www.parkworld-online.com


The Super 6


4: Bon Luxury Theme Park


Exploring the site, which at the time was


nearing completion, the scale of the park was incredible, with a huge 6,000 m² indoor pool hall accompanied by a 4,000 m² outdoor area. Learning of the fire, which also resulted in the


BON - short for “Beauty of Nature” - is one of the most intriguing projects for 2026. Marketed as the world’s first true luxury theme park, BON sits at the intersection of high-end hospitality, immersive storytelling and lush natural landscapes. If it delivers what it promises, it could reinvent what “premium” means in the attractions space. We’ve already had a taste through LUDŌ,


Cirque du Soleil’s “submersive dinner show” that opened in December ahead of the full park launch. The show blends luxury dining with theatrical spectacle and sets the tone for BON’s creative direction: artistic, intimate and deeply sensory. The wider park will open in autumn 2026


and features 23 attractions, 25 restaurants and lounges, 16 shops and a suite of luxury hotels across more than 150 acres. Nature and art play a central role in the design, with Cirque du Soleil contributing to elements of the park’s creative identity. What fascinates me most is BON’s operational


philosophy. Capacity will intentionally be kept low to ensure short queues and personalised service - a clear departure from traditional mass-market theme park design. If BON can strike the balance between exclusivity and experience, it has the potential to occupy a completely new category within the global market.


3: Oceana Waterworld


This is one of those projects that forces the world to stand up and pay attention. Six Flags Qiddiya is a centrepiece of Saudi Arabia’s wider entertainment investment strategy - and it’s a gamechanger in every sense of the word. Its headline attraction, Falcon’s Flight, is


set to become the world’s tallest, fastest and longest rollercoaster. Simply put, it will be unlike anything built before. But the ambition doesn’t stop there. The park will also debut the world’s tallest tilt coaster and the world’s tallest inverted coaster. These are included among 28 rides and attractions, 18 of which are designed with families in mind. This is a statement park - an attempt to position


This one feels personal to me. A couple of months before it tragically was destroyed by fire, I travelled to Liseberg in Sweden for a tour of the upcoming Oceana Waterworld, which is scheduled to make its long-awaited debut in 2026.


WINTER 2026


Saudi Arabia as a must-visit global entertainment destination. And based on what has been revealed so far, it appears poised to achieve exactly that. Although technically opening on 31 December


2025, its true impact will be felt throughout 2026. That’s why the landmark project is number two on the list.


death of one man, it was tragic news. Knowing the team at Lisberg as well and how much they care about what they do, I really felt for them. But like a phoenix, the development has risen from the ashes and coming as an addition to the Grand Curiosa Hotel and Lisberg itself, the offer is exciting. The waterpark is set to feature 14 attractions,


including Europe’s first six-person raft ride and a Master Blaster with the world’s biggest mega drop - seeing this in person presented in the way it was stunning. This will certainly be a standout for Scandinavia and wider Europe. There is a chance the timeline slips into early 2027 due to the complexity of rebuilding, but if it does debut in 2026, it will stand as one of the year’s biggest triumphs - a symbol of resilience and a major new asset for Scandinavian tourism.


2: Six Flags Qiddya


1: PokePark Kanto


For me, this is my undisputed champion when it comes to openings in 2026. Like many people my age (and younger), I’ve grown up with Pokemon - an IP which has largely been untouched when it comes to theme parks - which is why there is such hype around this right now. Opening in February 2026 at Yomiuriland in


Tokyo, the park spans 26,000m² and features two main zones: Pokémon Forest, a nature- inspired walking trail filled with terrain straight from the games; and Sedge Town, a recreation of classic in-game towns, complete with interactive spaces and entertainment. More than 600 Pokémon models populate the


land, creating a living, breathing world that taps directly into the nostalgia and excitement that has defined the franchise for nearly three decades. Demand has been overwhelming, with early tickets distributed via lottery due to extraordinary interest. Following Japan’s growing appetite for nature-


integrated attractions - seen most notably with Studio Ghibli Park - PokePark Kanto arrives at exactly the right cultural moment. With Pokémon’s global popularity spiking once again, this feels like the beginning of something much bigger.


19


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44