2026 is on its way! Time to take a look forward at all the exciting new dark rides and show rides that await us this upcoming year! Last year, we saw a large quantity of new rides opening, the list of which can be found here. Let’s now see what 2025 has in store, in terms of new dark rides and show rides! Check out the list below.
North America
United States of America
Dollywood (Pigeon Forge, TN): NightFlight Expedition. Dollywood is expanding with a new unique attraction. Utilizing Mack Rides‘ Rocking Boat ride system, NightFlight Expedition will be a combination of a boat ride, rollercoaster and splash. Details on if this attraction would classify as semi- or full dark ride are still unclear.
Kings Island (Mason, OH): Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare. 15 years after the closure of the iconic dark ride, Kings Island is bringing back its Phantom Theater. The new version, dubbed Opening Nightmare, will be a retheme of former Boo Blasters on Boo Hill-dark ride, which in turn was a retheme of the original Phantom Theater. Sally Dark Rides is overseeing the new attraction, which will feature interactive systems by Alterface.
Mattel Adventure Park Arizona (Glendale, AZ): Barbie Flying Theatre. Toy manufacturer Mattel is building its very first theme park in Glendale, Arizona. Among a ride line-up of roller coasters and flat rides is a flying theatre by Dynamic Attractions themed to Barbie. A second Mattel Adventure Park will open in Kansas City in 2031, containing the same Flying Theatre.
SeaWorld Orlando (Orlando, FL): SeaQuest: Legends of the Deep. After opening flying theatre Expedition Odyssey last year, SeaWorld Orlando will be opening another immersive ride. SeaQuest: Legends of the Deep will be a full dark ride, premiering the Suspended Ride System by Vekoma.
South America
Venezuela
Isla Aventura (Isla de Maragarita): Interactive dark ride and interactive revolving theatre. A new park is being built in Venezuela on the grounds of the former Diverland. The park is scheduled to open in december.
Asia
China
Legoland Shenzhen (Shenzhen): New park. Merlin Entertainments is opening a second Legoland theme park in China (after Legoland Shanghai in 2025). The park is believed to recieve at least a Lego Factory-dark ride and a Dragon-type semi-dark ride rollercoaster.
Japan
Tokyo Disney Resort – Tokyo Disneyland (Urayasu): Unknown. Walt Disney Imagineering is working on a retheme of the former Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters ride in Tokyo Disneyland. The reimagined attraction will feature a Suger Rush-theme, based on the Wreck-it-Ralph (2012) animated movies.
Saudi-Arabia
SEVEN Al Hamra (Riyadh): Unknown (Transformers). Saudi Entertainment Venues (SEVEN) is building several indoor FECs across Saudi-Arabia. While a ride line-up is still unknown, it is confirmed that the centre in Al Hamra will get a Transformers-dark ride by Triotech, as announced 2023. SEVEN Al Hamra is expected to open in the second half of 2026.
SEVEN Dammam (Dammam): Unkown (Transformers). The centres SEVEN is building is located in the city of Dammam. It will also receive a Transformers-dark ride.
Singapore
Universal Studios Singapore (Sentosa): Mario Kart: Koopa’s Challenge. The fourth Super Nintendo World is being constructed in Universal Studios Singapore. The immersive land, containing the fourth installation of the interactive Mario Kart dark ride will be built on the site of the former Madagascar attraction. 2026 is not confirmed by the park to be the opening year.
South Korea
Lotte World Adventure (Jamsil-Dong): Kong x Godzilla: The Ride. Korean theme park Lotte World Adventure is replacing their former Rapid River ride Jungle Adventure with a new action-packed dark ride, set in a Kong x Godzilla-theme. The attraction was scheduled to open in December 2026, but opening got delayed for unknown reasons.
Qatar
Doha Quest (Doha): Guardians of the Hidden Chamber. Indoor theme park Doha Quest will open its first dark ride in 2026. Guardians of the Hidden Chamber will be a Sally Dark Rides‘ designed interactive mini-dark ride, utilizing a ride system by ETF Ride Systems.
Europe
France
Disneyland Resort Paris – Disney Adventure World (Chessy): Frozen Ever After. The World of Frozen is coming to Disneyland Paris. On 29 March, the Walt Disney Studios Park will change its name to Disney Adventure World and simultaniously open the new World of Frozen area. This new themed land will feature the third installation of the Frozen Ever After dark ride after EPCOT (2016) and Hong Kong Disneyland (2023).
Germany
Dino Funpark Westerheim (Westerheim): Verrücktes Waldhaus. The classic haunted swing is moving after almost 40 years of operation from Traumland to Westerheim. The family park in the south of Germany will reopen the attraction under the same name and theme as in Traumland.
Freizeit-Land Geiselwind (Geiselwind): Ravenmoor Academy and Gheimnis des Drachentempels. Bavarian Freizeit-Land Geiselwind will open its first dark ride and a new simulator in 2026. Both rides will be designed and built by Aufwind Group.
Movie Park Germany (Feldhausen): Unknown. Movie Park Germany is working on a retheme of the closed immersive tunnel Lost Temple (2014-2024). A replacement was announced to open in 2025, but was postponed. The park has not released any information about the attraction since.
Netherlands
Avonturenpark De Tovertuin (Hoogerheide): Overal Vriendjes – De Tovertuinreis. Van Hoorne Entertainment is building a new theme park that is based on the Woezel en Pip-childrens book series. The park will feature a dark ride that is mostly developed in-house and will utilize a trackless ride system by ETF Ride Systems.
Norway
Hunderfossen Eventyrpark (Fåberg): Rally Flåklypa. Familypark Hunderfossen will open its third dark ride this year: Rally Flåklypa will a media-based dark ride that takes place in the Flåklypa-universe, from the books by Kjell Aukrust. The attraction is designed by BoldMove Nation and will premiere the trackless ride vehicles by Rogue Rides.
Please stay tuned to the Dark Ride Database, as we will be sharing updates on all these and more as we hear about them!
