Chuck E. Cheese Introduces Sensory Sensitive Birthdays This World Autism Month
Chuck E. Cheese announced Sensory Sensitive Birthdays launching April 1 for World Autism Month. The program, created with Autism Speaks, lets families customize sensory elements of traditional Mega Fun or Ultimate Fun parties. Events include two‑hour gameplay, food, a dedicated host, and sensory‑friendly goody bags, building on SSS Sundays that have hosted nearly 30,000 events. Additional April fundraisers and corporate sponsorships support Autism Speaks and Sensory Safe.
Museum of London Demolition Challenge Dismissed
A High Court judge dismissed a judicial review filed by the Barbican Quarter Organisation, clearing the way for the demolition of the former Museum of London and the adjacent 1970s Bastion House. The City of London Corporation’s plan to replace...
Dpt. Creates AI-Powered Interactive Character for Pointe-À-Callière Museum
Dpt., an international experiential design studio, has launched an AI‑powered, life‑sized interactive character of 19th‑century tavern keeper Joe Beef at Montreal’s Pointe‑à‑Callière Museum. The installation blends a locally hosted large language model, retrieval‑augmented generation, speech‑to‑text and text‑to‑speech pipelines, and real‑time...
Guests Can Take the Dollywood Fun Home with Official Monopoly Game
Dollywood Parks & Resorts has launched a Monopoly: Dollywood Edition under license from Hasbro, now sold at park retail locations. The board features iconic park attractions, resorts, and the famous Dollywood locomotives, turning the classic game into a themed souvenir....
New Zoo Boss Reveals Plan to Win Back Public Trust
Jersey Zoo’s new director Mark Habben, appointed in January, is confronting a steep drop in visitors—from 209,474 in 2023 to 175,940 in 2024—and a roughly $6.1 million deficit. He announced a long‑term masterplan that will replace empty enclosures and phase out...
Netflix - Pixel Artworks (Rebel Moon)
Netflix launched an ambitious PR activation for its new sci‑fi blockbuster, Rebel Moon, by installing a 10‑meter geodesic dome on the Thames banks in London. The dome, surrounded by a wheat field and hidden LED lights, projected series imagery, creating an...
The Theme Park Boom that Could Generate Billions
Southern U.S. theme parks are entering a new expansion phase as major operators pour billions of dollars into new rides, resort hotels and year‑round indoor attractions. The investments, projected to exceed $3 billion over five years, aim to boost off‑season attendance...
Cinchio Launches Retail Kiosk for Cultural Institutions
Cincho has unveiled a self‑service retail kiosk tailored for cultural institutions, enabling faster guest checkout and handling extensive SKU inventories. The device syncs in real time with Yellow Dog’s inventory platform, ensuring up‑to‑date pricing and stock levels. Integrated into Cinchio’s...
Unit 7 Expands in Size and Scope with New Shop Facility
Unit 7, a veteran props design and fabrication firm, has opened a new shop in Winter Park, Florida, expanding its physical footprint and service scope. The facility supports larger‑scale production and introduces Unit 7 Designs, a unit focused on scenic,...
Photos Reveal Róng Museum of Art Under Construction in Shenzhen
Büro Ole Scheeren unveiled renderings of the Róng Museum of Art, a 53‑metre tall, 4,500‑square‑metre cultural landmark under construction in Shenzhen. Commissioned by Tenova Future, a private venture of Tencent founder Ma Huateng, the museum targets 20th‑ and 21st‑century visual...
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Unveils a New Covered Waiting Area
Starting Monday 23 March 2026, Disneyland® Paris will debut a new covered outdoor waiting area for The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™. Dubbed “The Patio,” the space reimagines a former hotel terrace, complete with Pueblo‑Deco architecture, natural stone flooring, and period‑style décor. The...
Four of the Most Unusual Theme Parks Around the World
Unconventional theme parks are emerging worldwide, offering experiences far from the mainstream Disney formula. Notable examples include Germany’s Wunderland Kalkar, built inside a decommissioned nuclear plant, Vietnam’s Suối Tiên Cultural Theme Park, which celebrates local mythology, and Romania’s Salina Turda,...
Blackpool's Pleasure Beach Resort Calls for Tourism Sector Support
Pleasure Beach Resort kicked off its 2026 season, celebrating 130 years as Blackpool’s largest private tourism employer. The launch introduced flexible ticket options—including a free eTicket for under‑2s, a new Annual Pass, and a Flex Pass—while announcing the Aviktas mega‑ride...
Aquarabia Qiddiya City Opens as Middle East’s Largest Water Theme Park
Aquarabia, the flagship water theme park of Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya City, held a soft opening on March 20, 2026, positioning itself as the Middle East’s largest water‑park. The park is part of a broader $15 billion entertainment district slated to open in...
Miami Beach Considers Suing State over Bill to Allow Water Park
Miami Beach officials are weighing a lawsuit after the Florida legislature passed HB 399, a bill that preempts city zoning and lets the Fontainebleau hotel add a water park without Historic Preservation Board approval. The City Commission instructed the city attorney...
New Disney CEO Josh D’Amaro Talks Theme Park Prices
Josh D’Amaro, Disney’s new CEO, addressed theme‑park pricing at the March shareholder meeting, highlighting a $50 ticket option for children aged 3‑9 and a flexible pricing philosophy. He noted that U.S. park attendance slipped 1% year‑over‑year while overall park revenue...
Tampa Museum of Art Launches Search for Next Executive Director
The Tampa Museum of Art announced that its board has hired global search firm Russell Reynolds Associates to conduct an international search for a new executive director as Dr. Michael Tomor prepares to retire after more than a decade at...
Edinburgh Zoo Launches Employment Scheme for People with Down's Syndrome
Edinburgh Zoo has teamed up with Down's Syndrome Scotland to launch an inclusive employment scheme, placing two adults with Down's syndrome on its admissions and retail teams this summer. The pilot roles, lasting several months, are designed to evolve into...
Dream Garden Creates Turnkey Indoor Playgrounds for Suburban Markets
Dream Garden Amusement Equipment has completed a 500‑square‑metre indoor playground in Craigieburn, Australia, delivering a full turnkey solution that includes concept design, equipment manufacturing, and installation guidance. The venue combines soft‑play structures, climbing features, a ball pit, and a dedicated...
Futuroscope Announces New Attractions for 2026 Season
French theme park Futuroscope announced two flagship attractions for its 2026 season – The Greenhouse of the Worlds and T. Rex: In the Footsteps of Giants – as part of a €300 million investment program. The Greenhouse offers a multisensory walk among...
Why Six Flags Is Selling 7 Parks and What It Could Mean for Cedar Point
Six Flags announced the sale of seven amusement parks to EPR Properties for $331 million, a move aimed at trimming its $5.18 billion debt load. The divested sites include former Cedar Fair assets—Worlds of Fun, Michigan’s Adventure, Valleyfair—as well as Six Flags...
Jana Partners Pushes Six Flags to Explore Sale, Replace Board Chair
Activist hedge fund Jana Partners, holding roughly a 9% economic stake in Six Flags Entertainment, has written to the board urging the company to explore a sale and replace its chair, Marilyn Spiegel. The letter follows Jana’s earlier push for...
Activists Rally over Bristol Zoo Gardens Sale
The Bristol Zoological Society is finalising the sale of the historic Bristol Zoo Gardens site to Acorn Property Group, a deal that includes 196 new homes, a café, a playground and the first public access to the gardens. Activists staged...
Andhra Pradesh Signs MoU for Amusement Park and Resort Project
Andhra Pradesh Tourism Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Modern Masti Private Limited to develop a ₹100‑crore amusement park and resort in Visakhapatnam. The 50‑acre Masti Land project will feature a luxury resort with 100 rooms and generate about 300...
Losonnante Overcomes Challenges of Outdoor Sound Systems
Losonnante helps public‑space managers navigate complex outdoor audio challenges by combining regulatory insight with innovative technology. In the UK, strict noise‑control laws and event licences dictate permissible sound levels, forcing organisers to balance coverage with compliance. The company outlines traditional...
Disney Cruise Line Launches New Ad
Disney Cruise Line unveiled a high‑impact advertising campaign to promote the debut of its newest vessel, Disney Adventure, in Asia. The ship’s maiden voyage launched from Singapore on March 10, 2026, marking Disney’s first dedicated cruise line presence in the region....
Dolly Parton Opens Dollywood's 41st Season, Promises More Projects Ahead
Dolly Parton officially opened Dollywood’s 41st season, unveiling the $50 million NightFlight Expedition indoor coaster and celebrating America’s 250th anniversary with patriotic programming. The park announced a master‑plan for five resorts across 1,142 acres, including the upcoming Songteller hotel in Nashville....
How AI-Powered Digital Experience Solutions Are Transforming Museums
Museums are replacing static labels and linear audio guides with AI‑powered digital experience platforms that interpret visitor location, answer spoken queries, and translate content in real time. The technology leverages Bluetooth beacons, conversational agents, and augmented reality to deliver personalized...
Ministry of Awe Transforms Philadelphia Bank Into New Immersive Experience
Ministry of Awe, an immersive art experience, opens March 14 in Philadelphia’s Old City, housed in the historic 1870 Manufacturer’s National Bank. The six‑floor, 8,500‑sq‑ft venue showcases large‑scale installations, soundscapes, robotics, and AI‑enhanced environments created by Meg Saligman and over...
Blooloop Business Confidence Pulse 2026: Cautious Optimism & Investment to Evolve
Blooloop’s first Business Confidence Pulse surveyed attraction leaders between December 2025 and January 2026, revealing a modestly positive outlook with an average confidence score of +0.8. Despite geopolitical tension and macro‑economic headwinds, 77% of respondents plan to increase or at least maintain capital...
City OKs Updated San Diego Zoo Lease
The San Diego City Council unanimously approved a 52‑year lease extension for the San Diego Zoo, moving the expiration from 2034 to 2078 and adding a $3 million annual payment with a 3% escalator after 2030. The deal splits net parking...
Boring Co.'s Proposed Tunnel System Could Expand Beyond Universal Parks
Elon Musk’s The Boring Company submitted a tunnel proposal for the Universal Orlando area that includes a detailed map of potential future stations at major hotels and both wings of the Orange County Convention Center. The bid documents were obtained...
Taxpayer to Put More than £1bn Into Universal’s New UK Theme Park
The UK government has pledged more than £1 billion in state support to Comcast for the country’s first Universal Studios theme park, slated for a 500‑acre site in Bedfordshire. The funding, primarily earmarked for transport and infrastructure, doubles earlier estimates and...
In Other Worlds: Step Into an Immersive Experience at the Barbican
Australian filmmaker and designer Liam Young debuts his first UK solo exhibition, In Other Worlds, at the Barbican Centre. Running from 21 May to 6 September 2026, the immersive show blends art, film, costume design, literature and interactive installations. It reimagines Earth’s future,...
Toca Social Opens First Tech-Enabled Soccer Attraction in US
Technology‑enabled soccer entertainment company Toca Football has launched its first U.S. flagship, Toca Social, at Dallas’ Grandscape shopping centre on March 6. The 20,000‑square‑foot venue blends immersive tech, interactive play, elevated food and beverage, and large‑format 4K match screenings. It showcases...
Saratoga Springs History Museum Reopens with AI-Driven Tour Guides
The Saratoga Springs History Museum reopened for summer with AI‑powered tour guides that let visitors converse with digital avatars of local historical figures via their smartphones. The software, built in‑house by the museum’s director of communications, features avatars of John...
Blackpool Pleasure Beach's New £8.72m Pendulum Ride Aviktas Swings for First Time
Blackpool Pleasure Beach Resort has completed the first controlled swing of its new £8.72 million pendulum attraction, Aviktas. The 138‑ft tall, 40‑seat gyro‑swing is currently undergoing testing and is slated for a spring 2026 debut, ahead of the resort’s March season...
Lee Choong Yan Stepping Down as Genting Malaysia President and Executive Director
Lee Choong Yan announced his resignation as President and Executive Director of Genting Malaysia, ending a tenure that oversaw the company's recent diversification and debt‑refinancing efforts. The board has not yet named a successor, prompting speculation about the strategic direction...
Disney’s Closed Muppet*Vision 3D Attraction Coming to VR
Disney announced that its long‑running Muppet*Vision 3D attraction, which closed at Hollywood Studios, will be revived as a virtual‑reality experience for Apple Vision Pro and other headsets. The company filmed the show ahead of the closure to create a digital...
Attraction Welcomes Back Visitors After Six-Year Closure
The Canterbury Tales attraction in Canterbury city centre has reopened after a six‑year Covid‑induced shutdown, under new owners Lewis Hunt and Mica Dougan. The venue now features state‑of‑the‑art hologram projections, immersive soundscapes and personalized rooms that adapt language and music...
Akron Zoo Plans Its Largest Expansion in 73 Years
The Akron Zoo announced a $21 million, 16‑acre expansion of its Pride of Africa exhibit, the largest project in its 73‑year history. The plan adds a state‑of‑the‑art indoor‑outdoor giraffe habitat where guests can feed the animals, alongside new enclosures for wildebeests,...
Gardens by the Bay Developing New Wetlands Attraction with Unique teamLab Experience
Gardens by the Bay announced Wetlands by the Bay, a 5‑hectare expansion slated for phased opening from late 2028. The development will feature a teamLab immersive art experience that blends indoor installations with outdoor kayak tours across restored wetlands. Over...
Event Network Joins AAM in Museums Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill
Event Network, a leading operator of experiential retail for museums, participated in the American Alliance of Museums' Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill on February 24. The company’s executives joined museum leaders to lobby for continued IMLS funding, the bipartisan Museum...
Paramount–Skydance Looks Set to Buy Warner Bros. Discovery
Paramount‑Skydance has submitted a US$111 billion offer to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery, aiming to combine two of the industry’s largest content libraries. Netflix announced it will not counter the bid, leaving Paramount‑Skydance as the sole serious suitor. The proposal would bring...
Shuffly Impresses with Shuffleboard-Centered Hospitality Concept at The Grand Shuffle
Shuffly has opened The Grand Shuffle in Utrecht, the Netherlands' first fully dedicated shuffleboard bar featuring eight bespoke digital tables. The venue, developed with Brothers Horeca Groep, uses proprietary hardware and software for automatic scoring and fast‑paced play, eliminating the...
Disneyland Abandoned Plans for Disney Villains Land, Report Says
Walt Disney Imagineering shelved a decade‑old Disney Villains land for Disney California Adventure, opting instead for a Pixar Pier makeover that debuted in 2018. The shift transformed California Screamin’ into the Incredicoaster and re‑themed several classic rides as part of a...
Canada Assessing Interest for New Niagara Theme Park
Ontario’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Gaming has issued a request for information (RFI) to gauge developer, investor and operator interest in a large‑scale theme park for the Niagara region, with submissions due by March 9, 2026. The proposal is a centerpiece...
Lego Group Acquires 29 Discovery Centres From Merlin
The Lego Group has completed a £0.2 billion cash acquisition of 29 Lego Discovery Centres and Legoland Discovery Centres from Merlin Entertainments. The venues, spread across nine countries, draw roughly five million visitors each year. The purchase is a cornerstone of...
Sustainable Magic: Hong Kong Disneyland’s Enchanting ESG Adventure
Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL) has woven ESG into its operations, showcasing solar energy, water reuse, waste reduction, and community programs. The resort’s 200 kW solar canopy now expands to over 8,300 panels, expected to power roughly 1,200 households by 2026....
SeaWorld, Busch Gardens Report Lower Attendance, Revenue in Q4 and Full-Year Results
United Parks & Resorts, operator of SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, reported declines in both attendance and revenue for fiscal 2025. Full‑year attendance slipped 1.8% to 21.2 million guests, while revenue fell 3.6% to $1.7 billion and net income dropped 26% to $168.4 million....
