Louisville’s Kentucky Kingdom is preparing to open for the 2026 season on May 9, with a new roller coaster, expanded entertainment lineup and major guest experience upgrades coming to the park.
The biggest addition this season is Flying Fox, a new family-friendly roller coaster that will officially open on May 28. The ride is the park’s first new coaster since 2019, and will be the sixth roller coaster at Kentucky Kingdom, more than any other theme park in Kentucky.
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Flying Fox is themed around fictional crop-dusting pilot and local legend Jeb Fox, flying riders over a farmland-inspired landscape before plunging into an underground tunnel. The coaster will reach speeds of 37 mph and have a lower height requirement that park officials say will make it accessible for more families and younger riders.
Kentucky Kingdom also announced a First Riders Auction, allowing fans to bid for the chance to be among the first public riders on Flying Fox. Proceeds from the auction will go to the Kentucky 4-H Foundation.
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“We can’t wait to welcome guests to the 2026 season. From five brand-new live shows to the debut of Flying Fox, this is a season built for families to create memories worth repeating,” General Manager Sarah Worrell said in the release. “Flying Fox, of course, will be an exclamation mark, but this season has so much to offer, and we are so excited to open the park gates for our guests.”
The park says it has invested $33 million into improvements over the past two years.
Along with the coaster’s debut, Kentucky Kingdom will debut five new live entertainment shows beginning May 23 the same day Hurricane Bay opens for the summer season. New additions include “Boombox Summer Jam,” “Wheels in the Wild,” “Thrill Chasers,” “DJ Riptide” and “King Louie’s Bubble Party.”
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The 2026 season rollout also features food and technology upgrades. Kentucky Kingdom will officially go cashless on May 9, accepting only cards and mobile payments throughout the park. Guests paying cash can exchange it for free at the kiosks on site.
Mobile ordering will also be available at select dining locations including Bloom’s BBQ & Grill, Bluegrass Bakery and Twisted Pretzel through the park’s app.
Meanwhile, Bourbon Craft House is adding made-to-order meals and new bone-in chicken wings to its menu.
To celebrate opening weekend, the park is offering online-only one-day tickets for $34.99 plus tax for visits through June 15. The promotional pricing runs through May 8. Season passes start at $79.99 and include admission to seasonal events like Pumpkins at Kentucky Kingdom and Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom.
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This article appears in April 24-May 7, 2026.
