9 Exciting New Attractions Coming to Disney Parks in 2026

If you thought the last few years at Disney Parks were big, just wait for 2026. Across Disney’s global theme parks, no fewer than nine new rides or significant ride transformations are scheduled to debut in 2026. From the United States to Asia and Europe, Disney Imagineers have been hard at work creating new thrills, immersive lands, and fresh stories for guests. Some of these attractions will appear at multiple parks (EPCOT and Disney California Adventure are both getting a new Soarin’ film), while others are unique to one location (Tokyo Disneyland’s first-ever Wreck-It Ralph ride!). It’s a lot to keep track of, so let’s break down the list. Below are the 9 new ride openings or refurbishments Disney has announced for 2026, along with what we know about each:

1. Soarin’ Across America (Coming to EPCOT in Florida and Disney California Adventure in California) – To commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States (1776–2026), Disney is reimagining its popular Soarin’ attraction with a new film showcasing famous American landscapes. Since its debut in 2005, Soarin’ took us over California, then around the world; in 2026, it will soar over the USA. Aptly titled Soarin’ Across America, this third iteration of the ride will open in Summer 2026 on both coasts. Imagine gliding over the Grand Canyon, the New York City skyline, or the midwestern plains with that hang-glider sensation. It’s a patriotic twist and a limited-time offering to celebrate the semiquincentennial (don’t worry, Soarin’ Around the World is likely to return later, but 2026 is all about America!). Both EPCOT and Disney California Adventure will swap in the new film simultaneously, so bi-coastal Disney fans can compare notes.

2. Wreck-It Ralph Attraction (Coming to Tokyo Disneyland) – Tokyo will level up with its first-ever Wreck-It Ralph ride. This attraction, set in the candy-colored world of the Sugar Rush game, will be an indoor interactive shooting ride where guests team up with Ralph and Vanellope to “fix” glitches (turning “sugar bugs” back into candy, as the story goes). It’s essentially Tokyo’s answer to Buzz Lightyear or Toy Story Midway Mania but themed to the Wreck-It Ralph films. Located in Tomorrowland, it’s replacing the retired Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters (which closed in 2024 to make way for this). Disney hasn’t given a specific opening date for Ralph, but has confirmed it will debut in 2026. Given Tokyo’s penchant for high-tech, story-driven rides (and the popularity of Ralph in Japan), this could be a sleeper hit. Expect colorful animatronics of Vanellope’s racers, lots of LED “candy” lighting, and a fun new spin on the shooter ride genre. Sweet racing victory, here we come!

3. Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring The Muppets (Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Florida) – Say goodbye to Aerosmith and hello to Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem! Disney is officially retheming Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster with a Muppets overlay, scheduled to open Summer 2026. This idea had been rumored for a while, and in late 2024 Disney confirmed it: the Muppets are taking over the recording studio coaster. The ride’s track and high-speed launches will remain the same, but the storyline, music, and setpieces are getting a zany Muppet makeover. We can expect the queue to set up that the Electric Mayhem band (from The Muppet Movie and Disney+ series) is putting on a concert and guests are racing to get there. The preshow likely will feature the Muppets instead of the old Aerosmith video. On the ride itself, you’ll rock out to Muppet-ified tunes and see familiar characters like Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, and Animal in the ride’s neon show scenes. Importantly, this comes on the heels of Disney closing the MuppetVision 3D show in 2025 at the same park. So while one Muppet attraction said goodbye, it paved the way for this much more adrenaline-packed one. Muppet fans, get ready to jam!

4. World of Frozen & Frozen Ever After (Coming to Disneyland Paris – Walt Disney Studios Park, soon to be Disney Adventure World) – Disneyland Paris is undergoing a transformation, and on March 29, 2026, it will unveil an entire new Frozen-themed land. Notably, Walt Disney Studios Park will even be renamed “Disney Adventure World” that day to mark its evolution. The crown jewel of this land is Frozen Ever After, a version of the boat ride from EPCOT that retells Frozen with music and animatronics. Parisian guests will finally get to join Anna, Elsa, and Olaf on a voyage through Arendelle’s icy magic. The ride is similar to EPCOT’s, but by 2026 it comes with all the latest tech: Disney has mentioned that even EPCOT’s Frozen ride is getting upgraded animatronics in early 2026 – new 3D-printed faces and improved figures for Anna, Elsa, Kristoff – and Paris will open with those enhancements from day one. That means incredibly lifelike characters (no more projected faces, these will be fully sculpted and expressive) and perhaps other improvements. World of Frozen in Paris will also likely feature character encounters, a snowy village, and that towering ice castle vista. This is a huge expansion for Disneyland Paris, essentially bringing a mini-Arendelle to life.

5. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (Reimagined) (Coming to Magic Kingdom, Florida) – As detailed in our previous article, Buzz’s ride in Tomorrowland is getting a major refurbishment and will reopen in Spring 2026 with lots of new features. Briefly: new handheld blasters, targets that light up, onboard scoring screens, plus Buzz Lightyear himself appearing in-ride for the first time. This will refresh the ride’s gameplay and visuals significantly. Though it’s a “refurbishment,” we’re counting it as one of the nine big 2026 attractions because the changes are substantial – it’ll feel like a brand-new experience. The ride is nearly 3 decades old, so these upgrades (like adding The Mandalorian mission to Star Tours – oh, that’s happening in 2024) ensure it remains a must-do for families.

6. Spider-Man High-Speed Roller Coaster (Coming to Shanghai Disneyland) – Over in China, Shanghai Disneyland is building an entirely new land devoted to Marvel’s web-slinger. The star will be a one-of-a-kind Spider-Man launched roller coaster. This thrill ride is designed to send guests dashing alongside Spider-Man as he tries to escape (or chase?) trouble through a Marvel version of New York. The coaster will feature both forward and reverse launches, track switches, and indoor-outdoor elements. Picture something akin to Hagrid’s Motorbike coaster at Universal – surprising launches and maybe even some story-driven stops – but themed to Spider-Man. In fact, it’s confirmed the coaster will have both indoor and outdoor sections, so possibly zooming out of a building into the open air and back in. It’s part of a new “Spider-Man Land” adjacent to Shanghai’s recently opened Zootopia area. Construction began in 2025 and they’re aiming to have it ready around June 2026, which is Shanghai Disneyland’s 10th anniversary. How fitting – a big new ride as a 10th birthday gift to the park. Marvel fans can look forward to unique ride vehicles (maybe like Spider-themed cars or cycles) and state-of-the-art effects as they join Spidey on this wild ride. This will be Shanghai’s second Marvel ride after Iron Man Experience, and its first Marvel coaster.

7. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run – New Mission (Coming to Disneyland Park in California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida) – Not a new ride per se, but a new mission/update to the Millennium Falcon attraction in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Currently, Smugglers Run has you on Hondo Ohnaka’s crew stealing coaxium with Chewie’s Falcon. In 2026, it’s getting an upgrade: a mission featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu (Baby Yoda) will launch on May 22, 2026. This date coincides with an upcoming Mandalorian movie release, creating some synergy. The new storyline puts guests in the role of Rebel Alliance recruits working with Din Djarin (Mando) and Grogu to take on Imperial forces. Key changes: new on-screen graphics, possibly new cockpit tasks, and definitely new video scenes with Mando and his ship. You might jump to lightspeed to Cloud City, Endor, or even Coruscant, with multiple mission paths that could be “guest-operator-controlled” – suggesting an element of choice or randomness in destinations. This upgrade will make Smugglers Run feel fresh again, much like Star Tours periodically adds new scenes. For Star Wars fans, the chance to fly the Falcon on a mission involving The Mandalorian is huge. It also confirms that Galaxy’s Edge is willing to break its timeline setting a bit to incorporate the massively popular Mandalorian characters. Both U.S. parks with Galaxy’s Edge (Anaheim and Orlando) will get this update simultaneously, ensuring coast-to-coast travelers get the same new adventure.

8. Raiponce (Tangled) Spinner (Coming to Disneyland Paris – Disney Adventure World) – Another piece of Disneyland Paris’s 2026 expansion is a charming family ride based on Rapunzel (or Raiponce, as she’s called in French). This attraction, likely called “Raiponce’s Tangled Spin”, is a spinning teacups-style ride themed to the iconic lantern scene from Tangled. Concept art shows guests riding in ornately decorated gondolas (shaped like boats or frying pans perhaps) under a canopy of glowing lanterns. It’s essentially a modern cousin to the Mad Tea Party but with a Romantic, luminous atmosphere – think music from Tangled playing, Rapunzel’s artwork on the ride vehicles, and lanterns rising above as you spin. This ride is scheduled to open March 29, 2026 as well, alongside Frozen, as part of the park’s big relaunch day. It will add some much-needed all-ages capacity to the revamped park and gives Rapunzel fans something to celebrate. While not an E-ticket thrill, it’s sure to be picture-perfect (Instagrammers will flock to those lanterns) and a delightful addition. Don’t underestimate how lovely a well-themed spinner can be – and this one ties into that emotional high point of the film with “I See the Light” likely serenading riders.

9. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Enhanced) (Coming back to Magic Kingdom, Florida) – Rounding out the list is the refurbished Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Walt Disney World, which we detailed in the previous section. After over a year of work, Big Thunder is slated to reopen in Spring 2026 with new magic: new trains, restored and improved effects, and an all-new Rainbow Caverns scene that adds drama to the finale. For a ride originally opened in 1980, this is a significant rejuvenation. The inclusion of Rainbow Caverns – a legendary element from Disney park history – is especially exciting for Disney aficionados. It shows Disney blending nostalgia with innovation, which is a running theme in many of these 2026 projects. While Big Thunder’s core layout remains, it’ll feel refreshed and smoother, ensuring it keeps thrilling guests for decades more. Given its status as a Magic Kingdom mountain, its “re-opening” will be celebrated on par with a new attraction.

From this list, you can see 2026 is a mix of brand-new rides and refreshed favorites, spanning a variety of franchises: Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, classic Disney animation, and even park nostalgia. It’s truly something for everyone. This kind of lineup is almost like a mini “Disney Decade” rolled into a single year!

For guests, it means plenty of reasons to plan a trip. You might, for example, decide on a Disneyland Paris vacation to experience Frozen land and the Tangled ride (plus their Avengers Campus opened in 2022 – that park is stepping up big time). Or an Asia Disney tour to catch Tokyo’s Ralph and Shanghai’s Spider-Man coaster. Stateside, Walt Disney World and Disneyland will each have their share of new goodies (WDW with Big Thunder, new Buzz, new Muppets coaster, and the Mandalorian Falcon; Disneyland with the Soarin’ film, Mandalorian Falcon, etc.). It’s a lot of coordinate, but the good news is these attractions roll out throughout the year, not all on one day.

Many of these projects were announced previously at D23 Expos or in press releases, but seeing them all together highlights what a banner year 2026 will be. And behind each is a reason to be excited: technological advancements, beloved characters making park debuts, or significant park improvements.

Disney fans love to debate the “best time to visit” and catch new attractions. 2026 might just be one of those golden years when parks worldwide have something fresh. (If you’re a real Disney globetrotter, imagine collecting all 9 new attractions in one year – that’s the ultimate Disney achievement badge!)

One thing’s for sure: Disney will be busy in 2025 finishing construction and testing on all these experiences. And as the calendar flips to 2026, we’ll start to see opening dates and soft opening previews, etc., roll out. Keep an eye on those official Disney Parks Blogs and fan sites for announcements so you can mark your calendars – some dates, like March 29 and May 22, 2026, are already circled in red.

Ultimately, whether you’re excited to fly across America, race through the internet, rock out with Muppets, or drop in on a Spider-Man chase, 2026 will have a bit of magic to satisfy your craving. It’s all about expanding horizons – both literally (new lands, new countries represented) and figuratively (new technology and stories in our favorite places). We can’t wait to experience these attractions and see the smiles, screams, and laughs they’ll bring to guests around the world.

Get those Mickey ears ready – a whole new world of fun is on the horizon!

Until next time, keep believing in magic. — Behind the Wish