Are you thinking about visiting Universal Orlando sometime in 2026? Whether you’ve got your whole trip planned, or you’re just getting started (I can help you with that), here are a few things you should know before you chart a course for adventure at Universal Orlando.
Notable Refurbishments
Attraction, hotel, and restaurant refurbishments come and go throughout the year, but here are several refurbs of note you should know before visiting in 2026.
Jurassic Park River Adventure: January 5 through November 19, 2026.
This fan-favorite water flume ride in Universal Islands of Adventure will be closed for most of 2026, including all summer. But fear not! Guests in Islands of Adventure looking to get absolutely soaked can still ride Dudley Do-Right’s Ripsaw Falls and Popeye and Bluto’s Bilge Rat Barges (Pro tip: bring a change of shoes).
Hogwarts Express: February 9 – 23, 2026
The Hogwarts Express is more than a charming train ride; it is a legitimate mode of transportation when traveling between Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure. The famous wizarding train won’t be closed very long, but it will be closed during one of the busiest school vacation weeks in February. Expect heavier mid-day crowds at both park entrances, and in the area around Toothsome Chocolate Emporium and Hard Rock Cafe, as guests travel back and forth by foot.
Universal’s Horror Make-Up Show: January 5, 2026 (Reimagining and Reopening later in 2026)
The horror Make-Up Show is one of the unique experiences you can only get at Universal Studios. However, Universal Orlando will be reimagining the experience in 2026. According to Universal Orlando, the reimagined experience will feature “classic and modern horror properties along with shockingly fun surprises – all while staying true to the comedic and irreverent vibe that guests love.”
Universal Volcano Bay: October 26, 2026 through March 24, 2027
Volcano Bay – like most other water parks in Florida – scales back during the winter, offering reduced days and hours, and even closing for several weeks in the heart of winter. But beginning in late October 2026, Volcano Bay will close for a major winter refurbishment, remaining closed for almost five months. You may want to pick a resort with a nice pool in case you get one of those warmer winter days. Loews Portofino Bay Hotel and Universal Cabana Bay Beach Resort offer great poolside options.
Universal Epic Universe Tickets Are Becoming More…Universal
Guests visiting Universal Epic Universe in 2025 were frustrated with the limited ability to visit Universal Orlando’s newest theme park. Initially, single-day tickets, added to multi-day tickets for the other two parks, were the only way to visit Epic. After the initial opening, Universal relaxed the limitations by selling single-day tickets to Epic (without needing to purchase tickets for the other parks).
In 2026, visiting Epic Universe will be easier than ever. Guests can purchase 3-Day, 4-Day, and 5-Day tickets for visits in 2026 that include access to Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal Epic Universe, with upgrade options available that include access to Universal Volcano Bay. The 3-Day tickets can be purchased as base tickets or as park-to-park tickets, while 4-Day and 5-Day tickets are automatically park-to-park tickets.
Single-Day tickets and 2-Day tickets – which include one day access to Universal Studios Florida and/or Islands of Adventure plus one separate day admission to Universal Epic Universe – are also available in 2026, as are Single-Day tickets to each individual theme park.
In other words – guests can now visit Epic Universe in just about any way they please.
Mardi Gras Returns: February 7, 2026 to April 4, 2026
Universal Orlando’s most popular non-Halloween Horror Nights celebration will be back in grand style in 2026. Mardi Gras: International Flavors of Carnaval will run for almost two months, offering colorful parades rolling through the park, live performances, dancers in the streets, and an endless flurry of beads in the air.
Wanna ride on one of Universal’s Mardi Gras parade floats? You can do exactly that with the Mardi Gras Float Ride and Dine Experience. This unique offering allows 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 enjoy the parade from atop one of the floats! This offering starts at $94.99 plus tax per person. Reach out to Facts and Figment Vacation Planning to reserve your spot in the parade.
Universal Kids Resort
Universal Orlando can be a bit challenging for younger kids, as many of the headlining attractions are geared to a slightly older audience, and some children are too small to ride some of the more intense rides.
But families with younger children who are looking for more Universal fun will soon have another park to visit. Universal Kids Resort – an all-new theme park inspiring creativity in kids through play, discovery, and imagination – will be opening in 2026 in Frisco, Texas. This resort is specifically designed and developed for families with young children.
The resort will feature seven themed lands:
- DreamWorks’ Shrek’s Swamp
- Jurassic World Adventure Camp
- Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants Bikini Bottom
- Illumination’s Minions vs. Minions: Bello Bay Club
- DreamWorks’ TrollsFest
- DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots Del Mar
- Isle of Curiosity (featuring Gabby’s Dollhouse)
According to NBCUniversal, “Universal Kids Resort features multiple sensory gardens designed to give children and families opportunities to pause, reset, and connect. These carefully crafted spaces invite guests to explore through touch, sound, and color in calming, nature-inspired settings -creating moments of balance within a day full of play.”
The vibrant 300-room Universal Kids Resort Hotel will open along with the park, and will also serve as the entrance to Universal Kids Resort.
More information on this exciting new resort is available here on Universal’s website.
Free Express Pass Unlimited
This last item is not exactly news, but more of a clarification and reminder. Guests of three of Universal Orlando’s Signature Collection Hotels – Loews Portofino Bay Hotel, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, and Hard Rock Hotel – enjoy complimentary Universal Express Pass Unlimited at both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Islands of Adventure.
Note: This perk does not extend to Universal Epic Universe or Universal Volcano Bay.
Additionally, guests staying at Universal Helios Grand Hotel do not receive complimentary Express Pass to any of Universal Orlando’s theme parks. If you are planning a short trip to visit Universal – maybe 2 or 3 days – staying in a Signature Collection Hotel that offers complimentary Universal Express Pass Unlimited is still a great way to save money. When your stay extends longer than three nights, the cost of the hotel starts to outweigh the benefits of the free Express Pass (but the hotels are beautiful and conveniently located near the parks, so it is still worth the splurge for some).
Quick-Reference Calendar for Universal Orlando – 2026
Here are a few dates to keep in mind (with links) for some “Epic” happenings at Universal Orlando in 2026.
- Universal Mardi Gras – International Flavors of Carnaval: February 7 – April
- Butterbeer Season in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter: March 1 – May 31
- Grad Events (Grad Bash and Gradventure): Grad Bash April 17, 18, 24, and 30; Gradventure May 1, 8, 15, and 21
- Halloween Horror Nights: August 28 – November 1
- Holidays at Universal Orlando: November 14, 2026 – January 3, 2027
- Harbor Nights at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel: February 13, April 17, October 16, and October 27
If you are interested in Universal Orlando – or another Universal destination – in 2026? Please visit our Facts and Figment Vacation Planning page (or if you prefer, simply email me directly) and I can help you plan the perfect trip. My travel planning services are absolutely FREE to you, and I can help you score the best, hardest-to-get deals to make your vacation more affordable. I can also take care of your dining reservations, attraction reservations, and any other special requests.
Do you prefer Disney destinations? I plan those too! Disneyland and Walt Disney World recently released a schedule of events for their resorts in 2026. Disney Cruise Line is always doing something fun, and Adventures by Disney can immerse you in cultures around the world – all with that signature Disney hospitality.
As always, feel free to reach out to Facts and Figment on social: Instagram Facebook X
