a brand-new coaster category but also smash six world records, making it the tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster ever built—and the first giga dive coaster on the planet.
The debut of Tormenta Rampaging Run will coincide with Six Flags Over Texas’ 65th anniversary in 2026. The park, which opened in 1961 as the very first Six Flags park, plans to mark the occasion with exclusive previews, events and giveaways.
