Museum’s £21,000 embezzlement loss ‘distressing’
Six Flags Over Texas unveils record breaking Tormenta dive coaster
Lego buys entertainment centres from Merlin in £200m deal
Brogent debuts next-gen motion ride and announces Japan’s first LED flying theatre at IAAPA Expo Europe
WhiteWater reveals global growth at IAAPA Expo Europe 2025
accesso showcases technology solutions at IAAPA Expo Europe
IAAPA Expo Europe names Brass Ring Award winners for 2025
IAAPA Expo Europe: BoldMove announces Spinfinity Coaster Splash for French theme park
IAAPA Expo Europe kicks off “most ambitious event ever” in Barcelona
BoldMove to unveil new dark ride project and showcase Rogue Rides brand at IAAPA Expo Europe
Natural History Museum to host Pokémon pop-up
Themed land at Universal Orlando set for demolition as new development planned
Epic Universe rollercoaster death deemed accident by investigators
Paultons Park named Britain’s best theme park at UK Theme Park Awards
Gunwharf Quays to host UK-first ApolloDomes with Holovis technology
Disney Patent Targets AI Projection for Real-Time Animatronic Faces in Theme Parks
Royal Caribbean Starts Construction of 4th Icon-class Cruise Ship
Steven Spielberg attends as Academy Museum launches 50th anniversary Jaws exhibition
Park World Excellence Awards return to Barcelona in September
Mattel and Wondr Unveil Immersive Barbie Experience
National Gallery seeks architect for new £375m wing
Universal registers potential name for UK resort
Christie projectors power immersive displays at Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum
Porcelain treasures worth €9.5m stolen from French museum
£75m waterpark plans collapse after company dissolved
£250m Oakwood revival plans fall through
accesso enhances offering with expanded PayPal services
New immersive racing experience F1 Box to open in London
Water park funding investigation concludes ‘lessons must be learned’
Trump interference could have ‘chilling effect across entire museum sector’
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A heritage charity which recently revealed it must undertake “significant work” to ensure its “stable future” has admitted its loss of £21,096 in an embezzlement scandal is “distressing”.
The Bowes Museum, which receives more than £350k a year as part of the Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio, is seeking to recover the missing money after its former finance manager, Tracey Sell, was handed a 12-month suspended prison sentence for the theft earlier this month.
ACE told Arts Professional it has no concerns about the organisation, in which it expressed “confidence”.
In its most recent accounts, published before Sells’ crime came to light, museum leaders had outlined a pressing need to improve the organisation’s “financial resilience”.
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Six Flags Over Texas is taking history by the horns with the unveiling of Tormenta Rampaging Run—a record-breaking, adrenaline-pumping roller coaster that will redefine the thrill-seeker experience while changing the city's skyline in 2026. As the tallest, fastest, longest and first-ever giga (300+-foot-tall) dive coaster in the world, this one-of-a-kind thrill ride will trample six monumental world records.
Themed after one of Spain's longest traditions, the running of the bulls, the historic new attraction will tower over a brand-new Spanish village called Rancho de la Tormenta and new restaurant Cocina Abuela, all fittingly located in the park's Spain area.
Tormenta Rampaging Run will elevate riders to a height of 309 feet and, just like waiting for the release of the bulls, the train will release plunging riders into a record-breaking 95-degree, beyond vertical drop complete with sharp turns followed by other exhilarating drops that replicate the thrill of the running of the bulls.
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Danish toymaker Lego said on Wednesday it will buy 29 discovery centres from theme park operator Merlin Entertainments in a 200 million pounds ($269.5 million) deal, in line with a strategy to strengthen control over consumer interactions with its brand.
The indoor entertainment venues featuring Lego building zones, creative workshops and retail outlets have around five million visitors per year, the companies said in a joint statement.
"They will be an important addition to our global network of retail stores and allow us to offer fans of all ages even more memorable hands-on brand and shopping experiences," Lego CEO Niels Christiansen said in a statement.
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Brogent Technologies has announced a new ride technology while also celebrating the launch of Japan’s first 8K LED flying theatre at Huis Ten Bosch.
The major milestones were announced in Barcelona at IAAPA Expo Europe 2025, where Brogent is currently showcasing the latest evolutions of its media-based attractions.
Working with Huis Ten Bosch, the Taiwanese ride specialist has delivered Air Cruise The Ride — the first flying theatre in Japan to feature an 8K LED dome screen.
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WhiteWater and Norwegian Cruise Line will launch the six-acre Great Tides Waterpark on Great Stirrup Cay in 2026 Credit: Norwegian Cruise Line
Leading water ride manufacturer WhiteWater presented a broad update on its attractions pipeline during this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe, with the company highlighting several key projects at resorts, waterparks and cruise lines around the world.
WhiteWater’s Endless Surf brand has continued to expand, the company revealed during a press conference, with four Endless Surf projects in the UK, US and Mexico announced in the past year.
“It’s been an incredible year for us, with projects launching across three continents,” said Endless Surf president, Paul Chutter.
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Accesso is highlighting its suite of guest experience technologies at IAAPA Expo Europe 2025, including Passport for eCommerce and ticketing, Horizon for visitor management, Freedom for food, beverage and retail, and LoQueue for virtual queuing.
The company has also been named a finalist for “Best Supplier” at the 2025 Park World Excellence Awards and recently announced the addition of Juansa Molina to its international sales team. Accesso is also contributing to the Expo’s education programme, with director David Jungmann joining a panel on digital strategy.
“Across EMEA, operators are making critical digital decisions - from ticketing and eCommerce to apps and in-park engagement. At Accesso, we help them move fast and choose confidently,” said Andrea Bisi, VP International Sales.
“Whether it's implementing powerful out-of-the-box capabilities or tailoring a bespoke approach, our mission remains the same: deliver measurable business impact and a guest experience that keeps guests coming back.”
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IAAPA has announced the winners of the Brass Ring Best Exhibit Awards at this year’s IAAPA Expo Europe in Barcelona, with the awards recognising creativity, innovation, and impact on the show floor.
Winners included CmdCentr (first place, 9–27sqm), Zone Laser Tag (first place, 36–45sqm), and Great Coasters International (first place, 46sqm and larger). Proslide Technology picked up the Image Award for its immersive waterslide-themed booth.
“The Best Exhibit Awards set the standard for creative excellence across our industry,” said Peter van der Schans, vice president and executive director of IAAPA EMEA.
“They celebrate the forward-thinking ideas that continue to drive trade shows like ours forward. We are excited to see how this year’s innovations will inspire and shape future travel and leisure destinations in the months and years to come.”
IAAPA Expo Europe 2025 runs until 26 September 26th at Fira Barcelona Gran Via.
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BoldMove Nation has announced that its Spinfinity Coaster Splash model will open for the first time at a theme park in France in 2028.
Unveiled at IAAPA Expo Europe in Barcelona, the ride mixes roller-coaster dynamics with water effects across 450 metres of track, climbing to a maximum height of 17 metres and reaching speeds of up to 61.5 kmph. Cars will seat riders face-to-face and include limited controlled spinning, with a capacity of 1,000 riders per hour.
Developed with E&S Rides and Soho Playtime, the splash edition surrounds guests with adjustable water effects for year-round operation. Designed for groups and families, the layout includes BoldMove’s Infinity Loop and offers flexible theming. BoldMove says the model builds on earlier Spinfinity variants and is intended as a park landmark.
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IAAPA Expo Europe 2025 opened today (September 23) in Barcelona
The 2025 edition of IAAPA Expo Europe, the premier event for the EMEA region’s attractions and leisure industries, has opened today in Barcelona.
Taking place at the Fira Barcelona Gran Via exhibition centre from September 22 - 26, 2025, IAAPA Expo Europe invites industry professionals from around the globe to explore the diverse landscape of the European attraction’s market.
Billed as IAAPA’s most “ambitious” European expo yet, this year’s event is expected to welcome more than 17,000 attractions industry professionals from more than 100 countries.
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BoldMove picked up a prestigious Brass Ring Award as last year’s IAAPA Expo Europe Credit: BoldMove
BoldMove Nation is set to make a major splash at IAAPA Expo Europe 2025, with the media-based attractions specialist promising a raft of updates, live demonstrations, and a new project reveal during the trade show in Barcelona.
Located at booth 1-658, BoldMove’s showcase will centre on the Rogue Rides trackless system – a ride platform offering omnidirectional movements and what the company describes as “limitless fun”. The technology, paired with Kamino show control, provides operators with a reliable and flexible system for immersive experiences.
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The Natural History Museum in London and Pokémon are combining their shared admiration for the natural world and its creatures—from evolution to environment—in an upcoming exclusive pop-up shop! The Cranbourne Boutique, located within the Natural History Museum, will transform into a Pokémon pop-up shop with products such as apparel, stationery, a brand-new exclusive plush, and more. The pop-up will be open from 26 January through 22 March 2026.
Free tickets will be required to access the pop-up shop and will be available online from 1 October 2025. Make sure you sign up online to be the first to hear when tickets become available.
While you’re there, why not wander the halls of the Natural History Museum? As Pokémon evolve, they can adapt to a new environment, and you may notice some similarities on your journey through the Museum. The halls guide you through the evolution and diversity of life on planet Earth—from prehistoric dinosaurs to the species we live alongside today.
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Since opening the highly anticipated Epic Universe theme park, Universal Orlando Resort has been making major changes across its parks to improve its guest experience and maintain excitement, especially as competition with rival Walt Disney World only gets tougher.
Now, Universal is preparing for another bold move that will keep fans on their toes by clearing the way for something new.
The company will begin the demolition of The Lost Continent land at Islands of Adventure after officially filing the permits on September 10. The five-acre project will not affect the Mythos restaurant, which will continue operations even after clearing the surrounding land.
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Investigators are still trying to determine how a 32-year-old man died on Wednesday after riding the “Stardust Racers” roller coaster at Epic Universe. So far, investigators have ruled the manner of death an accident.
The victim, identified as Kevin Zavala, sustained “multiple blunt impact injuries,” the medical examiner said.
Authorities from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office are still conducting an investigation at the park.
An incident report obtained by News 6 on Friday reveals that Zavala had a “preexisting spinal injury,” though it’s unclear whether that contributed to the accident.
More from ClickOrlando
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Paultons Park was crowned Theme Park of the Year while Ghostly Manor was named Best New Attraction Credit: Paultons Park
The UK Theme Park Awards returned for its sixth year with a packed ceremony at Wicksteed Park that saw Paultons Park named the Theme Park of the Year for 2025.
Organised by ThemeParks-UK.com and presented in association with AttractionTickets.com, the awards drew more than 334,000 public votes, which were combined with scores from an expert judging panel to determine winners across 22 categories. Of the 35 nominated parks, 24 were recognised with at least one award.
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The two 19-metre indoor domes will debut with Halloween and Christmas experiences Credit: Holovis
Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth is set to host the UK’s first large-scale immersive projection domes, with Landsec partnering with Holovis to launch ApolloDomes later this year.
The two 19-metre indoor domes will debut with Halloween and Christmas experiences designed to immerse visitors in theatrical storytelling, large-scale projections and multi-sensory effects. The initiative marks the first step in a wider roll-out planned across some of the UK’s most popular retail destinations.
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Disney has filed a new patent application that focuses on advancing the way animatronics are brought to life in theme parks. The filing describes technology that combines projection systems, sensors, and real-time rendering engines to create more realistic and responsive figures.
Disney patent application US18/592,863 outlines a performance system that projects content onto a "mechanically animated surface" such as an animatronic face, then updates that projection in real time as the figure moves. The Disney patent application was filed March 1, 2024, and published September 4, 2025 as US20250278879A1. The named inventors are Alfredo Medina Ayala, Jr., Nicholas Daniel Gathany, Jonathan Bogie, Brent Yuzo Uramoto, Douglas Fidaleo, and Joel Peavy.
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Royal Caribbean has began construction on its 4th Icon-class ship at a keel-laying ceremony at the shipyard in Turku, Finland.
The as-yet-unnamed ship will join sisters, Icon of the Seas, Star of the Seas and Legend of the Seas in 2027.
At the celebration, the very first building block was put into the dry dock, where construction of the ship will take place.
The teams at Royal Caribbean and Meyer Turku also placed a layer of freshly minted coins – which signifies luck – before the keel was lifted and placed.
More from Cruise Critic
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Why would anyone keep a prop from the set of "Jaws?"
Steven Spielberg was musing about what it felt like while making his 1975 oceanic classic, and how little he thought any of it would matter when shooting the now-legendary opening scene of a woman night-swimming past an ocean buoy. His primary concern was keeping his job as a 26-year-old director amid unfolding disasters.
"How did anybody know to take the buoy and take it home and sit on it for 50 years?" he said.
That prop is among the first things visitors will see as they enter a 50th anniversary "Jaws" exhibit opening Sunday and running through July at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures.
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The Park World Excellence Awards celebrate the very best of the attractions industry Credit: Park World
The Park World Excellence Awards will return to Barcelona on 24 September, with the industry spectacle recognising the projects, people and suppliers shaping the attractions industry across the EMEA region.
Now in their seventh year, the awards have established themselves as a key industry benchmark for creativity, innovation and guest experience.
Categories cover the full breadth of the sector, from rollercoasters, dark rides and waterpark experiences to theming, product innovation, live entertainment and more. Entries were open to projects launched between July 2024 and July 2025, with submissions assessed by the judging panel.
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Mattel is deepening its global footprint in the location-based entertainment market through a new collaboration with Wondr Experience Amsterdam.
The result is Barbie: The Dream Experience, an immersive, multi-zone walkthrough dedicated to celebrating over 65 years of the Barbie brand. The experience is set to open in mid-September and signals a strategic shift for both companies as they tap into nostalgia-driven immersive attractions in one of Europe’s leading cultural hubs.
This new venture reflects a rising trend in the experiential economy, where global IPs are increasingly activated through ticketed, themed environments that merge storytelling with interactivity. For Mattel, the initiative underscores the continued evolution of Barbie from a toy line into a cultural franchise capable of anchoring physical destinations.
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London’s National Gallery is planning to build a new £375m wing to house its expanding collection – the largest transformation of the gallery since its formation in 1824.
An international architectural competition is launching on 10 September that the gallery expects to attract “both long established and exciting, younger architectural firms”.
The wing will be built on the site of the last remaining part of the National Gallery’s current campus, St Vincent House. The property was acquired nearly 30 years ago for the purpose of expanding gallery space, and currently houses a hotel and office complex.
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Universal has registered a trademark that could be the name of its planned UK theme park.
The US-based company filed an application with the Intellectual Property Office for "Universal United Kingdom Resort" on Monday.
The name follows a naming pattern seen at other global locations, such as Universal Orlando Resort and Universal Beijing Resort.
Universal declined to comment when approached by the BBC.
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The project was delivered in collaboration with Jianye Display and Shanghai Qingying Digital Technology Credit: Christie
More than 100 Christie Inspire Series 1DLP laser projectors have been installed across the new Shenzhen Science and Technology Museum, creating large-scale visual experiences that support the venue’s mission to engage visitors with science and technology.
The museum, located in Shenzhen’s Guangming District, is themed around “Digital Civilisation” and designed with an architectural concept inspired by a spacecraft. It houses four permanent exhibition halls and more than 950 exhibits, over 80% of which are interactive. Since opening, the museum has attracted more than one million visitors in just three months.
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Thieves snatched three porcelain works worth millions of euros in a night raid on a French museum.
The robbers triggered the alarm at the Adrien Dubouché institute in Limoges early on Thursday. They smashed a window to gain entry, said a source, who asked not to be named.
The museum said the gang made off with “two particularly important dishes of Chinese porcelain … dating from the 14th and 15th centuries” and an 18th-century Chinese vase, all designated as “national treasures”.
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What was due to be the UK's biggest indoor waterpark, costing £75m, will now never open after the company was dissolved.
Elysium, a £75m water park and spa that was planning to 'put Dorset on the map' was projected to open in 2023.
However, the company, Elysium Water Park UK LTD, was dissolved in June 2024 according to Companies House.
The state-of-the-art water park was due to be built near Bournemouth Airport, promising to attract between 576,000 to 923,000 people annually.
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It’s now six months since the closure of Pembrokeshire’s Oakwood Theme Park, which was visited by over half a million visitors a year in its heyday.
The iconic attraction was shut down last March by its owners, Spanish leisure company Aspro Parks, who blamed decreasing footfall and rising costs for their decision to end the park's 38-year existence.
Although visitors to Oakwood complained the park had been run down in recent years, its sudden closure was lamented by thousands of people who had made happy memories there on rides such as Nutty Jake's Goldmine, Megafobia and the Pirate Ship.
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accesso has expanded its PayPal partnership with new features Credit: accesso
Accesso Technology Group has expanded its integration with PayPal to provide additional digital payment methods across its platforms.
The new implementation, available through the company’s accessoPay 3.0 system, adds support for Venmo, Pay Later, PayPal Credit, Pay in 3 (UK), and standard card payments, alongside the existing PayPal Checkout function. The update, says accesso, is designed to give venue operators more flexibility in how guests pay for tickets and other services.
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Formula 1 is excited to launch F1 Box, a brand-new immersive racing experience from the creators of F1 Arcade which will open at Westfield Stratford City, UK on Friday August 22.
A first of its kind experience, F1 Box will bring fans closer to the thrill and excitement of a Formula 1 Grand Prix through a new innovative format which pits drivers against each other in a head-to-head immersive racing challenge across its 12 Arcade-style F1 racing simulators.
With state-of-the-art, full-motion simulators, 4K screens, impressive audio-visual production and race commentary, this latest high-intensity experience from the creators of F1 Arcade is designed with competition at its core.
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A review of a £9m loan by the former Scarborough Borough Council to a private developer concluded councillors acted in the interests of Scarborough residents and to ensure completion of The Sands Development regeneration.
But it also found there were key weaknesses in how the information was shared, risks were assessed and recommendations were presented.
The review found....
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Museum sector bodies in the US have expressed alarm at the “growing threat” of censorship and political interference in museums from the Trump administration.
The American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the Organization of American Historians (OAH) and the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) are among the organisations to speak out after the White House wrote to Smithsonian Institution secretary Lonnie Bunch last week ordering an internal review of the institution’s exhibitions and materials.
In its first phase, the review will evaluate content and policies at eight of the Smithsonian’s 21 sites: the National Museum of American History; National Museum of Natural History; National Museum of African American History and Culture; National Museum of the American Indian; National Air and Space Museum; Smithsonian American Art Museum; National Portrait Gallery; and Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
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