2026 New Attractions Guide: The Future of UK Theme Parks Unveiled

After a period marked by height and speed records in 2024 and 2025 (notably with Hyperia at Thorpe Park), 2026 in the UK is shifting towards expanding the family offering and creating immersive themed areas. Major operators like Merlin Entertainments and independent parks like Paultons Park are focusing on strong licenses and narrative experiences to appeal to a wider audience.

Paultons Park : The Advent of Valgard - Realm of the Vikings

Paultons Park achieves a historical milestone in its development with the opening, on May 16, 2026, of its new themed area: Valgard. Located near the Lost Kingdom, this Viking-themed extension represents the park's most ambitious investment to date.

• Drakon: This will be the area's flagship attraction. It is a custom Euro-Fighter built by Gerstlauer. With its vertical lift and beyond-vertical drop, Drakon will be the park's very first looping roller coaster. Its track has been designed to intertwine with other structures in the zone.
• Raven: The park is not just adding new rides; it is reinventing its classics. The legendary Bobsled Coaster is undergoing a complete revamp to be reborn as Raven, with Viking theming integrated into the Valgard narrative.
• Vild Swing: To complete the offering, the park is installing a "Wild Swing" from manufacturer ART Engineering. Standing 12 meters high, this family attraction will be the first of its kind on British soil.
• Services and immersion: The zone will also include a themed playground and a large-capacity Nordic restaurant, enhancing the "resort" aspect of the destination.

Alton Towers Resort : The Arrival of Bluey and Park Reinforcement

The UK's most famous park continues to cater to its youngest audience while preparing for future major projects.

Bluey the Ride : Here Come the Grannies ! : Following the success of character meet-and-greets, Alton Towers is launching a new junior coaster in 2026 in the CBeebies Land area. This project, known by the code name "Project Sunshine," aims to offer children their first thrilling experience with extensive theming based on the universe of the successful Australian series.

Project Horizon: Although construction work on this massive indoor roller coaster (often nicknamed Secret Weapon 9) continues, the latest construction estimates suggest a potential opening closer to 2027. However, 2026 will see major updates to the structure and potentially the announcement of the official name.

The Pirate Takeover: The park also plans to strengthen its seasonal events with an extension of its pirate festival at the start of the season.

Chessington World of Adventures : The PAW Patrol Land Expansion

Chessington continues its strategy of transforming its older areas. In 2026, parts of the Mexicana and Children's Zoo areas will be completely reimagined to host PAW Patrol Land.

This new area dedicated to the famous PAW Patrol will include several attractions, including a new family roller coaster designed specifically for preschool-aged children. This project aims to stabilize the park's offering after the massive opening of the World of Jumanji in previous years.

Legoland Windsor : 30 Years of Bricks and a New Look

2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the opening of Legoland Windsor. The park is taking advantage of this jubilee to implement a significant structural transformation.

Entrance Overhaul: A major entrance redevelopment project ("The Beginning") is underway to streamline access and modernize the visitor welcome area.

Hotel Expansion: The Woodland Village continues to expand with new themed accommodations and an improved central infrastructure (Hub), consolidating Legoland's position as an extended stay destination.

Thorpe Park : Project Pivot and Area Development

Following the massive success of Hyperia, Thorpe Park is focusing on improving visitor comfort and the general atmosphere.

Project Pivot: A section of the Amity Beach area is being redeveloped to create a new central plaza. This project includes a stage for live shows, new rest areas, and modernized dining options. The goal is to better manage visitor flow generated by major nearby attractions.

Crealy Theme Park & Resort : The Conquest of the Pirates

As previously mentioned, the Devon park is introducing a new attraction called Pirates' Plummet. This project is part of a desire to enhance the level of theming, with a second mystery experience expected to be revealed just before the start of the 2026 season to complete this new adventure hub.

Summary of the 2026 Season

The landscape of UK parks in 2026 reflects an industry that is investing heavily in world-renowned licenses (Bluey, PAW Patrol, LEGO) while also giving prominence to pure creativity with areas like Valgard. For visitors, this is an ideal year to discover highly themed experiences where the narrative is as important as the physical thrill of the ride.

If these new additions inspire you to visit the United Kingdom, we invite you to consult the list of amusement parks in the UK or check out our UK Tour 2023.