Whats Happened in the Theme Park World This Week

It has been another busy week across the theme park world, with new rides opening, major projects moving forward and UK parks getting ready for the May half-term rush. From Blackpool Pleasure Beach’s towering new thrill ride to Paultons Park’s Viking expansion, here are the stories worth catching up on this week.

Aviktas prepares to open at Blackpool Pleasure Beach

Blackpool Pleasure Beach is getting ready to launch Aviktas, its huge new gyro swing ride, with the attraction due to open on 21 May 2026. The ride is being billed as the UK’s tallest gyro swing, standing at around 138 feet tall and bringing a major new skyline moment to the park. With outward-facing seats, a huge swinging motion and a strong visual presence on the seafront, Aviktas feels like one of the most exciting UK thrill openings of the year.

Valgard opens at Paultons Park

Paultons Park has officially opened Valgard: Realm of the Vikings, its new Viking-themed land for 2026. The area opened on 16 May and includes new attractions such as Drakon, the park’s first inverting rollercoaster, alongside Viking-inspired theming, family rides and a new dining location. It is another big step for Paultons, which continues to grow beyond its Peppa Pig World reputation and build itself into one of the UK’s most interesting family theme parks.

Could work be moving forward on Project Horizon?

Alton Towers fans have also been keeping a close eye on Project Horizon, the long-discussed indoor attraction planned for the former Alton Mouse site in Coaster Corner. The project already has planning approval, but visible progress has been limited since the original application, leaving fans wondering when - or if - the resort might begin moving things forward.

Recent planning activity has sparked fresh speculation that early groundwork could be getting closer, although Alton Towers has not yet confirmed a start date, ride type or opening timeline. For now, Project Horizon remains one of the resort’s most intriguing future developments, especially as the park continues to balance family additions, major thrill projects and long-term expansion plans.

UK parks gear up for May half-term

With May half-term approaching, UK theme parks are preparing for one of the first major family breaks of the season. New additions across the country mean 2026 is shaping up to be a particularly strong year for fresh experiences, with a mix of thrill rides, family areas and smaller regional updates all arriving in time for the school holiday crowds. It is not just about headline coasters either - this year has a good spread of attractions for different ages and types of visitor.

Thorpe Park lines up extended May fun

Thorpe Park is also leaning into the May period, with the resort continuing to promote visits around its major thrill line-up, including Hyperia, Stealth, SAW - The Ride and Colossus. After the huge arrival of Hyperia, the challenge for Thorpe Park is keeping that momentum going, and busy half-term dates are a good opportunity to remind guests just how strong the park’s coaster collection now is.

Universal UK remains one to watch

Universal’s planned UK resort in Bedford remains one of the biggest long-term stories in the industry. The project is expected to include a major theme park, themed lands, hotels, dining, retail and entertainment, making it one of the most ambitious leisure developments the UK has ever seen. Ride details and lands have not yet been confirmed, but the Bedford project continues to be a major talking point for UK theme park fans.

Disney Abu Dhabi plans remain unchanged

Away from the UK, Disney’s planned theme park resort in Abu Dhabi has also been back in the conversation. The company recently confirmed that its plans for the project remain unchanged, following questions around the development after its announcement. It is still early days, and no opening date has been announced, but if delivered as planned, Disney Abu Dhabi could become one of the most significant theme park projects in the Middle East.

On ThrillSense this week

Closer to home, we have also been looking at some of the stories theme park fans are already talking about, including the history of Alton Towers’ famous Secret Weapon projects and what fans are expecting from SW9. We also covered the upcoming Fast & Furious coaster, looking at why it is a notable addition without pretending it needs to be the biggest story of the year. Sometimes the fun is simply in seeing what parks are building next - and 2026 is already giving fans plenty to talk about.

Final thoughts

From new family lands to major thrill rides, this week has shown just how active the theme park industry is right now. The UK in particular feels like it is heading into half-term with real momentum, with new attractions opening across several major parks. Whether you are following Aviktas, planning a visit to Paultons Park, or keeping one eye on Universal UK, there is plenty happening - and plenty more still to come.