Theme park news for September 13, 2026 is topped by Amusement Today’s 2026 Golden Ticket Awards, handed out at the brand-new COTALand park in Austin, Texas, where Europa-Park, Dollywood, and Carowinds’ Fury 325 claimed top honors.
Also in today’s roundup: Carowinds’ SCarowinds Halloween event adds a Friday the 13th-themed haunted house, and Seth Rogen finally addresses the stalled Figment movie. Beyond the parks, Elena Rybakina claimed her first US Open title, ESPN drew criticism over a Ted Cruz interview on College GameDay, and My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way teased a possible new album.
The TLDR
- Theme Parks & Roller Coasters: Europa-Park, Dollywood, and Carowinds’ Fury 325 swept the 2026 Golden Ticket Awards, SCarowinds added a Friday the 13th-themed haunted house, and Seth Rogen broke his silence on the Figment movie.
- Stadiums & Arenas: Elena Rybakina won her first US Open title and will become world No. 1, while ESPN faced backlash over a lengthy Ted Cruz interview on College GameDay.
- Live Music & Venues: My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way hinted at a new album while wrapping up the band’s Black Parade tour.
Theme Parks & Roller Coasters
2026 Golden Ticket Awards Crown Europa-Park, Dollywood, and Fury 325
Amusement Today handed out its 2026 Golden Ticket Awards on September 12 at COTALand, the new Austin, Texas park set to open in two weeks, honoring 28 winners across the amusement industry’s most-followed awards, according to Amusement Today. Europa-Park took Best Park for an 11th time, Dollywood led all parks with four wins including Best Guest Experience, and Carowinds’ Fury 325 claimed Best Steel Coaster for a 10th straight year. Splashin’ Safari at Holiday World earned its first Best Water Park title, and Six Flags Qiddiya City’s Falcons Flight in Saudi Arabia was named Best New Roller Coaster.
SCarowinds Adds Jason: Blood Reign and Three New Scare Zones for Its 26th Year
Carowinds’ Halloween Haunt, SCarowinds, kicked off its 26th season on September 11 and runs select nights through November 1, 2026, according to Coaster101. The event’s headline addition is Jason: Blood Reign, a Friday the 13th-themed haunted house built with Plague Productions, alongside three new scare zones and four new live shows. Guests will also redeem Haunted Attractions Pass mazes through smartphone QR codes this year instead of the wristbands used in past seasons.
Seth Rogen Breaks Four Years of Silence on His Figment Movie
Asked about the long-dormant Figment movie in a new Entertainment Weekly interview, Seth Rogen hesitated before saying, “Let me get back to you on that,” marking his first public comment on the project since it was announced in 2022, according to WDWNT. When pressed for details, Rogen added only, “I can’t tell anything.” Disney has not announced a director, cast, or release date for the film, which was set to be produced by Rogen’s Point Grey Pictures with Dan Hernandez and Benji Samit attached as writers.
Stadiums & Arenas
Elena Rybakina Wins First US Open Title, Set to Become World No. 1
Elena Rybakina defeated Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in Saturday’s US Open women’s final, claiming her first US Open title and third career Grand Slam, according to Front Office Sports. Rybakina earned $5.5 million for the win and will officially take over the world No. 1 ranking on Monday, ending Sabalenka’s 99-week reign atop the rankings. The result also denied Sabalenka a bid to become just the third woman to win three straight US Open titles.
ESPN Draws Criticism for Nine-Minute Ted Cruz Interview on College GameDay
ESPN’s College GameDay gave Sen. Ted Cruz a nine-minute interview during Saturday’s broadcast from Austin, Texas, drawing criticism from sports media figures over the amount of airtime and the lack of an opposing voice, according to Front Office Sports. Commentators noted that no opponents of the Protect College Sports Act, a bill that would grant the NCAA an antitrust exemption, have appeared on the show, and the crowd reportedly booed Cruz during the segment.
Live Music & Venues
My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way Hints at a New Album
Closing out the band’s Black Parade tour at San Antonio’s Alamodome on Saturday, My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way told the crowd, “We’ve kind of really always wanted to make another record, so we hope that life allows us to do that,” according to Billboard. It would be the band’s first full-length album since 2010’s Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, though Way stopped short of confirming a title, timeline, or release date.
Explore more: Racer at Kennywood, X-Flight at Geauga Lake.
Theme Park & Entertainment News FAQs
Who won the 2026 Golden Ticket Award for Best Park?
Europa-Park in Germany won Best Park at the 2026 Golden Ticket Awards, marking its 11th win in the category. Dollywood led all parks with four total awards, and Carowinds’ Fury 325 was named Best Steel Coaster for the 10th consecutive year.
When does SCarowinds run in 2026?
SCarowinds, Carowinds’ Halloween Haunt event, began September 11, 2026 and runs select nights through November 1. This year’s 26th edition adds the Friday the 13th-themed haunted house Jason: Blood Reign along with three new scare zones.
Is the Figment movie still happening?
Seth Rogen addressed the Figment movie for the first time since it was announced in 2022, telling Entertainment Weekly he’d “get back” to them on its status. Disney has not announced a director, cast, or release date, so the project’s status remains unclear.
Did My Chemical Romance announce a new album?
Not officially — frontman Gerard Way said at the band’s September 12 tour-closing show in San Antonio that the group hopes to make another record, but he gave no title, timeline, or release date. It would be their first full-length album since 2010’s Danger Days.
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Photo: Mint13green / CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.