The countdown has begun for the biggest celebration in the British theme park industry. The public vote for the highly anticipated UK Theme Park Awards 2026 will close in just one week on Friday 28 August.
Organised by Theme Parks UK, an independent consumer guide to UK theme parks, the awards give the British public the chance to vote for their favourite theme parks, attractions, events and creators. Following a busy nomination period in May-June, and the launch of the public vote on 20 July, this is the final opportunity for visitors and industry professionals to champion the very best of the sector.
An Expanded Roster of Categories
Now in its seventh year, the 2026 iteration of the awards is larger than ever. Following the category reveals in April, voters can have their say across 22 distinct fields. This year brings several exciting new additions to the line-up, including Waterpark of the Year, Scream Park of the Year, Theme Park Personality of the Year, Best Landscaped Theme Park and Best Theme Park Animal Exhibit.
A revamped Content Creator of the Year category has also been introduced, searching for a fresh voice to join the prestigious Content Creator Hall of Fame.
While the public casts their votes for these 22 main categories, operators have also been busy submitting entries for two special Industry Excellence Awards. The Outstanding Achievement and Rising Star accolades are designed to celebrate the dedicated workforce behind the magic.
The Expert Judging Panel
The final results of the UK Theme Park Awards 2026 will be determined by combining the many thousands of public votes with the scores from an esteemed judging panel. Revealed in June, the panel features a wealth of experts from across the attractions and entertainment sector.
The 2026 judging panel includes Andy Hine MBE (Chairman of the Roller Coaster Club of Great Britain), Dawn Foote (President of the Themed Entertainment Association EME), Paul Kelly (the Chief Executive of BALPPA), Sue Macmillan (the CEO of Mumsnet), John Fosbrooke (Publisher at InterPark) and Lawrence Roots (Founder of Theme Park Network). They are joined by prominent digital creators and industry journalists such as Chris Belvin-Bailey, Owen Ralph, Scott Bickerton, and Shawn and Charlotte Sanbrooke.
Industry Backing and the Grand Finale
The awards continue to garner exceptional support from the attractions industry. This year, the programme is presented in association with headline sponsor AttractionTickets.com and official production partner TAG Live®, ensuring a spectacular standard for the upcoming celebrations.
All eyes are now looking ahead to the awards ceremony on 10 September 2026, which will be hosted at the iconic Pleasure Beach Resort in Blackpool. The event promises to be a fantastic celebration of the resilience, creativity and dedication that makes the UK theme park sector so vibrant.
With just one week remaining, every single vote matters. Do not miss the chance to help crown the champions of the 2026 season. Voting remains open until Friday 28 August at ukthemeparkawards.com.
