ZooTampa's Florida Waters Otter Oasis rendering

What’s NEW in 2026 in Tampa Bay:  NEW ways to play and exhibits to experience!

By Last Updated

It's going to be a BIG year in Tampa Bay with groundbreaking new rides and exhibits. And when we say ground-breaking…we mean it! We're talking a first-of-its-kind coaster at LEGOLAND, the largest lion and hyena exhibit in the country, and even the largest expansion in its history at ZooTampa!

So let's dive in, friends! Here's what's on schedule for 2026 in Tampa Bay!

LEGOLAND Florida Resort: Opening Feb. 27  

LEGOLAND® Florida Resort is getting ready for an epic launch of a brand-new, groundbreaking roller coaster for the first time since 2011, and it’s going to be galactic! Not only will the Galacticoaster be indoors (yay!), but when it opens, you can expect to be immersed in a LEGO® galaxy in a way that’s never been done before.

You’ll be able to scan your RFID wristband and design your own space vehicle with more than 625 different combinations! The digital creation will then be merged with the physical thrills of a ride, blasting you through an intergalactic LEGO solar system filled with special effects, synchronized lighting, and surprise appearances from classic LEGO Space icons…and maybe even a space cow!

Other recent additions at MINILAND USA:

  • Last Vegas: Look out for some new space scenes, including people learning how to ride jet packs, and there is a new, colorful, outdoor desert festival.
  • New York: Dinosaurs have invaded, and they look like they are filming a dinosaur movie in the city. The park’s LEGO Master Model Builders tell us it’s your job to use your imagination and fill in the rest of the story.
  • Fun Fact: More than 32 million LEGO bricks were used to create MINILAND USA!

Lions & Hyena Ridge Busch Gardens Tampa Bay: Opening this spring  

Busch Gardens is getting back to its roots with animals and conservation. After a few years of big thrill ride debuts, the park is about to unveil one of the country’s largest lion and hyena habitats in the park’s Edge of Africa Realm. You’ll get a 270-degree view of the pride of five young lion brothers and two playful hyenas, as they climb, dig, and explore the 35,000 square foot savanna terrain.

Here’s what else is NEW in 2026 at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay:

  • ALL-NEW Sesame Street® Kids’ Weekends – Expect even more fun-filled themed activities for the family.
  • ALL-NEW Food, Wine & Garden Festival – This will be the park’s largest culinary celebration to date!
  • ALL-NEW Glory in the Gardens (May) – A new music festival featuring Christian music during the spring garden festival.
  • ALL-NEW Military Appreciation Month (May) – Exclusive events are on schedule to honor service members.
  • ALL-NEW Wild Oasis Kids’ Weekend (November) – There will be themed food, activities, and family fun.

ZooTampa: Florida Waters: Opening this spring (pictured at top of post)

From the streams to the rivers to the brackish waters near our coasts and the clear waters of the Keys, ZooTampa’s Florida Waters exhibit will take you on a journey of water in our state, immersing you in the world of the animals that call the waterways home. And the crown jewel is the Straz Family Manatee Rescue that has undergone a massive renovation.

Florida Waters is ZooTampa’s largest expansion to date, featuring three new habitats: Manatee Rescue, Otter Oasis, and Reptile and Amphibian Discovery. There will even be a new 10,000-gallon tropical fish tank. We got a sneak peek during construction, and the space is pretty incredible. We think you'll love it! And it’s a great spot to host an event, too!

The Zoo will also host its first Manatee Festival, a conservation and education event, in May.

REVAMPED EVENT FOR YOU, MAMA: Bucs: She is Football Summit

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are bringing back their She is Football Career Summit presented by Fifth Third Bank on Friday, March 6, with a new panel of national female leaders from various industries. The event, which coincides with International Women’s Day, is part of the Bucs’ She is Football mission to develop 50,000 female leaders annually.

The She is Football 5K Walk, and Stroll follows on Saturday, March 7. The route will take you through the team’s facilities, including Raymond James Stadium, and end with a big finish inside the AdventHealth Training Center Indoor Facility. Proceeds will support local programs that keep girls in the game. Kids can participate, too!

You can register for one or both events at: buccaneers.com/sheisfootball

NEW EXHIBITS: 

Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion at MOSI: Opens Saturday, Jan. 17 

Get ready to crank, spin, and fly into the mind of the world’s greatest inventor at the new exhibit, Leonardo da Vinci: Machines in Motion! You’ll take control of a full-scale mechanical playground bursting with motion, imagination, and discovery.

Step inside and you’ll find yourself surrounded by 40 life-sized machines inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s original drawings. Kids (and parents, too!) can lift weights with da Vinci’s cranes, pump water with an Archimedes’ screw, test out floats designed for walking on water, or climb into a full-sized armored tank that can hold eight people. You can even explore Leonardo’s flying machines, which he dreamed up centuries before the Wright Brothers ever left the ground.

The exhibit is arranged around da Vinci’s four classical elements—Earth, Water, Air, and Fire—with each one revealing a different side of his endless curiosity.

Dreaming in Bamboo at MOSI: Open through March 29

This new art exhibit at MOSI features huge sculptures woven entirely from bamboo collected right here in Tampa Bay. The artist, Alexander Nixon, is a Tampa native who spent two decades in New York City creating drawings of subway riders and map collages. He returned to Tampa in search of a new medium that felt connected to nature, and he discovered bamboo. And the result of his newfound artist medium is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Dreaming in Bamboo is located in the Arc Gallery on the 2nd floor of the dome.

Summer of Crafting at Glazer Children's Museum: June-Aug.

Get creative with recycled materials and crafting supplies all summer long at GCM! Children can try new art styles and experiment with different crafting tools and materials. There will be special guest crafters, crafting-themed storytimes, and so much more. Your little maker won't want to miss it!

*Originally published in the January 2026 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine.