AS the year comes to a close, most theme parks across the UK have shut up shop for the season.
But theme park fanatics have plenty to look forward to in 2026, as both thrillseekers and families with young children can expect new favourites.
2026 is set to be a huge year in the world of theme parks and attractions – here are the most exciting new rides and rollercoasters set to open next year.
Bluey Ride, Alton Towers, UK
Alton Towers will welcome the world’s first ever Bluey coaster next year.
The new addition will sit inside of Alton Towers’ CBeebies Land, home to rides like the Octonauts Rollercoaster Adventure and Peter Rabbit Hippity Hop.
As well as enjoying a brand new ride, Bluey fans can take part in the popular Heeler family interactive show, and stay to meet Bluey and Bingo afterwards.
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As well as this, superfan families have the option to book a sleep over in the CBeebies Land Hotel’s Bluey-themed bedroom.
“We’re keeping the exact details and launch date under wraps for now” said Vice President at Alton Towers Resort, Bianca Sammut.
“But Bluey’s limitless energy is sure to be reflected in our new junior coaster.”
The junior coaster is set to open in Spring 2026.
Frozen Ever After ride, Disneyland Paris
Excitement is building as Disneyland Paris prepares to open their World of Frozen land in Spring 2026.
The new land will see the introduction of a new ride at Disneyland Paris: Frozen Ever After.
The ride is inspired by the popular version at Disneyworld’s EPCOT in Florida.
Boarding this boat-themed ride will take visitors on a journey through the familiar scenes of Disney’s Frozen.
Fans can sing along to Frozen tunes as they look out for the movie’s popular characters in animatronic form.
Frozen Ever After will be less of a fear-inducing ride and more of an immersive experience.
It is a slow-moving journey with descents down short waterfalls – so bare in mind that you might get wet!
Visitors will also be able to stroll through Arendelle, as well as meet Anna, Elsa and Olaf.
Frozen Ever After, and the World of Frozen land, is set to open on 29 March 2026.
Drakon and Vild Swing, Paultons Park, UK
Paultons Park in Hampshire are due to open their first ever inverting rollercoaster, as well as a Wild Swing ride in the spring of 2026.
The amusement park is home to the famous Peppa Pig World, but new coaster Drakon is set to thrill an older crowd.
Drakon riders can expect to coast their way up a vertical lift hill before plummeting into a beyond vertical drop.
The terrifying drop means that riders will hang over the edge at an angle greater than 90°, or steeper than falling straight down.
As well as this, visitors can expect to regularly ride upside down, due to the inverting design.
The inverting coaster even intertwines with Raven – the new name for the park’s Gerstlauer Bobsled ride previously named Cobra.
As well as Drakon, the park will be introducing the ‘Vild Swing’ ride.
Vild Swing is a 12m-high ART Wild Swing ride, the first of its kind to land in the UK.
The family-friendly ride is a free-swinging gondola with no rollovers, therefore it will be more of a gentle thrill than Drakon.
The rides will be part of the theme park’s brand new Viking-themed world: Valgard – Realm of the Vikings.
The new themed area cost roughly £12m to build, and is set to open in May 2026.
Spider-themed ride, Gröna Lund, Sweden
Gröna Lund (or “Green Grove”) in Sweden is Stockholm’s oldest amusement park.
It’s located on Stockholm‘s Djurgården Island, and has over 30 rides.
The park is home to a mix of both thrilling coasters and family-friendly rides, and is now set to open a brand new thrill ride: Spindeln (The Spider).
Spindeln will be a Super Jumper ride – the first of its kind to arrive in Sweden.
Created by the Italian SBF Visa Group, the Super Jumper is made up of multiple arms which rise and fall quickly, designed to look like the spider’s legs.
This creates a bouncing effect as the central tower rotates, meaning riders can expect plenty of spooky sudden jumps and spins.
The thrill ride has space for 42 riders, and is ideal for older and younger guests alike.
Spindeln will be the first Super Jumper in the world to allow younger children to ride, with a minimum height requirement of 100cm when accompanied by an adult.
The coaster is set to open to the public in Summer 2026.
Raiponce Tangled Spin, Disneyland Paris
March 2026 will see Disneyland Paris open up not one, but two brand new themed worlds.
As well as introducing the brand new World of Frozen, the land previously known as Walt Disney Studios Park will become Disney Adventure World.
The park revamp also sees the addition of a brand new ride, Raiponce Tangled Spin.
Visitors will be able to climb aboard a small gondola that gently turns under sparkling lanterns, just like the famous scene in the film Tangled.
The glowing lanterns illuminate ceiling paintings inspired by those made by the princess in the popular movie.
This will be the second standalone Tangled themed ride across Disney parks worldwide, alongside Rapunzel’s Lantern Festival at Tokyo DisneySea.
The gentle ride is suitable for all ages, and will open alongside Frozen Ever After on 29 March 2026.
Aviktas, Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort, UK
Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach is known for its rides such as Valhalla, Big Dipper as well as its Nickelodeon Land.
And now the amusement park have invested £8.72m into a new ride, set to be the tallest of its kind in the UK by almost double.
Aviktas will be a Gyro Swing ride – a giant spinning pendulum seating 40 visitors.
Riders will face outwards to sea as they swing 120°, reaching a maximum height of 138 feet.
The Gyro Swing ride is “one of the most exciting flat rides in existence” said CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, Amanda Thompson OBE.
“It’s dynamic, fast, and incredibly high, as well as being completely weightless at the top”.
Aviktas is currently under construction, and due to open in 2026.
The amusement park also recently revamped their Launch Pad ride.
The shot tower ride had its cylinder replaced and reopened in May of 2025.
This made for more powerful launches, intense g-force, and moments of weightlessness.
“This is a great re-imagining. The ride has got back its ‘oomph’” said Scott Bickerton, owner of YouTube channel Your Experience Guide.
“You can really feel the g-force and there’s a great moment of airtime at the top. It’s amazing to have this ride back.”