Theme park news today is topped by Live Nation’s plan to convert San Diego’s historic Wonder Bread building into a new 4,000-capacity concert venue, while Madonna leads the 2026 MTV Video Music Award nominations ahead of Taylor Swift.
Beyond today’s theme park news, this roundup also covers a wave of Halloween season announcements from Disney, Universal, and Six Flags parks, Dollywood’s newly opened NightFlight Expedition, M&T Bank Stadium’s completed renovation, and more from the live music world including Miranda Lambert’s Nashville venue debut and the ARIA Awards’ 40th anniversary plans.
The TLDR
- Mickey’s Not So Scary: Another October date (Oct. 15) sold out, leaving 24 dates open.
- Six Flags New England: Fall lineup adds Oktoberfest, Kids Boo Fest, and Fright Fest.
- SCarowinds: 8 new haunts, including Jason: Blood Reign, bring the total to 17.
- COTALAND (Texas): New Circuit of the Americas theme park opens Sept. 26.
- Six Flags Halloween IPs: Diablo, Jason Universe, Final Destination, and Blair Witch join the lineup.
- Oogie Boogie Bash: Yzma is the lone new villain confirmed for DCA’s party.
- Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood: New ‘Murder of Crowz’ street experience announced.
- Dollywood: NightFlight Expedition hybrid ride opens to the public today.
- Maleficent Coaster: D23 2026 detailed the Villains Land coaster and Magic Mirror dark ride.
- Six Flags Discovery Kingdom: Tricks and Treats and Oktoberfest return Sept. 12.
- M&T Bank Stadium: $489M, three-year renovation now complete.
- Enhanced Games: Parent company posts $61.9M Q2 loss after debut event.
- Live Nation San Diego: Historic Wonder Bread building becomes a 4,000-cap venue by 2028.
- MTV VMAs: Madonna leads with 11 nominations, Taylor Swift follows with 9.
- Miranda Lambert: Opens Nashville’s The Truth venue Oct. 1.
- ARIA Awards: 40th ceremony set for Nov. 18 in Sydney.
Theme Parks & Roller Coasters
Another Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Date Sells Out
Disney’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party has sold out another October date, with Thursday, October 15 selling out since the last update. That leaves 24 dates still available this season: four in August, 10 in September, and 10 in October, according to WDW News Today.
Six Flags New England Reveals Fall 2026 Lineup
Six Flags New England has announced its fall 2026 events lineup, featuring Oktoberfest presented by Cash App, a family-friendly Kids Boo Fest, and the Halloween-themed Fright Fest presented by Snickers. The Agawam, Massachusetts park’s seasonal offerings will include themed food and drink, entertainment, and Halloween activities, per Amusement Today.
SCarowinds Adds Eight New Halloween Experiences, Including Jason: Blood Reign
SCarowinds is expanding its Halloween season with eight new haunted experiences for 2026, bringing its total to 17 haunted attractions in what the Charlotte-area park calls its most ambitious Halloween lineup in its 26-year history. The headlining new addition is Jason: Blood Reign, built around the Friday the 13th slasher character, according to Amusement Today.
COTALAND, a New Theme Park Inside Circuit of the Americas, Opens Next Month
In one of today’s headline theme park news items, COTALAND — a new park built inside the Circuit of the Americas racing complex in Austin, Texas — is set to open September 26, 2026, with tickets starting at $65. Its headline attractions include Palindrome, billed as the only steel coaster in the U.S. to cross over an active road, and Circuit Breaker, described as Texas’ only tilt coaster, per Forbes. It joins a small club of record-chasing parks worldwide, like Japan’s Fuji-Q Highland.
Six Flags Adds Final Destination and Blair Witch to 2026 Halloween Events
Six Flags has unveiled new horror franchises joining its 2026 Halloween events across its parks, including Diablo, Jason Universe, Final Destination, and The Blair Witch Project. These join returning IPs such as The Conjuring Universe, Saw, Army of the Dead, The Strangers, and Trick ‘r Treat across Fright Fest, Halloween Haunt, HalloWeekends, SCarowinds, Knott’s Scary Farm, and Festival del Terror events, with Six Flags citing a combined 448 Halloween-themed experiences chain-wide this year, according to blooloop.
Oogie Boogie Bash 2026 Character Lineup Revealed at Disney California Adventure
Disney has confirmed the meet-and-greet lineup for Oogie Boogie Bash at Disney California Adventure in 2026, including Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, and Clarabelle Cow dressed as the Sanderson Sisters, alongside villain characters such as Maleficent. Yzma from The Emperor’s New Groove is the only new villain confirmed for this year’s event, appearing at a treat trail rather than a traditional meet-and-greet, per Attractions Magazine.
‘Murder of Crowz’ Street Experience Announced for Halloween Horror Nights Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood has announced a new street experience for Halloween Horror Nights 2026 called Murder of Crowz, themed around guests wandering into a massive crow’s nest. The announcement, shared on Instagram, describes a flock of feathered creatures descending on visitors, according to WDW News Today.
Dollywood’s NightFlight Expedition Opens to the Public
Dollywood’s new hybrid attraction, NightFlight Expedition, opened to the general public on August 19, 2026, following a media preview and several days of passholder previews. The ride combines a dark ride, motion simulator, whitewater rapids, and roller coaster elements into one continuous experience, per Attractions Magazine.
What Disney Revealed About Its Maleficent Coaster at D23 2026
At D23 2026 in Anaheim, Disney shared updated details on the Maleficent-themed roller coaster planned for Magic Kingdom’s Villains Land, first announced in 2024. The new presentation reportedly stayed consistent with the original concept while adding detail on the coaster and a companion Magic Mirror dark ride, according to Coaster101. No opening date has been announced.
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Announces Fall 2026 Events
Six Flags Discovery Kingdom will bring back its Tricks and Treats and Oktoberfest presented by Cash App events this fall, beginning September 12, 2026. The lineup includes trick-or-treating, live Halloween shows, seasonal food and drink, live music, and rides, according to Park World.
Stadiums & Arenas
M&T Bank Stadium Completes Three-Year, $489 Million Renovation
The Baltimore Ravens have completed a three-year, $489 million renovation of M&T Bank Stadium, a joint project with the Maryland Stadium Authority designed by Gensler. The final phase, unveiled at the team’s preseason game against the Philadelphia Eagles, added general-admission upgrades including a new open-air music stage, an indoor sports bar, and expanded upper-deck restrooms, per Sports Venue Business. Fans exploring other stadium projects can browse ThrillZing’s McLane Stadium profile.
Enhanced Games Parent Posts $61.9 Million Q2 Loss After Debut Event
Enhanced Group, parent company of the Enhanced Games, reported a net loss of $61.9 million on $17.7 million in revenue for the second quarter. The company said the loss reflected an intentional investment in its inaugural Enhanced Games competition, held in May 2026 at Resorts World Las Vegas, according to Front Office Sports.
Live Music & Venues
Live Nation to Turn San Diego’s Historic Wonder Bread Building Into a 4,000-Cap Venue
Live Nation plans to convert San Diego’s historic Wonder Bread building into a new 4,000-capacity live music venue near Petco Park, restoring the building’s historic façade and silo while adding modern production capacity. The venue, whose name has not yet been announced, is set to open in 2028, according to IQ Magazine.
Madonna Leads 2026 MTV VMA Nominations Ahead of Taylor Swift
Madonna leads the 2026 MTV Video Music Award nominations with 11 nods, followed by Taylor Swift with 9, MTV announced. The ceremony airs live on CBS from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, according to Pollstar.
Miranda Lambert to Open Nashville’s New Venue, The Truth, on October 1
Miranda Lambert will headline the October 1, 2026 opening night of The Truth, a new 4,400-capacity Live Nation venue in Nashville’s Wedgewood-Houston neighborhood. Her set will preview tracks from her new album, Crisco, arriving October 2 via MCA, according to Pollstar.
ARIA Awards Set November 18 Date for 40th Anniversary Ceremony
The 40th ARIA Awards will be held Wednesday, November 18, at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, marking the sixth consecutive year the ceremony has been staged there. Spotify returns as headline sponsor, with Network 10 broadcasting and Paramount+ streaming the ceremony, according to Billboard.
Explore more: Fuji-Q Highland, McLane Stadium profile.
Theme Park & Entertainment News FAQs
When does COTALAND open in Texas?
COTALAND, the new theme park inside Circuit of the Americas in Austin, is scheduled to open September 26, 2026, with tickets starting at $65.
When do the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards air?
The 2026 MTV VMAs air live on CBS from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 27, 2026. Madonna leads nominations with 11 nods, ahead of Taylor Swift’s 9.
Is Dollywood’s NightFlight Expedition open yet?
Yes. NightFlight Expedition opened to the general public on August 19, 2026, after a media preview and passholder preview days. It combines a dark ride, motion simulator, whitewater rapids, and coaster elements.
What new Halloween IPs is Six Flags adding in 2026?
Six Flags added Diablo, Jason Universe, Final Destination, and The Blair Witch Project to its 2026 Halloween events, joining returning franchises like The Conjuring Universe and Saw.
When does Live Nation’s new San Diego venue open?
Live Nation’s planned 4,000-capacity venue inside San Diego’s historic Wonder Bread building is set to open in 2028; the venue’s name has not yet been announced.
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Photo: Coolcaesar / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.