Legoland is investing $90M in new LEGO Galaxy lands, featuring the Galacticoaster in 2026. Enter the Legoland Galacticoaster Contest to be the first to ride!
Merlin Entertainments is gearing up for its biggest investment to date at the Legoland Florida and California Resorts, dropping a massive $90 million into the parks for a new land and a groundbreaking new family coaster.
The new addition is the highly anticipated LEGO® Galaxy, opening at both Resorts in early 2026. This land will be home to the flagship attraction: the Galacticoaster.
Set to be the first indoor, space-themed family coaster for both Legoland parks, the Galacticoaster will send families on a customized, intergalactic journey through a universe of LEGO imagination. This marks Legoland California’s first new coaster in two decades and Florida’s first new coaster in 15 years, cementing its status as a major new draw for both coasts.
Legoland Galacticoaster Contest: Calling All Junior Galaxy Explorers
To celebrate the landmark launch, Legoland is inviting young builders across the nation to become a part of the parks’ history by joining the inaugural team of Junior Galaxy Explorers. These lucky winners will be the very first to ride the all-new Galacticoaster on its opening day in early 2026!
The Contest: Kids ages 6–12 are asked to design and build their own original LEGO spacecraft. The most important rule? The design must be built without adult help. Submissions will be reviewed by ambassadors from Blue Origin’s Club for the Future alongside Legoland Master Model Builders, who are on the hunt for bold, imaginative designs ready for blast off.
How to Enter:
- Digital Entry: Submit a short video of the spacecraft from home. The digital submission deadline is December 31, 2025.
- In-Person Entry: Submit your creations at select children’s museums on the following dates:
- Saturday, Dec. 13: Miami Children’s Museum – Miami
- Saturday, Jan. 10: Museum of Science and Discovery – Ft. Lauderdale
- Saturday, Jan. 17: Kennedy Space Center – Merritt Island
- Saturday, Jan. 24: Children’s Creativity Museum – San Francisco
- Saturday, Jan. 30 and 31: Kidspace Children’s Museum – Pasadena
Legoland Galacticoaster Contest Ultimate Prize: Winners will score the first seats on the Galacticoaster at the Park closest to their hometown. Prizes also include:
- A two-night stay during the Galaxy Opening weekend at Legoland Hotel.
- Four annual passes to Legoland California or Florida Resort.
- Themed clothing for “on-camera reports.”
- A commemorative, one-of-a-kind LEGO build.
Merlin Magic Making Creative Director Rosie Brailsford stated, “From the first-of-its-kind Galacticoaster to the Junior Galaxy Explorer Contest, we’re inspiring kids to dream bigger, build bolder, and reach for the stars – because in our Parks, they’re the true explorers.”
Galacticoaster Opening in 2026
Prepare for lift-off! Galacticoaster is the centerpiece of the new LEGO Galaxy lands opening at Legoland Florida and California Resorts in early 2026, representing Merlin Entertainments’ biggest investment to date. This groundbreaking indoor, space-themed family coaster will launch riders through a cosmic journey filled with special effects, synchronized lighting, and large-scale LEGO models. The ride features cutting-edge interactivity, allowing guests to digitally design and personalize their own spacecraft—choosing the nose, wings, and tail from over 625 combinations.
The immersive experience begins in the covered queue at Spaceport 885, leading to a thrilling ride that blends physical thrills with digital storytelling, ensuring a customizable adventure for every family of explorers.
For full contest details and entry information, please visit: www.LEGOLAND.com/JuniorExplorers. Additionally, for more theme park-related news, visit MSM News.
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