2026 Print Issue
| CATEGORY | WINNER |
| Best Amusement Park | Europa-Park, Rust, Germany |
| Best Water Park | Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Ind. |
| Best Family Park of 2026 | Santa’s Village, Jefferson, N.H. |
| Best Family Coaster of 2026 | Big Bear Mountain at Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. |
| Best Water Park Ride | Mammoth at Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Ind. |
| Best Wooden Coaster | The Voyage at Holiday World, Santa Claus, Ind. |
| Best Steel Coaster | Fury 325, Carowinds, Charlotte, N.C. |
| Best Kids’ Area | Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. |
| Best Guest Experience | Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. |
| Standout Family Entertainment Center of 2026 | Level99, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. |
| Best New Theme of 2026 | GalactiCoaster, Legoland (California & Florida) |
| Most Beautiful Park | Dollywood, Pigeon Forge, Tenn. |
| Best New Show of 2025 | “Monster Mash” at Six Flags Fiesta Texas |
| Best Water Ride | Chiapas at Phantasialand |
| Best Dark Ride | Monsters … Frankenstein Experiments, Epic Universe |
| Best New Attraction Installation of 2026 | Falcon’s Flight, Six Flags Qiddiya City |
| Best New Roller Coaster of 2026 | Falcon’s Flight, Six Flags Qiddiya City |
| Best New Family Attraction of 2026 | Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare, Kings Island |
| Best New Water Park Ride of 2026 | Aquaticar, Aquarabia |
| Best Innovation of 2026 | Zamperla’s WingZ |
| Leadership Award | Franceen Gonzales, Enchanted Parks |
Personally chosen by Gary Slade, publisher and editor-in-chief of Amusement Today, this year’s Publisher’s Pick Awards were presented in the following categories:
- Turnstile Award – With each addition, Herschend Family Entertainment and Kentucky Kingdom help transform the park into one of state pride and establish a new identity. For keeping families coming through the gates, Amusement Today recognizes Kentucky Kingdom with the 2026 Turnstile Award.
- Person of the Year Award — Taking COTALand from square one to the final product through experience and foresight, Amusement Today honors Matt Hughey with the Person of the Year award.
- Supplier of the Year Award — For its development of dynamic amusement attractions, combined with exemplary customer service, Vekoma Rides is recognized with Amusement Today’s Supplier of the Year award.
- Show Person of the Year Award — For her decades of dedication to the mobile industry and IISA, the Show Person of the Year award is presented to Sandy Schmidt.
- Park of the Year Award — Although the amusement industry lost Dick Knoebel in July of this year, the world celebrates his accomplishments and those of his family, who still carry out all the popular decisions that —- with this year — have entertained families for 100 years. Amusement Today is honored to recognize Knoebels Amusement Resort as the Park of the Year.
2026’s Top 50 Wooden Roller Coasters
| Rank | Name | Park | Location | Supplier | Year |
| 1 | The Voyage | Holiday World | Santa Claus, Ind. | The Gravity Group | 2006 |
| 2 | Phoenix | Knoebels Amusement Resort | Elysburg, Pa. | Dinn/PTC/Schmeck | 1985 |
| 3 | El Toro | Six Flags Great Adventure | Jackson, New Jersey | Intamin | 2006 |
| 4 | The Beast | Kings Island | Mason, Ohio | KECO | 1979 |
| 5 | Mystic Timbers | Kings Island | Mason, Ohio | Great Coasters Int. | 2017 |
| 6 | Thunderhead | Dollywood | Pigeon Forge, Tenn. | Great Coasters Int. | 2004 |
| 7 | GhostRider | Knott’s Berry Farm | Buena Park, Calif. | Custom Coasters, GCII | 1998 |
| 8 | Ravine Flyer II | Waldameer | Erie, Pa. | The Gravity Group | 2008 |
| 9 | Outlaw Run | Silver Dollar City | Branson, Mo. | Rocky Mountain Const. | 2013 |
| 10 | Boulder Dash | Lake Compounce | Bristol, Conn. | Custom Coasters Inc. | 2000 |
| 11 | Wodan | Europa-Park | Rust, Germany | Great Coasters Int. | 2012 |
| 12 | Wildfire | Kolmården | Norrköping, Sweden | Rocky Mountain Const. | 2016 |
| 13 | Balder | Liseberg | Gothenburg, Sweden | Intamin | 2003 |
| 14 | The Legend | Holiday World | Santa Claus, Ind. | Custom Coasters Inc. | 2000 |
| 15 | Comet | The Great Escape | Queensbury, N.Y. | PTC/Schmeck | 1994 |
| 16 | Cyclone | Luna Park (Coney Island) | Brooklyn, N.Y. | Baker/Keenan | 1927 |
| 17 | Twister | Knoebels Amusement Resort | Elysburg, Pa. | Fetterman | 1999 |
| 18 | Colossos | Heide Park | Soltau, Germany | Intamin | 2001 |
| 19 | Gold Striker | California’s Great America | Santa Clara, Calif. | Great Coasters Int. | 2013 |
| 20 | Jack Rabbit | Kennywood | West Mifflin, Pa. | Miller | 1920 |
| 21 | Boardwalk Bullet | Kemah Boardwalk | Kemah, Texas | The Gravity Group | 2007 |
| 22 | Shivering Timbers | Michigan’s Adventure | Muskegon, Mich. | Custom Coasters Inc. | 1998 |
| 23 | Grizzly | Kings Dominion | Doswell, Va. | KECO | 1982 |
| 24 | Troy | Toverland | Sevenum, Netherlands | Great Coasters Int. | 2007 |
| 25 | Rutschebanan | Tivoli Gardens | Copenhagen, Denmark | L.A. Thompson | 1914 |
| 26 (tie) | Texas Stingray | SeaWorld San Antonio | San Antonio, Texas | Great Coasters Int. | 2020 |
| 26 (tie) | Prowler | Worlds of Fun | Kansas City, Mo. | Great Coasters Int. | 2009 |
| 28 | Goliath | Six Flags Great America | Gurnee, Ill. | Rocky Mountain Const. | 2014 |
| 29 | Joris en de Drak | Efteling | Kaatsheuvel, Netherlands | Great Coasters Int. | 2010 |
| 30 | Thunderbolt | Kennywood | West Mifflin, Pa. | Vettel/Miller | 1968 |
| 31 | Flying Turns | Knoebels Amusement Resort | Elysburg, Pa. | Fetterman | 2014 |
| 32 | The Raven | Holiday World | Santa Claus, Ind. | Custom Coasters Inc. | 1995 |
| 33 | Wooden Roller Coaster | Playland | Vanouver, B.C., Canada | Phare | 1958 |
| 34 (tie) | Lightning Racer | Hersheypark | Hershey, Pa. | Great Coasters Int. | 2000 |
| 34 (tie) | T Express | Everland | Yonjin-si, South Korea | Intamin | 2008 |
| 36 | Cú Chulainn | Emerald Park | Ashbourne, Ireland | The Gravity Group | 2015 |
| 37 | Bobcat | The Great Escape | Queensbury, N.Y. | The Gravity Group | 2024 |
| 38 | Wicker Man | Alton Towers | Staffordshire, England | Great Coasters Int. | 2018 |
| 39 | Racer | Kennywood | West Mifflin, Pa. | Miller-Mach | 1927 |
| 40 | Zippin Pippin | Bay Beach | Green Bay, Wis. | MVR | 2011 |
| 41 | The Boss | Six Flags St. Louis | Eureka, Mo. | Custom Coasters Inc. | 2000 |
| 42 | Comet | Hersheypark | Hershey, Pa. | PTC/Schmeck | 1946 |
| 43 | Hades 360 | Mount Olympus Theme Park | Wisconsin Dells, Wis. | The Gravity Group | 2005 |
| 44 | Cornball Express | Indiana Beach | Monticello, Ind. | Custom Coasters Inc. | 1999 |
| 45 (tie) | White Lightning | Fun Spot Orlando | Orlando, Fla. | Great Coasters Int. | 2013 |
| 45 (tie) | Wooden Warrior | Quassy Amusement Park | Middelbury, Conn. | The Gravity Group | 2011 |
| 47 (tie) | Giant Dipper | Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk | Santa Cruz, Calif. | Prior & Church/Looff | 1924 |
| 47 (tie) | Renegade | Valleyfair | Shakopee, Minn. | Great Coasters Int. | 2007 |
| 49 | Rampage | Alabama Adventure | Bessemer, Ala. | Custom Coasters Inc. | 1998 |
| 50 | El Toro | Freizeitpark Plohn | Lengenfeld, Germany | Great Coasters Int. | 2009 |
2026’s Top 50 Steel Roller Coasters
| Rank | Name | Park | Location | Manufactuer | Year |
| 1 | Fury 325 | Carowinds | Charlotte, N.C. | B&M | 2015 |
| 2 | Jurassic World Velocicoaster | Universal Islands of Adventure | Orlando, Fla. | Intamin | 2021 |
| 3 | Steel Vengeance | Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | Rocky Mountain Const. | 2018 |
| 4 | Iron Gwazi | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | Tampa, Fla. | Rocky Mountain Const. | 2022 |
| 5 | Ride to Happiness | Plopsaland De Panne | Adinkerke-De Panne, Belgium | Mack | 2021 |
| 6 | Millennium Force | Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | Intamin | 2000 |
| 7 | Zadra | Energylandia | Zator, Poland | Rocky Mountain Const. | 2019 |
| 8 | Taron | Phantasialand | Brühl, Germany | Intamin | 2016 |
| 9 | Voltron Nevera | Europa-Park | Rust, Germany | Mack | 2024 |
| 10 | Stardust Racers | Universal Epic Universe | Orlando, Fla. | Mack | 2025 |
| 11 | ArieForce One | Fun Spot America Atlanta | Fayetteville, Ga. | Rocky Mountain Const. | 2023 |
| 12 | Maverick | Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | Intamin | 2007 |
| 13 | AlpenFury | Canada’s Wonderland | Vaughan, Ontario, Canada | Premier Rides | 2025 |
| 14 | Expedition GeForce | Plopsaland Deutschland | Hassloch, Germany | Intamin | 2001 |
| 15 | Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind | EPCOT | Lake Buena Vista, Fla. | Vekoma | 2022 |
| 16 | Phantom’s Revenge | Kennywood | West Mifflin, Pa. | Morgan/Arrow | 2001 |
| 17 | Superman: The Ride | Six Flags New England | Agawam, Mass. | Intamin | 2000 |
| 18 | Pantherian | Kings Dominion | Doswell, Va. | Intamin | 2010 |
| 19 | F.L.Y. | Phantasialand | Brühl, Germany | Vekoma | 2020 |
| 20 | Apollo’s Chariot | Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Williamsburg, Va. | B&M | 1999 |
| 21 | Leviathan | Canada’s Wonderland | Vaughan, Ontario, Canada | B&M | 2012 |
| 22 | Falcons Flight | Six Flags Qiddiya City | Qiddiya City, Saudi Arabia | Intamin | 2025 |
| 23 | Top Thrill 2 | Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | Zamperla | 2026 |
| 24 | Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure | Universal Islands of Adventure | Orlando, Fla. | Intamin | 2019 |
| 25 | Wildcat’s Revenge | Hersheypark | Hershey, Pa. | Rocky Mountain Const. | 2023 |
| 26 | Diamondback | Kings Island | Mason, Ohio | B&M | 2009 |
| 27 | Kondaa | Walibi Belgium | Wavre, Belgium | Intamin | 2021 |
| 28 | Mako | SeaWorld Orlando | Orlando, Fla. | B&M | 2016 |
| 29 | Helix | Liseberg | Gothenburg, Sweden | Mack | 2014 |
| 30 | Iron Rattler | Six Flags Fiesta Texas | San Antonio, Texas | Rocky Mountain Const. | 2013 |
| 31 | Nitro | Six Flags Great Adventure | Jackson, N.J. | B&M | 2001 |
| 32 | X2 | Six Flags Magic Mountain | Valencia, Calif. | Arrow | 2002 |
| 33 | Time Traveler | Silver Dollar City | Branson, Mo. | Mack | 2018 |
| 34 | Toutatis | Parc Astérix | Plailly, France | Intamin | 2023 |
| 35 (tie) | Eejanaika | Fuji-Q Highland | Fujiyoshia City, Japan | S&S Worldwide | 2006 |
| 35 (tie) | Taiga | Linnanmäki | Helsinki, Finland | Intamin | 2019 |
| 37 | Hyperion | Energylandia | Zator, Poland | Intamin | 2018 |
| 38 | Magnum XL-200 | Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | Arrow | 1989 |
| 39 | Lightning Rod | Dollywood | Pigeon Forge, Tenn. | Rocky Mountain Const. | 2016 |
| 40 (tie) | Big Bear Mountain | Dollywood | Pigeon Forge, Tenn. | Vekoma | 2023 |
| 40 (tie) | Lech Coaster | Legendia | Chorzow, Poland | Vekoma | 2017 |
| 42 | Montu | Busch Gardens Tampa Bay | Tampa, Fla. | B&M | 1996 |
| 43 | Twisted Colossus | Six Flags Magic Mountain | Valencia, Calif. | Rocky Mountain Const. | 2015 |
| 44 | Raging Bull | Six Flags Great America | Gurnee, Ill. | B&M | 1999 |
| 45 | Orion | Kings Island | Mason, Ohio | B&M | 2020 |
| 46 | Alpengeist | Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Williamsburg, Va. | B&M | 1997 |
| 47 | Skyrush | Hersheypark | Hershey, Pa. | Intamin | 2012 |
| 48 | Pantheon | Busch Gardens Williamsburg | Williamsburg, Va. | Intamin | 2022 |
| 49 (tie) | Candymonium | Hersheypark | Hershey, Pa. | B&M | 2020 |
| 49 (tie) | Siren’s Curse | Cedar Point | Sandusky, Ohio | Vekoma | 2025 |