Universal Hollywood in 2026: A Guide to Park Changes for UK Visitors

A trip to Universal Studios Hollywood in 2026 presents a park in the midst of a genuinely exciting transformation, and for UK visitors planning a Californian holiday, the headline news is unmissable. The most significant change is the imminent opening of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, the park's first-ever high-speed outdoor roller coaster, which is confirmed to open in summer 2026. This is not simply a like-for-like replacement - it is a wholesale reinvention of the franchise's presence at the park, and potentially one of the most thrilling additions Universal Studios Hollywood has ever seen.

The addition follows the March 11, 2025 closure of the similarly themed Fast & Furious - Supercharged segment of the Studio Tour, which served as the tram tour's high-octane finale for years. Its removal marked the end of an era, but what is rising in its place is an entirely different proposition. Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will rocket guests up to 72 mph, making it the fastest roller coaster in the entire Universal Destinations & Experiences portfolio, surpassing even the celebrated VelociCoaster in Orlando.

The coaster features innovative 360-degree rotation of individual ride vehicles, creating what Universal describes as a seamless sensation of drifting cars, all while racing along 4,100 feet of aerial track. The massive layout winds down the hill from the Upper Lot toward the Lower Lot, passing over the StarWay escalator that connects the two levels of the park - a genuinely spectacular piece of engineering that will be visible from various points around the resort long before you board. The coaster uses an LSM launch system to accelerate riders from zero to maximum speed in seconds, and guests experience multiple inversions across the ride.

Guests will board one of four ride vehicles, each modelled after iconic cars from the franchise: Dom Toretto's black 1970 Dodge Charger, a blue Nissan Skyline GT-R inspired by Brian O'Connor's 2002 car, and an orange Toyota Supra inspired by Walker's 1994 car, alongside Han Seoul-Oh's 1997 Mazda RX-7. Within the load platform, guests will find an original large-scale mural created by world-renowned artist Tristan Eaton, depicting the finale street racing scene from the original film. The attention to detail throughout speaks to the ambition of the project. Riders must be at least 51 inches tall to ride.

One practical note worth flagging: Universal has installed clear sound shield panels along sections of the coaster track to reduce noise for the surrounding community, which is part of the reason this kind of large-scale outdoor thrill ride has never been built here before. The park sits within a residential and working studio environment, so extensive noise-reduction measures have been engineered throughout. Far from being a drawback, this is a testament to how seriously Universal has taken this project. Inside the Magic At 72 miles per hour, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will debut as the fastest roller coaster in the Universal Destinations & Experiences portfolio, surpassing VelociCoaster and Stardust Racers in Orlando. For UK visitors who travel to Florida regularly for Universal's thrill offerings, this is a significant shift in the balance of power - Hollywood now has a genuinely world-class headline coaster of its own.

The iconic Studio Tour itself continues to evolve in the wake of these changes. What will replace the virtual 3D Supercharged experience on the tram tour itself remains unknown, though Universal has promised an exciting all-new Studio Tour attraction in due course. For now, all other major encounters — from the Jaws attack on Amity Island to the destructive spectacle of Earthquake: The Big One - remain staples of the experience, and the guides are as sharp as ever. The tour remains one of the most distinctive theme park experiences in the world, offering a genuine behind-the-scenes glimpse of a working Hollywood studio.

Elsewhere in the park, Super Nintendo World continues to be a massive draw. Following its successful launch, attention is turning to the land's first major expansion. The timeline for this new phase is a critical consideration for Nintendo fans travelling from the UK. Visiting in mid-2026 means experiencing Super Nintendo World in its popular current form, but those hoping to see the next chapter - rumoured to be inspired by other major Nintendo franchises - may need to weigh their options. Planning a trip now avoids the inevitable crowds and potential disruption that accompany the opening of a new area, though a later visit could offer a more complete experience.

Navigating all of this, alongside the park's inherent geographical layout, makes planning more crucial than ever. The park is split across two levels - the Upper and Lower Lots - connected by the StarWay escalator bank. A common mistake is to travel between the lots multiple times in a day, wasting valuable park time. A solid strategy is to commit to one lot for a significant portion of the day before moving to the other. Starting on the Lower Lot in the morning to experience Jurassic World: The Ride, Revenge of the Mummy, and Transformers: The Ride-3D, before heading up to the Upper Lot for the Studio Tour, Super Nintendo World, and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the afternoon and evening, is an effective approach. Using a digital itinerary builder before you arrive can be enormously helpful in structuring your day to minimise queuing and backtracking.

The Universal Hollywood of 2026 is a park looking firmly to the future. Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is the kind of addition that could reshape how guests experience Universal Studios Hollywood for years to come. Combine that with the continued strength of Super Nintendo World and the steady evolution of the Studio Tour, and you have a compelling argument for putting Hollywood at the top of your Southern California itinerary - provided you plan accordingly, and arrive ready to run.