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A MUCH-LOVED family theme park has reassured Brits that it will still reopen to the public, despite entering liquidation last week.

Brean Theme Park in Somerset claims to be the ‘biggest free-entry theme park’ in the UK.

However, last week The Gazette – the UK’s official public record – published ‘resolutions for winding up’ for the company, meaning that it must cease trading and in other words, close.

However, in a turn of events, the theme park is now under a new organisational structure and is preparing to open in just weeks.

Peter Mainwaring, general manager, said: “We are working hard behind the scenes and will reopen for the 2026 summer season from Easter.

“Although the group structure has changed, our loyal visitors will still enjoy the same park, the same team, and the same great day out.

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The message also told fans to keep an eye on social media for updates on the park.

He added: “For clarity, Brean Theme Park is not owned by Unity Holidays.

“We operate as a fully independent business and lease land from them.

“We look forward to continuing to work together.

“Preparations are underway and we can’t wait to welcome you back very soon.”

Many excited fans also took to social media to express their happiness at the news.

One said: “This is good news. My children were quite upset to hear it may close.

“I will definitely be coming for our annual visits.”

Another added: “Brilliant news, that’s defo now been added to my list to visit ASAP and support.”

A third commented: “Aw what a relief – my kids look forward to going every summer holidays and other times when we can.

“They were gutted to hear the sad news last week but [are] thrilled now.”

Brean Theme Park originally opened back in 1946 as a campsite and today is home to over 40 rides including indoor and outdoor rollercoasters, carousels, crazy boats and dodgems.

It even has a ghost train, which according to the attraction’s website, is the best in the UK.

The park is usually open seasonally between March and October.

And even though entry is free, each ride costs a certain amount of credits which can be bought when you arrive at the attraction.

In other theme park news, here is the UK’s strangest (and coolest) theme park, which launches a new ‘crazy trikes’ attraction for 2026.

Plus, world’s first Paw Patrol land opens at UK theme park in weeks – here’s what it’ll look like.

I WAKE up to what sounds like thunder shaking the walls of my hotel room.

As I open a porthole-style window, a rollercoaster roars past, just yards from my face.

Not your average wake-up call.

But nothing about this place is average – I’m in Rookburgh, a gritty, smoke-filled steampunk world inside Phantasialand, which is one of Germany‘s most impressive theme parks.

This place, in Bruhl near Cologne, is famous for its attention to detail, next-level rides and the kind of immersive lands that make you feel like you’ve stumbled into another world.

And that doesn’t stop at the rides – even the accommodation is part of the show.

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I’m staying in the Charles Lindbergh Hotel, a retro-futuristic airship terminal.

Wrapped around the hotel like a giant steel snake is F.L.Y. – the world’s only launched flying rollercoaster.

What really makes it unique is the way in which you board.

You are strapped in while the track is on its side, almost like a sideways train.

Then, as you roll out of the station, the seats slowly rotate and the track shifts above you, flipping you into a face-down ‘flying’ position.

There’s no slow climb, just a powerful launch that catapults you face-first through tunnels, over rooftops and past steamy vents and water features that feel just inches away from your feet.

As you step out of Rookburgh, you’re greeted by the park’s entrance zone, named Berlin and it couldn’t feel more different, with quaint streets, fancy facades and a classic carousel.

You’ll find ice-cream parlours, food carts and flower-lined walkways, with plenty of seating if you need a breather.

Once you’re feeling ready for some more adrenaline-inducing rides, head over to the adjoining Mexico zone.

Mariachi music drifts through the air and the main attraction here is Chiapas – a log flume that is themed on a lost Mayan world.

It looks like a family ride but don’t be fooled.

There’s a 53-degree drop, which is one of the steepest of its kind in the world and then there’s a mix of tunnels, waterfalls, twists and turns so you never know what’s coming next.

Next door is the Talocan ride, which is even more intense.

It’s a Top Spin ride set in a Mayan temple, with fire blasts and water bursts all around you.

Just a short walk from the Mexico zone is the land of Klugheim, a village carved from rock.

It’s dark and moody, and home to what is considered to be one of the world’s best rollercoasters, called Taron.

With two powerful launches, it throws me straight into high-speed twists and tight turns, hugging the ground and darting along at speeds of up to 73mph.

Just around the corner from the jagged rocks of Klugheim is the Mystery zone – a medieval fantasy world with stone towers and crumbling castle walls designed around a forest theme.

The main draw here is Mystery Castle, an indoor drop-ride built into an ancient fortress.

It’s dark inside, with flickering lights and echoing sounds.

Once I’m strapped in, I’m launched upward with serious force and then suddenly dropped without warning.

It’s intense and over quickly, but terrifying while it lasts.

I jump on the neighbouring River Quest ride next, which features wild rapids with a twist.

Instead of you slowly bobbing around, an elevator platform takes your raft high up into a tower before plunging you downwards into dizzying drops gushing with water.

I dry off while exploring the nearby Wuze Town, which is part of the mystical Fantasy area and filled with rides for all ages.

The standout attractions here are Winja’s Fear and Winja’s Force, which are two spinning coasters running side by side but with different layouts.

They twist, turn, tilt and spin at random with sections of the track that suddenly drop mid-ride.

Before leaving the park, swing by Deep in Africa, which has a jungle theme set to a drumming soundtrack with dusty terrains and exotic plants.

This area is home to Hotel Matamba.

Built more for families, this lodge has tribal decor and views over Black Mamba – an inverted coaster hidden among foliage that hugs the scenery so tightly it feels as if you might hit it.

If you’re after a more upmarket stay, consider Hotel Ling Bao – an impressive Chinese temple-styled hotel with sit-down restaurants serving authentic noodle dishes.

It borders the gorgeous China Town, my favourite area of the park.

With red temples, koi ponds and hanging lanterns, it offers a lovely, calming break away from the crowds.

Because of the amazing theming throughout Phantasialand, you don’t just travel around the world, you travel through time.

One minute I’m flying around a steampunk airfield, the next I’m spinning through a medieval fantasy world or diving into a jungle temple.

In just one day, it felt like I’d done six holidays‘ worth of exploring and all without ever leaving the park.

Ryanair has direct flights from the UK to Cologne from £19.99 one-way.

Trains run regularly to Bruhl, with a shuttle bus to the park or a taxi takes under 30 minutes from Cologne Bonn Airport.

One-day tickets start from £27 for adults, £26 for kids aged four to 11 and free for children under four.

On-site hotels include Charles Lindbergh (short-stay cabins), Matamba (family-friendly), and Ling Bao (high-end).

Rooms start from €150 (£130) per night and packages include park entry.

In other theme park news, the UK’s ‘largest free-entry theme park’ at risk of closing forever.

Plus, the UK’s strangest (and coolest) theme park launches new ‘crazy trikes’ attraction for 2026.

A POPULAR family-run theme park is at risk of closing forever after it was forced into liquidation.

Brean Theme Park in Somerset originally opened back in 1946 as a camp site and later grew, but soon will close for good.

The theme park, which calls itself the ‘UK’s largest free-entry theme park’, has over 40 rides – which include indoor and outdoor rollercoasters, a ghost train and carousels.

According to The Gazette, the UK’s official public record, the theme park has gone into liquidation, with Nicholas Stafford of Hazlewoods LLP appointed as liquidator.

On February 4, ‘resolutions for winding-up’ were published in The Gazette.

It states: “NOTICE IS GIVEN that the following written resolutions of the above-named Company, were passed on 28 January 2026 as a Special resolution and Ordinary resolution respectively:

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1. That the Company be wound up voluntarily
2. That Nicholas Stafford (IP No: 27270) of Hazlewoods LLP, Staverton Court, Staverton, Cheltenham, GL51 0UX be appointed Liquidator of the Company.”

This essentially means that the company must cease trading and in other words, close.

A spokesperson has confirmed to Burnham-On-Sea.com that Brean’s Unity Holidays and Brean Splash, Brean Play and Brean Gym will be unaffected.

No official date for the closure has been announced yet but currently on the website it says the park is still set to open as usual on March 14.

The House family originally purchased the land of the theme park in 1946, with it first being a camp site.

In the 70s, it expanded to include a golf course, swimming pool, bars and a bowling alley.

Most of the rides then came in the 80s.

The park is usually open seasonally between March and October.

While entry is free, each ride costs a different amount of credits which can be purchased when you arrive.

Many people have taken to social media to share their sadness on the news.

One person said: “Aww that will be missed by a lot of people , Brean isn’t the same.”

Another added: “That’s a shame kids loved it up there.”

Brean Theme Park has been contacted for comment.

In other theme park news, the world’s first Paw Patrol land is set to open at a UK theme park in weeks – here’s what it’ll look like.

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AT Diggerland you can forget classic fairytale castles and rollercoasters because this one-of-a-kind theme park has none of that.

What it does have is plenty of JCBs, tractors and dumper trucks that kids can drive around themselves – which makes it arguably the strangest… and best day out for a family.

The theme park, which has four sites across the UK, will reopen on February 14, 2026 – just in time for half-term digging fun.

Diggerland is where kids can drive and operate real construction machinery – something they can’t do anywhere else.

They can use them to dig for treasure, navigate mini-tractors, and get spinning on the Spin Dizzy ride.

There’s also a tractor ride, safari adventure course, and kids can even use mini-excavators to play hook a duck.

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And new for 2026 is the Crazy Trikes attraction – three-wheeler bikes that are designed to make OTT spins.

Diggerland says of the experience: “Buckle up and unleash your inner dare-devil as you spin, twirl, and whirl in every direction imaginable in our new Crazy Trikes.

“Spin into doughnuts like a pro or cruise at superb speeds.”

Diggerland is running a very limited-time special offer during February half-term.

Families can buy two standard general admission tickets on the day of their visit for £39.50pp and get two more tickets completely free.

So, a family of four can enjoy a full day of digger fun for £79.

Just make sure to present the voucher (found online) on arrival – and note that you can’t use this on pre-booked tickets.

The offer is valid only during February half term, on days Diggerland is open between February 14 and March 1, 2026 and is available at all four UK locations.

Lauren Nelson, Marketing Manager at Diggerland, said: “We’re so excited to be welcoming visitors back for our 2026 season, and we’re already planning to start the year with a bang.

“February half term is the perfect time for families to enjoy something a little different, and with our special offer plus the launch of the brand new Crazy Trikes attraction, there’s never been a better time to visit and create unforgettable memories together.”

‘Diggerland has to be seen to be believed’

The Sun’s Head Of Travel, Digital, Caroline McGuire, visited Diggerland in Rochester and here’s what she had to say…

“Diggerland has to be seen to be believed – and even then it’s quite hard to compute.

“We spent the day riding dumper trucks around a gravel pit, digging stones out of a hole with a full-sized digger and riding around a muddy concourse while seated in an enormous bucket.

“In fact, there are quite a few variations on each of those themes.

“You can dig for mud, “gold bricks”, stones or toy ducks. You can drive a dumper, take a digger safari, ride backwards in a bucket carousel – somehow, they’ve made 20 different rides from machinery.”

“If that doesn’t suffice, there are also plenty of coin- operated (you’ve guessed it) car and digger rides dotted around the place.

“With the exception of a couple of car attractions, everything comes straight off a construction site, and if you know any young kids you’ll know there lies the appeal.

“And if the weather is bad, there’s also an indoor soft-play area and bouncy castle next door.”

This offer means families could enjoy an entire year of theme park thrills across more than 20 Merlin attractions in the UK ensuring that the kids are kept entertained throughout the school holidays

February half-term is coming up soon, and as all parents know, this is just the first of many school breaks where you’ll be scrambling around to find something to keep the kids entertained. While taking them to theme parks may seem like a pricey option, there is a deal that means you enjoy many more days out during the school holidays in 2026.

Merlin Entertainment, who own huge attractions across the UK such as Thorpe Park, Alton Towers, Chessington, Warwick Castle, and LEGOLAND, is offering a deal they call ‘Stay for a night, play for a year’. Families who book a short break this February for certain spring dates can get a free Essential Merlin Annual Pass (MAP) for each guest, giving them free access to its theme parks throughout the year.

Bookings need to be completed before March 1, and stay dates for this offer include:

• LEGOLAND and Alton Towers – stays between March 14 and June 26
• Chessington – stays between March 20 and June 26
• Thorpe Park and Warwick Castle – stays between March 27 and June 26

Look for a banner next to the hotel name that says ‘Merlin Pass Included’ when booking to see if it’s eligible for the offer.

Depending on which resort and hotel you choose, guests can enjoy facilities such as themed accommodation, breakfast included in the price, plus two days of fun at the theme park of your choice. You’ll also find perks such as access to the 9-hole golf course at Alton Towers and access to the SEA Life centre at Chessington.

And once you check out, you still have a year of fun family adventures to enjoy. You’ll get a Merlin Annual Pass delivered to your inbox when you book, offering 339 days of experiences and fun, which includes access to family-friendly days out like the London Eye, Madame Tussauds, and The London Dungeon. Simply activate the pass and it’s valid for 12 months with a few restriction dates.

Other attractions where the annual pass can be used include SEA Life centres across the UK, Cadbury World, Shrek’s Adventure! London and LEGOLAND’s Discovery Centres give plenty of options for days out.

Passholders can also nab 10% off Fastrack passes for days when you want to skip the queues, plus 10% off food and drink at the parks.

You can even redeem your pass before your stay and start using it elsewhere, so if you book now, you could use it on weekdays during the February half term to take the kids to one of Merlin’s attractions.

So, how much could families save? It depends on which hotel stay you book and how much you use the pass. A family of four could book a night at the Chessington Safari Hotel on Saturday, March 28 for £418 and get four free passes included. Buying Merlin Essential passes would usually cost £139 each, adding up to £556 for four people, so this is already a cheaper option if you’ve been considering buying the passes anyway.

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Day passes to Alton Towers, as an example, cost £32 online and as much as £68 if you buy on the gates, so if you plan just a handful of theme park visits, this offer could save you hundreds over the year.

Full list of attractions where Merlin’s annual pass can be used

• Alton Towers Resort
• Chessington World Of Adventures Resort
• LEGOLAND® Windsor Resort
• The London Eye
• Thorpe Park
• SEA LIFE London
• National SEA LIFE Centre Birmingham
• SEA LIFE Manchester
• SEA LIFE Blackpool
• SEA LIFE Brighton
• SEA LIFE Weymouth Adventure Park
• SEA LIFE Great Yarmouth
• SEA LIFE Sanctuary Hunstanton
• SEA LIFE Scarborough
• SEA LIFE Loch Lomond
• Warwick Castle
• Madame Tussauds London
• Shrek’s Adventure! London
• LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Birmingham
• LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre Manchester
• The London Dungeon
• The York Dungeon
• The Edinburgh Dungeon
• Cadbury World

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A record fiscal quarter for Walt Disney Co.’s theme parks division was dampened slightly by a streaming aquisition and a protracted fight with YouTube, the Burbank media and entertainment giant reported Monday.

Disney recorded overall revenue of about $26 billion in the three-month period that ended Dec. 27, up 5% compared to the previous year. Disney’s income before income taxes totaled nearly $3.7 billion, a 1% jump from the same time period last year. Earnings per share were $1.34 for the quarter, down from $1.40.

Disney Chief Executive Bob Iger said in a statement that he was “pleased” with the company’s start to the fiscal year and nodded at the transition ahead to a new CEO.

“As we continue to manage our company for the future, I am incredibly proud of all that we’ve accomplished over the past three years,” he said.

It was a big quarter for Disney’s experiences division, which includes its theme parks, cruise line and Aulani resort and spa in Hawaii.

The sector reported $10 billion in revenue, aided by a 1% bump in attendance at its domestic theme parks and higher guest spending. The launch of the new Disney Destiny cruise ship in November also helped boost operating income to $3.3 billion, a 6% boost compared to the previous year.

Disney’s box office success with billion-dollar hits like “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash” helped propel revenue for its entertainment division by 7% to $11.6 billion. But costs related to its acquisition of a majority stake in FuboTV, as well as higher marketing costs in theatrical distribution and streaming services affected the sector’s operating income, which declined 35% to $1.1 billion.

The dip in operating income from the entertainment sector took a toll on the company’s total segment operating income, which was down 9% to $4.6 billion. That was also partly due to Disney’s contract dispute last fall with YouTube TV, which lasted for nearly 15 days and resulted in a blackout of Disney channels.

The temporary suspension of Disney channels on YouTube TV took a $110 million toll on operating income within Disney’s sports division, which was down 23% to $191 million. Sports revenue for the quarter totaled $4.9 billion, up 1% compared to the previous year.

This huge park that’s 2.5 hours from the UK is already among the largest in Europe, and visitors arriving in 2026 will have two more thrilling experiences to enjoy including a one-of-a-kind ride

One of the largest theme parks in Europe, which is popular with Brits on holiday, has announced two huge new attractions for the summer season.

PortAventura World is already a vast theme park set in a popular part of Spain. The resort includes PortAventura Park, the main theme park, which is split into six worlds including China, Mexico, and even Sesame Street. There’s also the separate Ferrari Land, which is themed around the luxury car; and PortAventura Caribe Aquatic Park, a large water park which has a range of waterslides, a lazy river, and more.

The first new attraction will be found in Caribe Aquatic Park and is named Coral Bay: The Lost Legend. It’s set to be a 6,000 m² family area themed around a pirate bay that has risen from the depths of the water.

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At Coral Bay, visitors will be able to make a splash on a water coaster, which PortAventura claims will have a unique twist that’ll be a first in Europe. This is in addition to an adventure pool, featuring a fun obstacle course for kids to take on. The new area will also include more waterslides and new food and drink options for visitors.

The second addition is Makamanu Jungle: The Adventure Trek. The attraction will be added to the Polynesia area of PortAventura Park. Guests will experience exploring the deepest jungle, with secret walkways, hanging bridges, and obstacles and challenges for both “children and their companions”.

The adventure park will join existing rides in the Polynesia world, including Tutuki Splash, a water ride that’s popular on hot sunny days as it includes a cooling splash at the end, and Kontiki, a pirate ship-style ride with a Tiki theme.

PortAventura confirmed that both attractions will open to the public by summer, although it didn’t give exact dates.

PortAventura is close to the popular tourist town of Salou, and just a short drive from Reus Airport, which has seasonal flights to the UK from easyJet, Jet2, Ryanair, and TUI throughout the summer months. It’s also just under 90 minutes from Barcelona, and a popular day trip for those staying in the city.

If you want to spend longer exploring PortAventura, one option is to stay in the resort’s hotels, six of which can be found on-site and include unlimited visits to PortAventura Park. Packages also include one-day access to Ferrari Land, and discounted tickets to Caribe Aquatic Park, so you can enjoy all that this vast resort has to offer.

Four-star Hotel PortAventura is a popular option for guests as it offers direct access to the park through its Mediterrània area, home of Europe’s fastest rollercoaster, Furius Baco. Themed around a charming Mediterranean village, the hotel has its own pool, games room, and entertainment. Guests can also opt for half- or full-board stays, with buffets and an on-site restaurant.

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Another fun-themed hotel is the Hotel Gold River, which is close to the park’s cowboy-themed Far West area. Designed to look like a Wild West town, the hotel has its own saloon and an upmarket Victorian-style restaurant. It also has three pools open for the summer season, so you can cool off after a day exploring the park.

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DO YOU love theme parks? Well, you could visit numerous across the UK for the price of just one ticket.

Merlin attractions has introduced an offer where guests can stay at one of their resorts and will receive an Essential Merlin Annual Pass (MAP).

Guests need to book between February 3 and March 1, for a stay at one of Merlin’s onsite hotels for anytime between now and June 26 and in return will be given a pass to visit Merlin attractions for free, for a year.

For example, you could stay onsite at Legoland Windsor Resort, Alton Towers Resort, Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park or Warwick Castle.

Known as the ‘Stay For A Night, Play For A Year’ offer, each guest will get a year-long pass to over 20 attractions.

Stays at many of the resorts are themed and often include breakfast as well.

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If you wanted somewhere unique to stay, you could head to Alton Towers’ Stargazing Pods, which are set around a village green and have telescopes to see the night sky.

A one-night stay in one of these pods for a family of four costs from £160 and includes free parking.

Alternatively, if you want to visit Legoland Windsor Resort, there is the Woodland Village, Resort Hotel and Castle Hotel.

Inside the Castle Hotel guests can experience a world of magic, with rooms themed around knights, wizards and kingdoms far far away.

Some attraction accommodation sites also have exclusive perks such as nine-hole golf at Alton Towers Resort or events such as Legoland Windsor Resort’s 30th birthday bash.

When looking for a place to stay, make sure to book through the direct resort booking portal only as the offer is not available on third-party websites or with non-Merlin owned hotels.

For example, Chessington World of Adventures’ portal shows Hilton hotels nearby, but the offer will not apply to stays at these hotels.

Instead you should stay at the Azteca and Safari Resort Hotels onsite, which are especially ideal for fans of Julia Donaldson as there is a Gruffalo themed room.

More recently, PAW Patrol-themed hotel rooms opened at the resort.

The MAP allows guests to visit Merlin attractions across the UK for 339 days.

And it isn’t just theme parks…

You could also see breathtaking views of the capital on the London Eye or venture into the past at The London Dungeon.

Alternatively, head to Cadbury World in Birmingham, where visitors can head on a self-guided tour, learning about chocolate-making and the brand’s history.

In total, the experience has 14 interactive zones.

Passholders will also get 10 per cent off of Fastrack products, as well as food and drink.

What’s it like to stay at Legoland Windsor Resort?

SUN REPORTER Owen Anslow stayed at Legoland Windsor Resort and here’s what he thought…

Tucked away in the trees of Legoland Windsor Resort is the wonderful new Woodland Village, home to 130 lodges set in cute cul-de-sacs, all with their own mini playgrounds.

This charming cabin retreat, amid lush greenery, was our home for the weekend (my wife, myself and our very own woodland critter, aged eight).

Set against the backdrop of theme park craziness, the Woodland Village is a calm oasis where parents can recharge batteries – and refill wine glasses.

The £35million development is Legoland’s first carbon-neutral accommodation – a fact emphasised by the wooden keycards you collect at check-in.

And in true Legoland fashion, our cabin is gloriously childish and bright in its design – like a giant version of something my son would craft from the avalanche of bricks strewn throughout the house.

The standard lodges sleep five people, with a double bed in the main room and the kids’ area next door – complete with your standard Lego-making pit, TV and bunk beds.

Premium lodges are slightly bigger and sleep seven, with a mezzanine area overlooking a lounge section, and around the back of the village are 20 trendy glamping barrels.

The clever Woodland Village AR Experience kept our boy busy for a while, bringing to life plants and animals on the cabin walls, while Mum and Dad snuck in some downtime on the decking outside.

Everything in the Woodland Village is so enchanting that you’d be forgiven for wanting to stay there all weekend instead of heading to the theme park.

One night’s B&B at Legoland Woodland Village is from £69pp, based on four people sharing a Woodland Barrel and including entry to the Legoland Windsor theme park and a round of Legoland Adventure golf.

In other theme park news, one of Europe’s most popular theme parks to open new pirate water coaster, adventure pool and jungle trail.

Plus, UK’s oldest rollercoaster to close for GOOD after 106 years.

SPANISH theme park PortAventura is home to the fastest rollercoaster in Europe – and it’s gearing up for two exciting additions.

PortAventura is not just a theme park, as it also has a huge waterpark, Caribe Aquatic Park, and Ferrari World.

It’s one of the most popular amusement parks in Europe and sees between three to five million visitors each year.

The first new addition will be inside the Polynesia area of PortAventura’s main park.

It will be a new outdoor adventure trail and visitors can explore the ‘heart of the jungle’ on its elevated walkways and rope bridges above the park.

The second will be inside Caribe Aquatic Park which is a 6,000 m² family area inspired by pirates called ‘Coral Bay The Lost Legend’.

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The new zone will have a family water coaster, an adventure pool with a one-of-a-kind aquatic obstacle course.

It will also have new water slides and a new food and drink outlet.

Fernando Aldecoa, CEO of PortAventura World, commented: 
“At PortAventura World, we continue to evolve our offer to deliver increasingly memorable experiences.

“We listen closely to our guests, and the new attractions launching in 2026 reflect our commitment to surprising them and creating unique experiences for visitors of all ages.” 

PortAventura is one of Europe‘s biggest theme parks with over 40 rides and attractions in its main park.

There are smaller rides the little ones like the carousel, bumper cars, and tea cups.

Or those who want more thrills, there’s roller coasters like Shambhala which is the park’s tallest hypercoaster at 249 feet.

The neighbouring waterpark, Caribe Aquatic Park, has waterfalls, huge pools, racing slides all surrounded by tropical plants and palm trees.

Meanwhile, Ferrari Land has 16 attractions and games – all with a racing theme of course.

One of the most popular rides is Red Force in Ferrari Land – the record-breaking launch coaster that goes from 0 to 112 mph in five seconds.

Guests wanting to stay overnight can do in one of the 10 hotels which start from €67 (£58.10).

For Brits, it’s not hard to get to either as the park is just a couple of hours away on Spain’s Costa Daurada – an hour away from Barcelona.

The closest airport is Reus which is just a 14-minute drive from the theme park.

The park has closed for the season but will reopen on February 28, 2026 and on select days afterwards.

It will fully open every day of the week from March 30, 2026.

Tickets start from €50 (£43.35) for adults and €44 (£38.15) for children and seniors.

Hear what one writer got up to when she visited the Spanish theme park…

Writer Caron Curnow took a visit to PortAventura and here’s what she got up to…

“With my eyes screwed tightly shut, I brace myself for the plummet.

“Suddenly, I’m being hurled an agonising 76 metres down a sheer drop, approaching terrifying speeds of 83mph before being thrown through a helix loop.

“When it’s all over, I can barely recall what had just happened. This is Shambhala, one of Europe’s best hypercoasters, found at PortAventura World on Spain’s sizzling Costa Dorada.

“The theme park is celebrating its 30th birthday this year but, judging from the spine-tingling ride I’d just been on, the park is far from slowing down. In fact, it is positively thirty and thriving.

“The park is not just bold, it’s also beautiful, with lush landscaping across the six themed lands of Mexico, Polynesia, China, Far West, Mediterranea and SesamoAventura, where we could recover from the adrenaline rush and soaring temperatures.”

For more on theme parks, here are the ones in the UK that you can reach by train.

And here’s more on the mega £8.72m ride that’s ‘tallest of its kind’ in UK that’s closer to launching in an iconic seaside theme park.

A GIANT new theme park ride that’s the “tallest of its kind” in the UK has taken a major step forward.

The iconic amusement site is gearing up for a massive landmark moment as engineers have now installed the ride’s giant gondola.

Structural work has begun on the £8.72m mega attraction, with steel frameworks now emerging on site.

Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort is currently busy installing its newest ride – a record-breaking gyro-swing called Aviktas.

When everything is finished, the mega ride will officially be the tallest of its kind in the UK.

The scream machine will carry 40 people at a time, swinging them through a massive 120-degree arc that reaches 138ft above the promenade.

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Riders’ legs will dangle giving them the feeling of flying.

With its gigantic pendulum finally hanging in place, the structure is starting to look like a finished ride.

Frames are popping up to create the loading area where the first brave riders will eventually wait for their turn.

The latest crowd-pleaser will drastically change the way the seaside resort’s coastline will look.

While an exact opening date has not yet been confirmed, the ride is expected to welcome its first passengers later in 2026.

Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort previously teased: “This ride will be colossal, daunting, exhilarating and an incredible addition to the town.”