Blackpool Pleasure Beach, now known as Pleasure Beach Resort, has been named the world's best theme park at the Park World Excellence Awards 2026. It is the first UK theme park to receive the accolade, which recognises 'sustained success and constant contributions to the theme park industry.'
First UK park to win top award
The Lancashire-based park, the second-oldest amusement park in the country, beat internationally famous attractions such as Disneyland and Universal Orlando. While those parks welcome some 165 million tourists annually, their popularity did not secure the title this year.
The awards celebrate operators, suppliers, manufacturers, and entertainment specialists in the attractions industry and regularly receive over 200 entries from around the world. Blackpool Pleasure Beach also won 'best ride of the year' for Aviktas, a new attraction that officially opened in May after an £8.7 million investment.
Aviktas named best ride of the year
Aviktas is the UK's tallest Gyro Swing ride, sending 40 riders 138 feet into the air at 120 degrees, with legs dangling over the Blackpool skyline. Following the wins, Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort, said: 'To be named Best of the Best is a massive achievement for our park.'
Thompson added that the industry is 'full of so much talent,' so 'to be recognised among the best speaks volumes on the dedication and hard work that has kept us moving forward for 130 years.' She called Aviktas a 'hugely valuable addition' and encouraged visitors: 'If they haven't already, I'd absolutely encourage people to visit Pleasure Beach and give our ride, now recognised as one of the world's best, a go!'
A historic seaside attraction
Pleasure Beach Resort first opened in August 1896, founded by Alderman William George Bean and his business partner John Outhwaite, who wanted to create an American-style amusement park 'where adults could feel like children again.' Blackpool had become one of Britain's most popular Victorian holiday resorts after the railway arrived in 1846, leading to landmarks like the North Pier (1863), Central Pier (1868), South Pier (1893), and Blackpool Tower (1894). The town introduced its iconic Illuminations in 1879.
In the 1960s and 70s, Mediterranean package holidays caused a decline for many British seaside towns, including Blackpool, making the award a significant win for the town. Today, the park features around 30 attractions, including the UK's only Nickelodeon Land and The Big One, once the UK's tallest roller coaster. Standard online tickets start from £30, and the park is open until late November.
Last year's winner was Germany's Europa-Park, located in Rust, Baden-Württemberg, which remains Germany's largest theme park with 20 themed areas, around 100 attractions, and 14 rollercoasters.
