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 events like Fan Fest Nights and Mega Movie Summer, 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 will also have returning events, like Universal Fan Fest Nights from April 23 through May 16. Tickets are on sale now (starting at $74), and this year’s event features characters and experiences from Scooby-Doo, the Universal Monsters, Sailor Moon, One Piece, and more on select nights. There is also an all-new walk-through Forbidden Forest experience in the Wizarding World.

This is the largest attraction to be added to the Wizarding World since it first opened, and only available during this special ticketed event. The Search for the Hippogriff experience is similar to a Halloween Horror Nights maze, but instead of scares, guests will get to walk through the Forbidden Forest with the help of a Hogwarts Magical Creatures professor. Along the way, you encounter creatures like pixies, owls, spiders, and the Monster Book of Monsters while looking for a larger-than-life Hippogriff. You also have the opportunity to cast spells with obstacles that get in your way, like the Devil's Snare, so have your wands at the ready.

Universal Fan Fest Nights also offers exclusive menu items in the Wizarding World like:

• Hippogriff Brown Sugar & Oat Truffle
• Classic Sunday Roast
• Welch Rarebit
• Chicken Curry
• Scotch Egg
• Toad In The Hole
• Classic English Fish & Chips
• Three Broomsticks Dessert Flight

Aside from the Harry Potter fun, another exciting addition to 2026 Fan Fest Nights is the Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters: Mystery on the Backlot adventure. Guests work with Scooby and the gang to solve a mystery with Frankenstein, Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein, and Wolfman on the actual sets where those iconic Universal horror films were made.

If you get a craving like Shaggy, you can also enjoy bites like:

• Colossal Monster Dog
• Super Shaggy Sandwich
• Scooby Snacks

Sailor Moon fans can also meet Usagi Tsukino for the first-time ever, and enjoy a themed menu of treats. There’s a blind box cupcake that comes in five different colors inspired by Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Venus, and Sailor Jupiter. I got a green Sailor Jupiter cupcake that was one of the best treats I tried at the event. It’s a vanilla cupcake with raspberry jam filling.

Another super fun experience is meeting four colorful Yoshis in Super Nintendo World. This year, there’s a purple, yellow, blue, and pink Yoshi that you can only meet during Fan Fest Nights, and they’re all so adorable.

Starting in June, Universal’s Mega Movie Summer will be making a comeback as well 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.

Fans on TikTok are already speculating at what houses might be coming to HHN this year. Rumors include Lady Gaga, Stranger Things Season 5, and Sinners, but Universal has yet to announce anything.

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.

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.