Iron Gwazi at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay has done it again. For the third consecutive year, the RMC (Rocky Mountain Construction) hybrid coaster has been voted the #1 Steel Coaster in the World by Amusement Today’s Golden Ticket Awards.
Why Iron Gwazi Keeps Winning
Standing at 206 feet tall with a 91-degree beyond-vertical drop, Iron Gwazi delivers a relentless 4,075-foot ride packed with 12 airtime moments. But raw statistics alone don’t explain the coaster’s dominance.
What separates Iron Gwazi from the competition is the ride experience. The combination of RMC’s signature I-box track (which delivers a glass-smooth ride) with aggressive ejector airtime hills creates a ride that is simultaneously intense and re-rideable.
“Iron Gwazi is the perfect coaster. It has speed, airtime, laterals, inversions, and it does all of it at a pace that never lets up. There’s a reason it keeps winning.” — CoasterWire Reviewer
The Top 10 Steel Coasters of 2026
- Iron Gwazi — Busch Gardens Tampa
- Velocicoaster — Islands of Adventure
- Steel Vengeance — Cedar Point
- Stardust Racers — Epic Universe
- Fury 325 — Carowinds
- Zadra — Energylandia
- Lightning Rod — Dollywood
- Pantheon — Busch Gardens Williamsburg
- Untamed — Walibi Holland
- Kondaa — Walibi Belgium
Notably, Stardust Racers from Epic Universe debuted at #4 in its first year — the highest debut for a new coaster since Velocicoaster entered the list at #2.
Do you agree with the rankings? Let us know in the comments!
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