What's Coming To Universal Studios Theme Parks In 2026? An Epic Breakdown

2026 is set to be another banner year. After the opening of Epic Universe in 2025, Universal Destinations & Experiences hasn’t slowed down in delivering equally exciting thrills, with the debut of a new roller coaster, as well as returning faves that will make a theme park vacay at the top of your to-do list.

Whether you’re a Harry Potter fan who has yet to try Butterbeer IRL or an adventure seeker looking to get a jump scare at a haunted house, there’s no shortage of things to do at Universal Studios. As a passholder at Universal Studios Hollywood, I love grabbing a drink to enjoy while taking the backlot tour, and seeing if I can spot a TV show or movie in production.

Throughout the remainder of the year, there will be plenty of new sips to try, with the return of Mega Movie Summer and Halloween Horror Nights, plus opps to make a viral TikTok with the Grinch. For all of those and more, here’s everything you need to know about what’s to come at both Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort in 2026.

Universal Studios Hollywood Has A Walk-Through Harry Potter Experience

While no dates have been revealed yet, the biggest addition to Universal Studios Hollywood in 2026 will be the all-new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift roller coaster. This will be the West Coast’s first-ever high-speed, outdoor coaster in the theme park, and will feature ride vehicles that have 360-degree rotation.

Along with the new attraction, USH has returning events, like Universal Fan Fest Nights. This year’s event featured characters and experiences from Scooby-Doo, the Universal Monsters, Sailor Moon, One Piece, and more. There was also an all-new walk-through Forbidden Forest experience in the Wizarding World. The Search for the Hippogriff experience was similar to a Halloween Horror Nights maze, but instead of scares, guests encountered magical creatures.

In Super Nintendo World, fans also interacted with a variety of colorful Yoshis in purple, yellow, blue, and pink shades — which hopefully Universal brings back outside of Fan Fest Nights.

Starting in June, Universal’s Mega Movie Summer will be making a comeback with film-themed menu items. Last year, that included a Back to the Future Flux Capacitor Patty Melt as well as Hogwarts House-themed churros. (All points should go to the berry Ravenclaw churro, IMO.)

Speaking of Harry Potter, in August, fans will get to celebrate going Back to Hogwarts in the Wizarding World right before Halloween Horror Nights returns on Sept. 3. The special ticketed event will run through Nov. 1 with all-new haunted houses, scare zones, and themed menu items —like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man S'more that was tied to the Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire house in 2024.

TikTokers are already speculating at what houses might be coming to HHN this year. Rumors include Lady Gaga and Stranger Things Season 5. Fans were spot on about a Sinners house, which was officially announced on May 21. On Instagram, Universal teased that guests will get to experience the Oscar-winning film in “a whole new way.”

After Halloween is over, the holidays will begin at Universal Studios. The seasonal festivities will include new treats, merch, and the return of the viral Grinchmas.

Universal Orlando Resort Is Celebrating The Seasons

Just like Hollywood, Orlando will also be celebrating Back to Hogwarts (Aug. 1 – Sept. 1), so there will be plenty for Harry Potter fans to enjoy. During the fall, Dark Arts will return to the Wizarding World when Halloween Horror Nights creeps back to the park. The popular scarefest will run from Aug. 28 through Nov. 1 with all-new haunted houses inspired by movies and original ideas, including a Sinners-inspired maze.

Once Halloween has wrapped up, the Holidays at Universal Orlando Resort will begin Nov. 14 and run through the new year. Guests can expect seasonal fun with Christmas in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Grinchmas, and Universal’s Holiday Parade featuring Macy’s.

For anyone who would rather celebrate more HHN fun year-round, Universal Horror Unleashed opened in 2025 across from The Strip in Las Vegas, Nevada. The spooky experience with movie-themed mazes, like Blumhouse’s The Exorcist: Believer, will continue to run and be open Wednesday through Sunday in 2026 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.