While roller coasters grab most of the headlines, water parks are quietly having their best year ever. Manufacturers like ProSlide, WhiteWater, and Polin are pushing slide technology to new extremes. Here are the 5 standout new slides of 2026.
1. Tsunami Surge — Volcano Bay Expansion
Type: ProSlide HydroLAUNCH
Location: Universal’s Volcano Bay, Orlando
A magnetically launched water coaster that fires riders uphill at 35 MPH before sending them through a series of oscillating turns. The first water slide to use linear induction motors — a game-changer for the industry.
2. Vortex Drop — Aquatica San Diego
Type: WhiteWater AquaLoop Freefall
Location: Aquatica, San Diego
Stand in a capsule, the floor drops out, and you plummet through a near-vertical 85-foot enclosed slide at speeds over 40 MPH. A transparent loop at the bottom lets spectators watch you scream by.
3. Dragon’s Descent — Rulantica
Type: ProSlide TornadoWAVE
Location: Rulantica, Europa-Park, Germany
A 4-person raft ride that sends you into a massive half-pipe wall of water. The hang-time moment at the top of the wave wall rivals some roller coasters for intensity.
4. Cyclone Canyon — Schlitterbahn New Braunfels
Type: ProSlide RallyRACER
Location: Schlitterbahn, Texas
Six riders race head-first on individual mats through a twisting course with synchronized timing lights. The most fun you can have at a water park without a raft.
5. Kraken’s Coil — Chimelong Water World
Type: Polin King Cobra
Location: Chimelong, Guangzhou, China
Two enclosed tube slides intertwine around each other in a massive double helix before dropping riders into a shared splash pool. The visual spectacle is matched only by the ride experience.
Water parks are no longer the “little sibling” of dry parks — they’re becoming world-class destinations in their own right.
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