Theme Park Tribune has a not-so-unique annual tradition of publishing a list of the coming year’s biggest and most-anticipated new theme park rides.
For 2026, however, that tradition has to change — slightly. In previous years, we’ve rattled off 10 coming attractions. But the 2026 lineup is quite a bit thinner, thanks to the new Six Flags opening fewer rides and no all-new attractions being expected to open at Universal Orlando, Disney World, or Disneyland. Even the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks are only offering small-scale additions.
Not offering many new experiences for guests may have significant consequences for theme parks in 2026 — but even in lean years, there are good new rides being opened in the U.S. Here are Theme Park Tribune’s top five picks for 2026:
Concept art for Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare (KIngs Island)
5. Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare
Opening: April 2026 at Kings Island
This may be a rethemed version of Kings Island’s existing interactive dark ride, but it could signal a bigger shift in the Six Flags chain.
The original Phantom Theater ride closed at Kings Island back in 2003, but remained so beloved that the park hinted at its return with a 2023 stage show. Now Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare is taking over the former Boo Blasters on Boo Hill space with updated effects and new animatronics.
It also shows that the new Six Flags chain is making some effort to honor individual parks’ identities and histories by bringing back characters that were unique to Kings Island. Doing more of that — especially in the legacy Six Flags parks — could go a long way to reversing the negative reception among fans to the Six Flags-Cedar Fair merger.
The lands of Universal Kids Resort (Universal)
4. Universal Kids Resort
Opening: TBA 2026 in Frisco, Texas
Brand-new theme parks are built so rarely that they’re almost guaranteed to make this list. The Universal Kids Resort may be more anticipated based on its potential rather than what it’s actually offering.
This Frisco, Texas park isn’t anything on the scale of Epic Universe. It looks more like a super-sized kiddie section of a Universal park, relying mostly on play areas, character greetings and a few small coasters — not technologically advanced dark rides.
The real anticipation may be whether this concept will work. Can the Universal brand and intellectual properties sustain a whole park aimed at kids without Orlando-level attractions? This could either be the start of a new Universal chain or just a future episode of “Defunctland.”
Rendering of Tormenta Rampaging Run (Six Flags)
3. Tormenta Rampaging Run
Opening: TBA 2026 at Six Flags Over Texas
If the kiddie rides at Universal Kids Resort don’t excite you, head down the road to Six Flags Over Texas for a more adult thrill.
The 309-foot-tall Tormenta Rampaging Run is the first dive coaster to break the “giga” mark of being over 300 feet. Riders will dive down that first drop of 285 feet at a 95-degree angle, hitting a top speed of 87 miles per hour along nearly 4,200 feet of track. If those stats weren’t enticing enough, the ride will also set a new world record for the tallest vertical loop at 179 feet.
This is the kind of monstrous addition coaster fans wanted from the Six Flags chain post-merger. However the ride ends up performing, let’s hope the coming years see more of this kind of investment — and fewer delays on other projects that were supposed to open in 2026.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift (Universal)
2. Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift
Opening: TBA 2026 at Universal Studios Hollywood
If the 2020s have taught us anything in the theme park world, it’s that when Universal adds a thrill coaster, your expectations should be high.
Following in the footsteps of VelociCoaster and Stardust Racers, Universal Hollywood gets its own coaster headliner with Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift. Spinning — or rather, “drifting” — coaster cars will be launched through a layout hugging the hills of Universal City, even going right over the park’s Starway escalator.
It’s precisely the kind of thrill ride Universal Hollywood has been missing. But that’s not quite enough to beat out the No. 1 new ride on our list.
NightFlight Expedition concept art (Dollywood)
1. NightFlight Expedition
Opening: Spring 2026 at Dollywood
What makes Dollywood’s 2026 addition worthy of this No. 1 list isn’t just its $50 million price tag. It’s the fact that a park that isn’t Disney or Universal is building an indoor ride using a ride system that’s totally new to the U.S.
NightFlight Expedition combines a family coaster with a whitewater raft ride. This ride model by German firm Mack Rides uses a flexible undercarriage to allow greater movement while being attached to a track either above or below the water. The only other installation of the ride system is the Mission Bermudes attraction at the Futuroscope theme park in France.
It’s rare for a non-Disney or Universal park to say they have a state-of-the-art indoor attraction. Perhaps NightFlight Expedition will convince a few theme park fans to skip their next trip to Orlando to instead visit Dollywood in 2026.