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Amazing night views of EPIC Universe from Bar Helios at night
Amazing night views of EPIC Universe from Bar Helios at night

Find the latest news and updates from Universal Orlando here, all in one place.

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Happening at Universal Orlando This Week

  • MARDI GRAS
  • Hogwarts Express is CLOSED.
  • Jurassic Park River Adventure is CLOSED (until late 2026).
  • Finnegan’s Bar & Grill is CLOSED (until late 2026).
  • Maku of Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides are CLOSED.
  • Puihi of Maku Puihi Round Raft Rides are CLOSED.
  • EPIC Universe, Universal Orlando’s newest theme park, is OPEN.
  • Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure™ officially has express pass access.

News from Universal Orlando Resort

  • The Hogwarts Express will experience a two (2) week closure from February 9, 2026, through February 23, 2026. Given that the train that runs between Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade is integral to both the Wizarding World and general Universal park-to-park experiences, we like to call out in advance when this attraction will close, especially for longer than a couple days. Make your Harry Potter plans accordingly.

  • Effective February 25, 2026, Universal’s Volcano Bay water park will become a 100% cashless park. Feels like TapuTapu would have been a great way to do that, but what do we know?

  • Murmurs have turned into open conversations about rising prices and noticeable dips in service quality across the resort. And honestly, that conversation is overdue. While we still love our favorite Florida destination, it’s impossible to ignore a real decline in overall value. Universal should be paying close attention to just how loud these concerns have become. Guests are no longer willing to accept stripped down experiences at premium prices simply because we did it during the pandemic. Expectations have changed. In 2026, quality over quantity matters again.

  • On January 20, 2026, Universal Orlando announced a new coaster, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, set to open in 2027 in the New York area of Universal Studios Florida. The new thrill ride will replace Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, which closed in late 2025. What may be just as interesting—if not more so—Universal also confirmed that, alongside the new Fast & Furious IP experience coming in 2027, it will close the long-maligned Fast & Furious – Supercharged ride currently located in the San Francisco area of the park. Fan reactions have been mixed. Many are excited about the upgraded coaster experience and pleased to see the existing ride retire. Others, including us here at Universal Unlocked, have pointed out that the name “Hollywood Drift” feels odd for a Florida attraction and that duplicating the same ride debuting later this year at Universal Studios Hollywood comes across as uninspired. We’ll share more details as Universal releases them, including what may replace the current Fast & Furious ride. Read the official press release here.

  • Universal Orlando has officially announced all 2026 special event dates. See them all below. Everything is as expected, except for the holidays, which will begin a week earlier than 2025, giving guests an extra week to enjoy the holiday season at Universal.

  • Universal has officially announced that 2026 park-to-park tickets will include EPIC Universe. Click here to get them.

  • Universal has shifted Universal Studios Florida hours in January and February to 10AM to 9PM. All parks are now offering later hours in 2026. See more here.

  • UPDATE: GOING ON NOW. Universal has announced dates for Annual Passholder Bonus Benefits 2026. Visit the parks between January 5, 2026, and January 31, 2026 to get them. Click here to read more.

  • The Mardi Gras Float Ride & Dine Experience is available for booking now. Click here to get tickets.

  • Universal has announced a nearly year-long refurbishment closure of the popular Finnegan’s Bar & Grill in the New York area of Universal Studios Florida (and incidentally our favorite gluten free burger spot). The listed closure will take place from January 12, 2026, through an unspecified “late 2026” date. Watch this space for more details.

  • The company behind two top coasters at Universal Orlando (Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure) is bringing us more thrills at Islands of Adventure. Intamin, Ltd. is listed as the grantee on a new permit filed with Orange County, Florida for development in the Lost Continent area of the theme park. Read more here. Read about the demo work going on at Lost Continent here.

  • Is a new underground transportation system in the works for Universal Orlando? Read more here.

  • Reports indicate that Universal Studios Florida will close the long running Horror Make Up Show and make major changes to reopen later in 2026. The last day of the current show will be Saturday, January 4, 2026. Read more here.

  • UPDATE: Eagle-eyed fans are all but 100% sure the new expansion is going to be a new ride in the Wizarding World area of EPIC Universe. Universal has obtained new permits confirming that a new major attraction is in the works at EPIC Universe. We’ll report on confirmed details as they are released. Get all our EPIC Universe coverage here.

  • Universal has announced an extended refurbishment closure for Volcano Bay that will stretch from late 2026 into early 2027. As such, some 3-park ticket options have been pulled for that time period. See more here.

  • TapuTapu wearable bands, the convenience devices that did everything from open lockers to save your place in line at Universal’s Volcano Bay water park, are officially no more. For reasons known only to themselves, Universal Orlando decommissioned use of the popular bands as of October 1, 2025. Click here to learn more. Learn more about TapuTapu here.

  • Universal has announced a nearly eleven (11) month closure of Jurassic Park River Adventure, the long running water ride in the Jurassic Park area of Islands of Adventure. The ride will be closed from January 5, 2026, through November 19, 2026. The length of the closure suggests a massive refurbishment of the ride, something fans have been asking for quite loudly. As with any big update, this suggests that Universal has faith in the attraction, and fans should not expect a permanent closure anytime soon. (Universal last did a long term refurbishment with the Revenge of the Mummy attraction at Universal Studios Florida in 2022.) Click here to read our thoughts on Jurassic Park River Adventure.

  • Universal has officially filed permits to demolish most of the Lost Continent area of Islands of Adventure. Attractions in this area have slowly closed over the years. Edifices and restaurants are most of what remains. There is no confirmation about which parts of the land will be demoed. But we would be shocked if Mythos doesn’t survive the purge. It’s one of the most popular theme park restaurants in the world. Our guess is they will re-theme it but keep details largely the same. UPDATE: see above.

  • Universal has added Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry™ and Mine-Cart Madness™ to the list of EPIC Universe rides with express pass access. This leaves Dragon Racer’s Rally as the only ride at the new EPIC Universe theme park without express pass access. Click here to find every Universal Orlando ride with express pass access in our Universal Orlando Ride Guide.

  • Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit has shuttered permanently. Construction on a replacement experience has been underway for weeks and will likely start in earnest in the coming weeks. No news yet about the replacement attraction. Watch this space for updates.

  • Universal’s Horror Unleashed attraction in Las Vegas, Nevada is OPEN. It’s a year round Halloween Horror Nights installment and the first of multiple venues opening around the country. It’s a full‑time, immersive horror experience at AREA15. Fans can explore walk‑through haunted houses, themed bars, and live entertainment all year round. Click here to get tickets. Click here to read more about these installations.

  • Universal Orlando Resort is offering butterbeer outside a Wizarding World for the first time. The Universal Studios Store at CityWalk Orlando has expanded to open a butterbeer counter that guests can access without a park ticket. Get all the details here.

Major Upcoming 2026 Dates at Universal Orlando Resort

Winter 2026

  • 🎟️ January 5, 2026, through January 31, 2026: Passholder Bonus Benefits. Get more details here.

  • ✝️ January 23, 2026, and January 24, 2026: Rock the Universe. The biggest Christian music festival in Florida will return to Universal in January. Get tickets here.

Spring 2026

  • 🎭 February 7, 2026, through April 4, 2026: Mardi Gras Celebration at Universal Orlando. Mardi Gras 2026 at Universal Orlando promises to bring back the vibrant parade, live New Orleans style bands, and an expanded lineup of international culinary booths included with park admission. More details at the official site.

  • 🍺 March 1, 2026, through May 31, 2026: Butterbeer Season. Celebrate Harry Potter’s favorite drink in many forms, with specialty Butterbeer related items available exclusively during this period. Get more details at the official site.

Summer 2026

  • 🎟️ May 1, 2026, through May 21, 2026: Passholder Bonus Benefits. Get more details here.

  • ☺️ August 15, 2026, through September 30, 2026: Passholder Appreciation Days. Get more details here.

Fall 2026

  • 👻 August 28, 2026, through November 1, 2026: Halloween Horror Nights. The global phenomenon is back for its 35th season. HHN (to those in the know) brings street scares zones, haunted houses, shows, and more during spooky season. Get more details at the official site. Find out more about HHN generally in our 2025 Halloween Horror Nights guide here.

  • 🎄 November 14, 2026, through January 3, 2027: Holidays at Universal Orlando. Christmas returns to Universal Orlando, bringing tons of Christmas decorations throughout the resort, special events like Grinchmas, character meet and greets, the Universal Orlando Holiday Tour, the Macy’s Holiday Parade, and so much more. And enjoy the holidays for an extra week in 2026! Get details at the official site.