Universal Orlando Makes 5 HUGE Announcements for 2026

It’s going to be a long while before Universal Orlando tops the excitement it offered in 2025, but that doesn’t mean 2026 is without some notable developments!

Universal officially opened Epic Universe in 2025 and has dominated theme park discourse since. As 2026 approaches and Epic Universe becomes more of a theme park staple rather than the shiny new toy, things should settle in at the resort. With that being said, things at Universal are hardly staying stagnant in 2026, as we’ve already gotten several announcements!

It’s not even the turn of the new year, and we already know about 5 Universal Orlando developments in 2026. From ride closures to special offerings, let’s jump into these announcements!

Buy 2-Get-1-Free Refillable Mugs

Universal Orlando is currently running a promotion where you can buy 2 and get 1 refillable mug for FREE.

This offer is valid for Universal’s seasonal Holiday refillable mug variants and runs through January 14th, 2026. Universal’s souvenir mugs are designed to be used at the Coca-Cola Freestyle machines located in Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe, Volcano Bay, and CityWalk.

Refills are limited to no more than one pour from the Coca-Cola Freestyle machine per 10 minutes and are valid on the day of purchase only.

Refurbishments

While no new rides are opening at Universal in 2026, several refurbishment projects have been announced.

The already-announced closures include the following:

Universal Studios Florida

• Finnegan’s Bar & Grill: Closed January 12th through Winter 2026
• Revenge of the Mummy: Closed January 15th through January 21st, 2026
• Hogwarts Express: Closed February 9th through February 23rd, 2026

Islands of Adventure

• Jurassic Park River Adventure: Closed January 5th through November 19th, 2026
• Hogwarts Express: Closed February 9th through February 23rd, 2026

Volcano Bay

• Volcano Bay will begin a seasonal closure on October 26th, 2026, and is scheduled to reopen on or before March 24th, 2027.

There are some doozies here. Universal Studios’ Finnegan’s Bar & Grill will likely be closed for nearly a year, while Islands of Adventure’s Jurassic Park River Adventure water ride is getting some much-needed TLC that will have it closed for almost the entire year, as well.

Volcano Bay is usually open year-round, but in 2026, it will close for a long refurbishment project. It will close on October 28th and isn’t set to reopen until late March 2027.

Rock the Universe

“Rock the Universe” is returning to Universal Orlando Resort on January 23rd and 24th. This Christian music festival will feature a weekend of faith, fun, and music from some of today’s most popular Christian artists.

The full concert lineup is as follows:

Friday, January 23rd

• Forrest Frank
• Switchfoot
• KB
• Blessing Offor
• Hulvey
• bodie
• Eli Gable
• Hopeful.
• Claire Leslie

Saturday, January 24th

• Lecrae
• Phil Wickham
• Colton Dixon
• Passion
• Terrian
• Sam Rivera
• Caleb and John
• Bay Turner
• Megan Danielle

The event will also include a Sunday morning service on January 25th. Tickets start at $173.99 per person and include access to the event on both Friday and Saturday, along with three days of admission to Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal Volcano Bay (one theme park per day). Single-night event tickets — valid for admission on Friday or Saturday night — are also available and start at $94.99 per person. Special pricing for youth group ministries containing groups of 10 or more is available, and exclusive vacation packages, benefits, and opportunities are also offered. The Rock the Universe 3-Park Rock Your Weekend Ticket for groups starts at $155.99.

Epic Universe Multi-Day Tickets

Starting in 2026, multi-day tickets for Epic Universe will be available.

In 2025, tickets to Epic Universe were limited to one day. Options will include park-to-park and multi-day access in 3, 4, and 5-day increments.

Mardis Gras

Perhaps the most popular annual festivity at Universal Orlando, Mardi Gras celebrations are coming BACK to Universal in 2026!

Universal Orlando’s Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval officially begins on February 7th and will be held through April 4th, 2026. Universal confirmed that a lot of fan-favorite offerings are returning, including colorful parades.

The resort will also offer a lot of diverse cuisine available daily, in addition to live performances from some of the biggest names in music on select nights.

The Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience will also be returning and will allow guests to enjoy a three-course meal on the day of their visit — featuring one appetizer, one entrée, one dessert, and one non-alcoholic beverage offered from one of five participating restaurants:

• The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar (Universal CityWalk)
• NBC Sports Grill & Brew (Universal CityWalk)
• Lombard’s Seafood Grille (Universal Studios Florida)
• Confisco Grille (Universal Islands of Adventure; 2-Park ticket required)
• Antojitos Authentic Mexican Restaurant (Universal CityWalk; available for dinner only)

After the meal, guests get to ride on one of the parade floats that evening! This offering starts at $94.99 plus tax per person, and you can reserve your spot by calling 407-224-7554 or visiting the Universal Orlando website.

And there you have it! Of course, we still expect TONS of Universal Orlando 2026 announcements in the following days, weeks, and months — and we’ll be sure to bring you those updates as soon as they’re announced.

In the meantime, keep it posted right here at AllEars for all the latest Universal Orlando coverage!

Why I’m Dreading Going to Universal Orlando in 2026

Are you planning on a visit to Universal Orlando in 2026? Let us know in the comments!

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