SIX FLAGS DOMINATES USA TODAY 10BEST READER’S CHOICE AWARDSWITH FIVE OF 10 BEST NEW THEME PARK ATTRACTIONS OF 2026
Press Release from Six Flags Entertainment Corporation:
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Jan. 8, 2026) — Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: FUN), North America’s largest regional amusement park operator, is starting the new year with a major win: five of its new rides have been named among the Top 10 Best New Theme Park Attractions of 2026 in the USA TODAY 10Best Reader’s Choice Awards.
The winners include:
No. 3: Rapterra, Kings Dominion, Doswell, Va.
No. 4: Siren’s Curse, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
No. 5: Wrath of Rakshasa, Six Flags Great America, Gurnee, Il.
No. 6: Top Thrill 2, Cedar Point, Sandusky, Ohio
No. 8: Georgia Gold Rusher, Six Flags Over Georgia, Austell, Ga.
Four additional Six Flags attractions earned nominations, including:
THE FLASH™: Vertical Velocity, Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson, N.J.
Charlie Brown’s River Raft Blast, Carowinds, Charlotte, N.C.
Snoopy’s Racing Railway, Carowinds, Charlotte, N.C.
RiverRacers, Kings Island’s Soak City, Mason, Ohio
Nominations from local, regional and destination theme parks were carefully curated by a panel of subject matter experts and USA TODAY 10Best editors. Winners were determined by public vote, making this achievement a true reflection of innovation and excitement in the theme park industry.
“This recognition underscores Six Flags’ commitment to delivering world-class thrills and immersive experiences for our guests,” said John Reilly, president and CEO of Six Flags. “With nine new attractions earning national acclaim, Six Flags is setting the stage for an unforgettable year of family fun and excitement in 2026.”
WHY THESE RIDES STAND OUT
From record-breaking launches and gravity-defying inversions to elaborate theming and family-friendly adventures, Six Flags continues to push the boundaries of entertainment. Debuting in 2025, these celebrated attractions remain top picks for 2026:
Rapterra: Set amid jungle ruins, the world’s tallest and longest launched wing coaster accelerates riders to 65 mph in just four seconds before sending them through a series of breathtaking aerial maneuvers on the wings of the jungle hawk.
Siren’s Curse: The tallest, longest and fastest tilt coaster in North America leaves riders suspended face-down before plummeting into a masterfully twisted series of high-speed turns, moments of weightlessness and inversions at speeds reaching 58 mph. The immersive theming and onboard sound heighten the intensity of this captivating experience tied to Lake Erie folklore.
Wrath of Rakshasa: This dive coaster holds two world records—steepest drop (96°) and most inversions (five). The relentless layout of drops, turns and inversions pays homage to a mythological demon.
Top Thrill 2: Meet the world’s tallest and fastest triple-launch strata (400-499 feet tall) coaster. This epic thrill machine features a spike that sends riders backward at 101 mph, making it the fastest backward launch in the world. The final launch sends riders blasting at 120 mph to crest the monstrous tower.
Georgia Gold Rusher: A modern twist on nostalgic thrills makes this free-spinning gondola coaster stand out among its roller coaster peers. Significant airtime, speeds up to 60 mph, surprising twists and refreshing mists of water from its dramatic fountains deliver fun and refreshment on a hot Atlanta day.
THE FLASH: Vertical Velocity: North America’s first super boomerang delivers smooth-as-glass forward and backwards launches with dramatic moments of weightlessness, epic hang time and intense twists and inversions.
Charlie Brown’s River Raft Blast: This splashy, interactive Peanuts adventure features a multilevel boat battle where families and friends drench each other with water cannons.
Snoopy’s Racing Railway: Families join Snoopy on a junior-thrill-level multi-launch coaster that delivers fear-free fun as they zoom from 0 to 31 mph.
RiverRacers: Ohio’s only side-by-side racing water coaster delivers family-friendly thrills with refreshing water elements.
MORE THRILLS ON THE WAY IN 2026
Six Flags has announced four more highly anticipated attractions that will debut in 2026:
Tormenta Rampaging Run, Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington, Texas
First and only giga-dive coaster in the world, towering at 309 feet
Phantom Theater: Opening Nightmare, Kings Island, Mason, Ohio
Interactive dark ride with spellbound flashlights and unforgettable ghostly characters
Quantum Accelerator, Six Flags New England, Springfield, Mass.
Multi-launch family straddle coaster, the first in New England
Looney Tunes™ Land, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia, Cal.
A fully reimagined themed area for families that will be the new home of the loveable Looney Tunes characters.
Speedway Stunt Coaster, Six Flags Mexico, Mexico City
Hollywood-themed family boomerang (forward-and-backward) coaster
"This is only the beginning. In 2026, we’re raising the bar with groundbreaking attractions, immersive experiences and unforgettable events. Spring announcements will showcase how Six Flags is redefining the future of theme park entertainment across North America," Reilly said.
For park calendar, links to tickets and more, visit www.sixflags.com or each park and resort’s website.
SIX FLAGS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION
Six Flags Entertainment Corporation (NYSE: FUN) is North America’s largest regional amusement-resort operator with 26 amusement parks, 15 water parks and nine resort properties across 16 states in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The Company also manages an amusement park in Saudi Arabia. Focused on its purpose of making people happy, Six Flags provides fun, immersive and memorable experiences to millions of guests every year with world-class coasters, themed rides, thrilling water parks, resorts and a portfolio of beloved intellectual property such as Looney Tunes®, DC Comics® and PEANUTS®.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Some of the statements contained in this news release that are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including statements as to our expectations, beliefs, goals and strategies regarding the future. Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “create,” “expect,” “future,” “guidance,” “intend,” “plan,” “potential,” “seek,” “synergies,” “target,” “objective,” “will,” “would,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words identify forward-looking statements. However, the absence of these words does not mean that the statements are not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain. These forward-looking statements may involve current plans, estimates, expectations and ambitions that are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct, or that our growth and operational strategies will achieve the target results. Important risks and uncertainties that may cause such a difference and could adversely affect attendance at our parks, our future financial performance, and/or our growth strategies, and could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations or otherwise to fluctuate or decrease, include, but are not limited to: failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the merger, including difficulty in integrating the businesses of legacy Six Flags and legacy Cedar Fair; failure to realize the expected amount and timing of cost savings and operating synergies related to the merger; adverse weather conditions; general economic, political and market conditions; the impacts of pandemics or other public health crises, including the effects of government responses on people and economies; competition for consumer leisure time and spending or other changes in consumer behavior or sentiment for discretionary spending; unanticipated construction delays or increases in construction or supply costs; changes in capital investment plans and projects; anticipated tax treatment, unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition, losses, future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of the Combined Company’s operations; legislative, regulatory and economic developments and changes in laws, regulations, and policies affecting the Combined Company; acts of terrorism or outbreak of war, hostilities, civil unrest, and other political or security disturbances; and other risks and uncertainties we discuss under the heading “Risk Factors” within our Annual Report on Form 10-K and in the other filings we make from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Readers are urged not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document and are based on information currently and reasonably known to us. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after publication of this news release.
WARNER BROS. DISCOVERY GLOBAL THEMED ENTERTAINMENT
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment (WBDGTE), part of Warner Bros. Discovery Global Brands, Franchises, and Experiences, is a worldwide leader in the creation, development, and licensing of location-based entertainment, live events, exhibits, and theme park experiences based on the biggest franchises, stories and characters from Warner Bros.’ film, television, animation, and games studios, HBO, Discovery, DC, Cartoon Network and more. WBDGTE is home to the groundbreaking locations of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal theme parks around the world, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, The WB Abu Dhabi, The FRIENDS Experience, The Game of Thrones Studio Tour and countless other experiences inspired by the Wizarding World, DC, Looney Tunes, Scooby-Doo, Game of Thrones, FRIENDS and more. With best-in-class partners, WBDGTE allows fans around the world to physically immerse themselves inside their favorite brands and franchises.
DC, part of Warner Bros. Discovery, creates iconic characters and enduring stories and is one of the world’s largest publishers of comics and graphic novels. DC’s creative work entertains audiences of every generation around the world with DC’s stories and characters integrated across Warner Bros. Discovery’s film, television, animation, consumer products, home entertainment, games, and themed experiences divisions, and on the DC Universe Infinite digital comic subscription service. Learn more at DC.com.