All the New Theme Park Coasters and Cuisine in 2026
Theme parks have spent years competing almost entirely through bigger rides, taller drops, and faster launches. In 2026, parks will build entire areas around those attractions instead of dropping coasters onto empty concrete pads beside a burger stand. New projects arriving this year include drifting cars at Universal, Viking-themed coaster expansions in Europe, family dinosaur rides in Texas, and giant dive coasters breaking height records.
Food has become part of the same competition. Parks increasingly build restaurants, themed desserts, snack stalls, and regional menus directly into new lands so visitors stay immersed between rides.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift + Universal Dining Culture
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Universal Studios Hollywood finally gets a large outdoor coaster with Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, and the scale alone changes the skyline around the park’s upper lot. The ride uses rotating vehicles designed to simulate drifting cars. It reaches speeds around 72 mph. Universal’s broader approach to themed dining also continues to shape how visitors navigate the resort. Nintendo-themed snacks, Wizarding World butterbeer stands, quick-service restaurants, and specialty drinks are now part of the entertainment.
NightFlight Expedition + Smoky Mountains Comfort Food
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Dollywood takes a different approach with the NightFlight Expedition. Instead of focusing purely on giant drops or record-breaking speeds, the attraction combines multimedia, audio, lighting effects, coaster movement, boat sections, and a whitewater raft experience into one indoor ride. Dollywood’s food identity is tied closely to the Smoky Mountains setting surrounding the park. Guests visiting the park still find cinnamon bread, smoked meats, skillet meals, and Southern comfort food served across the resort.
Tormenta Rampaging Run + Cocina de la Abuela
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Everything about Six Flags Over Texas and Tormenta Rampaging Run sounds oversized. The coaster is expected to break multiple dive coaster records while reaching 309 feet tall and speeds of around 87 mph. Six Flags built the attraction around a Spanish running-of-the-bulls theme that extends through the surrounding Rancho de la Tormenta area. Cocina de la Abuela is part of that expansion; it serves Spanish-inspired meals that are directly connected to the land’s setting.
Quantum Accelerator + Crackaxle Canyon Expansion
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Six Flags New England opened Quantum Accelerator with a very different style than the giant record-focused coasters appearing elsewhere in 2026. The ride uses a dual-launch straddle coaster system that changes rider positioning completely compared to traditional trains. Nearby, Crackaxle Canyon continues expanding beyond a simple transition area between attractions. Dining updates at JB’s Smokehouse are now more cohesive with the themed section.
Barracuda Strike + SeaWorld Park Dining
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SeaWorld San Antonio’s family attraction, Barracuda Strike, is a suspended coaster themed around the speed and movement of barracuda fish. The ride reaches about 44 mph and features more than 1,800 feet of track, while remaining accessible to younger riders. SeaWorld’s broader park dining now plays a larger role in how visitors spend time around the resort. Seafood baskets, frozen drinks, barbecue, and shaded outdoor dining areas encourage guests to slow down between attractions.
Galacticoaster + LEGO Galaxy Dining
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LEGOLAND California is introducing LEGO Galaxy with Galacticoaster serving as the land’s main indoor family coaster. LEGO Galaxy also includes themed snacks, desserts, shopping, and interactive dining spaces tied directly to the land’s design. Food areas serve as extensions of the attraction itself. The attraction’s space-themed visuals are LEGO-style sci-fi, aimed primarily at younger children and families.
Jurassic World: Cretaceous Coaster + Universal Kids Cuisine
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This Universal Kids Resort ride uses smaller ranger-style vehicles and dinosaur storytelling. Universal has also confirmed food and beverage experiences across the resort. This matters because the park targets families spending entire days in highly themed areas. Dining around the Jurassic World section fits the franchise’s campy atmosphere. Those details help create full-day experiences.
Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express + DreamWorks Snacks
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DreamWorks Animation already revolves around exaggerated colors, music, and oversized visuals, so the Universal Kids Resort naturally extended that style into Rhonda’s TrollsFest Express. The family coaster features a music-themed environment inspired by Trolls. Once you’ve worked up an appetite on the tracks, the transition to DreamWorks Snacks is a natural next step. Trolls Eatz! serves as the main hub for family bites, but the real highlight for many is BroZone Cones’ ice cream treats that match the neon aesthetic of the ride they just exited.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets + Hollywood Studios Dining
Credit: Disney Food Blog
Disney’s Hollywood Studios replaces the longtime Aerosmith version of Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster with a Muppets-themed version opening in 2026. The coaster itself is one of Disney World’s fastest attractions. This relocation facilitates the permanent closure of Grand Park staples PizzeRizzo and Mama Melrose’s to make way for Monsters, Inc. land. Consequently, Hollywood Studios dining shifts focus toward Sunset Boulevard’s Sunset Ranch Market.
Drakon + Viking Food Additions
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Paultons Park will open the Viking-themed Valgard land in 2026. Drakon serves as the area’s signature coaster. This is also the park’s first inverting rollercoaster. Complementing this are the Vild Swing and a Viking-themed playground. For dining, the Feasting Hall serves flame-grilled chicken and other crispy dishes, alongside indulgent desserts like loaded pancakes and milkshakes.