Theme park news today is topped by Dollywood’s opening of its $60 million NightFlight Expedition, a hybrid coaster and whitewater raft ride billed as a world first, alongside Noah Kahan’s announcement of the first stadium dates for his “The Last Of The Bugs World Tour.”
Also in this roundup: a UK government roundtable on the Universal United Kingdom Resort, new Heinz condiment dispensers at Disneyland, new Halloween mazes at Knott’s Scary Farm, and a reopening date for Silly Symphony Swings from the parks beat; Jannik Sinner’s US Open withdrawal and Arsenal’s new Emirates Stadium food concept from the stadiums beat; and fresh tour news from Holly Humberstone and Robbie Williams, plus a festival cancellation from BelicoFest, on the music beat.
The TLDR
- Dollywood NightFlight Expedition: Dollywood opens its $60M NightFlight Expedition, a hybrid coaster/raft ride and its 11th coaster.
- Universal UK Resort: UK officials and Universal held a roundtable on maximizing benefits from the 2031 Bedfordshire resort.
- Heinz at Disneyland: First Heinz condiment dispensers appear at Disney California Adventure under the new Kraft Heinz deal.
- Knott’s Scary Farm: Knott’s reveals its 2026 Halloween lineup with new mazes ‘Inked’ and ‘Unearthed,’ running Sept. 17-Oct. 31.
- Silly Symphony Swings: Disneyland’s Silly Symphony Swings reopens August 28 after refurbishment.
- Jannik Sinner: World No. 1 Jannik Sinner withdraws from the 2026 US Open with a knee injury.
- Arsenal Emirates Stadium: Arsenal and Legends Global launch ‘1886 by Arsenal,’ a new matchday food concept at Emirates Stadium.
- Noah Kahan: Noah Kahan announces first dates of his 2027 ‘Last Of The Bugs World Tour,’ including Wembley Stadium.
- BelicoFest: BelicoFest cancels its inaugural San Jose edition at PayPal Park, days before the Aug. 29 show.
- Holly Humberstone: Holly Humberstone sets her biggest-ever Australian tour for February 2027.
- Robbie Williams: Robbie Williams will perform at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, Nov. 3.
Theme Parks & Roller Coasters
Dollywood Opens $60 Million NightFlight Expedition
Dollywood has opened NightFlight Expedition, a $60 million attraction billed as the world’s first indoor family hybrid coaster and whitewater river raft ride, according to blooloop. It’s the park’s 11th roller coaster and the largest single attraction investment in Dollywood’s history, sending riders across a mountain ridge and through more than 500,000 gallons of water before splashing into a Smoky Mountain-themed lake. Dolly Parton said the ride lets guests “see the mountains the way I always remember them, full of wonder and beauty.” Coaster fans chasing more new openings can also check out our profile of Tormenta Rampaging Run at Six Flags Over Texas.
UK Government Meets With Local Leaders on Universal Resort Plans
Tourism minister Stephanie Peacock held the first roundtable meeting between the UK government, eight local authorities, and Universal Destinations & Experiences to plan how the Bedford area can benefit from the upcoming Universal United Kingdom Resort, according to blooloop. The Bedfordshire resort, slated to open in 2031 with a theme park, a 500-room hotel, and a retail and dining complex, is projected to create 28,000 jobs and generate nearly £50 billion for the UK economy by 2055.
Heinz Condiment Dispensers Debut at Disneyland Resort
The first Heinz condiment dispensers tied to Kraft Heinz’s new multi-year partnership with Disney have appeared at Smokerjumpers Grill in Disney California Adventure, offering BBQ sauce, ranch, and Simply tomato ketchup, according to WDW News Today. The rollout is an early piece of the broader Kraft Heinz-Disney deal, which is bringing Heinz, Kraft, and Philadelphia products across Disney’s parks, resorts, and cruise ships.
Knott’s Scary Farm Unveils 2026 Halloween Lineup
Knott’s Berry Farm has revealed its 2026 Scary Farm lineup, headlined by two new mazes: “Inked,” built around a 1930s cartoonist whose animated creations turn murderous, and “Unearthed,” set at an excavation site where ancient evil is awakened, according to Amusement Today. The Halloween event returns with 10 mazes and five scare zones running Sept. 17 through Oct. 31, 2026.
Silly Symphony Swings Gets Reopening Date
Disney California Adventure’s Silly Symphony Swings will reopen on August 28, 2026. The ride has been closed for refurbishment since April 27, and its protective scrim and scaffolding have now come down, according to WDW News Today.
Stadiums & Arenas
Jannik Sinner Withdraws From US Open With Knee Injury
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the 2026 US Open because of a right knee injury, marking the first Grand Slam he’s missed since his major debut at the 2019 US Open, according to Front Office Sports. Sinner, the 2024 champion and last year’s runner-up, hasn’t played since winning Wimbledon and says he plans to return for the Asian hard-court swing in October.
Arsenal Debuts ‘1886 by Arsenal’ Matchday Food Concept
Arsenal and new stadium caterer Legends Global have launched “1886 by Arsenal,” a revamped matchday food and drink concept at Emirates Stadium built around North London suppliers, redesigned menus, and expanded self-pour beer stations, according to Sports Venue Business. The name honors the club’s 1886 founding as the new Premier League season gets underway. It’s part of a wider push among English football grounds to modernize the fan matchday experience, alongside venues like the one detailed in our profile of Hillsborough Stadium.
Live Music & Venues
Noah Kahan Announces ‘The Last Of The Bugs World Tour’
Noah Kahan has revealed the first dates of “The Last Of The Bugs World Tour,” including UK and Ireland stadium shows in July 2027 at Glasgow’s Hampden Park, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, and London’s Wembley Stadium, according to Pollstar. The Wembley show will be the biggest headline concert of his career so far, and Kahan has hinted more tour dates are still to come.
BelicoFest Cancels Its San Jose Debut
Organizers have canceled BelicoFest’s inaugural San Jose edition, which had been set for Aug. 29 at PayPal Park with headliners Tito Double P, Gerardo Ortiz, and Santa Fe Klan, according to Pollstar. Organizers didn’t give a specific reason, calling the cancellation a “difficult decision” made about a week before the show.
Holly Humberstone Sets Biggest Australian Tour Yet
Holly Humberstone will return to Australia in February 2027 for her biggest headline run in the country yet, playing theatre shows in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Perth in support of her second album, Cruel World, according to Billboard. Fellow artist Holly Hebe will join as support on the run.
Robbie Williams to Play Melbourne Cup Day
Robbie Williams will perform both before and after the race at Flemington on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, Nov. 3, 2026, according to Billboard. It will be his first Australian performance ahead of his BRITPOP arena tour.
Explore more: Talon at Dorney Park, Hillsborough Stadium.
Theme Park News FAQs
When did Dollywood’s NightFlight Expedition open?
That’s today’s biggest theme park news: NightFlight Expedition opened this week as Dollywood’s 11th roller coaster, per blooloop. It’s a $60 million hybrid coaster and whitewater raft ride billed as a world first, and it’s the largest single attraction investment in the park’s history.
When will Silly Symphony Swings reopen at Disneyland?
Disney California Adventure’s Silly Symphony Swings is scheduled to reopen on August 28, 2026, after being closed for refurbishment since April 27. The ride’s protective scrim and scaffolding have already come down.
Why is Jannik Sinner missing the 2026 US Open?
Jannik Sinner withdrew because of a right knee injury that has kept him off court since he won Wimbledon. It’s the first Grand Slam he’s missed since debuting at the US Open in 2019, and he’s aiming to return for the October Asian hard-court swing.
When does Knott’s Scary Farm run in 2026?
Knott’s Scary Farm runs from September 17 through October 31, 2026, with 10 mazes and five scare zones, including new mazes “Inked” and “Unearthed.”
When are Noah Kahan’s Last Of The Bugs World Tour dates?
The first announced dates are UK and Ireland stadium shows in July 2027, including Glasgow’s Hampden Park, Dublin’s Aviva Stadium, and London’s Wembley Stadium. Kahan has hinted that more dates will be announced later.
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Photo: Raph_PH / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.