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Nominations for the UK Theme Park Awards 2026 are now open, with the public, operators and providers able to nominate in 22 categories.
Once again, the public are able to nominate their favourite theme parks in these national awards, recognising the best rides, attractions, events and experiences. The awards are organised by Theme Parks UK, an independent consumer guide to UK theme parks, and this year’s event is headlined by sponsors AttractionTickets.com and TAG Live®.
There are 22 public-voted categories this year, featuring a mixture of popular awards from previous years and a selection of new ones. Fresh categories for 2026 include Theme Park Personality of the Year, Waterpark of the Year, Scream Park of the Year, Best Landscaped Theme Park, Best Theme Park Animal Exhibit, Best Theme Park Holiday Village, Best Halloween Event and Best Christmas Event.
In advance of the public vote taking place later this year, a shortlist will be compiled using the public nominations and with the help of an expert judging panel. The nomination window has opened today, Monday 18 May, and will close on Friday 5 June.
Several contenders for the awards include Alton Towers and Drayton Manor in Staffordshire, Pleasure Beach in Lancashire, Chessington World of Adventures and Thorpe Park in Surrey, LEGOLAND Windsor in Berkshire and Paultons Park in Hampshire.
Other previous winners include Adventure Island in Essex, Blackgang Chine on the Isle of Wight, Crealy in Devon, Fantasy Island in Lincolnshire and West Midlands Safari Park in Worcestershire.
Also winning awards last year were Adventure Coast Southport in Merseyside, BeWILDerwood in Cheshire & Norfolk, Flamingo Land in Yorkshire, Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach in Norfolk, Pleasurewood Hills in Suffolk, Sundown Adventureland in Nottinghamshire, Wicksteed Park in Northamptonshire and Gulliver's Theme Parks.
There has been an update to the content creator award, with a single Content Creator of the Year category searching for a fresh voice to join the prestigious Content Creator Hall of Fame, which currently honours all 15 previous winners of a Content Creator award.
In addition to the main 22 public-voted categories, theme park operators are invited to submit nominations for two special Industry Excellence Awards designed to celebrate the workforce behind the magic: Outstanding Achievement and Rising Star.
Categories in 2026
The full list of public-voted categories for 2026:
- Theme Park of the Year
- Best New Attraction (Large/Small)
- Best Theme Park for Families (Large/Small)
- Best Theme Park for Toddlers (Large/Small)
- Best Theme Park for Thrills
- Seaside Park of the Year
- Waterpark of the Year
- Scream Park of the Year
- Best Halloween Event
- Best Christmas Event
- Best New Entertainment (Large/Small)
- Best Landscaped Theme Park
- Best Theme Park Animal Exhibit
- Best Theme Park Holiday Village
- Best New Accessibility Initiative
- Best New Sustainability Initiative
- Best Social Media Content (Large/Small)
- Best Marketing Campaign (Large/Small)
- Best Customer Service (Large/Small)
- Best Value Theme Park (Large/Small)
- Theme Park Personality of the Year
- Content Creator of the Year
Nominations for 2026
In advance of the public vote taking place later this year, we will be compiling a shortlist with the help of our expert judging panel and your nominations.
Nominations are now open at ukthemeparkawards.com
