Winner 2026

WhiteWater, a leading manufacturer of water attractions, has showcased a year of innovations and major openings across all its brands at a press conference during IAAPA Expo Europe 2026, where the company also revealed its latest attractions, technology, and visitor experiences, with a focus on developments in the region.

The Helix Twist at the Land of Legends in Antalya, TurkeyImage courtesy of WhiteWater

Water park experiences

Aquarabia Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia exemplifies today's water park ambitions. For this project, WhiteWater supplied 15 attractions including 28 water slides, two aquatic play structures, two water-based amusement rides, and a surf lagoon.

Its four world record-breakers include the Junoon Drop Family Blaster, the tallest and longest family water coaster in the world and the first to feature a seven-person configuration.

In Europe, several WhiteWater firsts opened this year. The Land of Legends in Turkey is now home to the world's first Helix Twist, which includes a physically twisting flume to create an experience that is part thrill ride, part optical illusion.

At PortAventura World’s Caribe Aquatic Park in Spain, Aquadrenaline's adventure-style agility challenges are set over a pool, yet do not require a harness.

Colourful agility challenges at PortAventura World's Caribe Aquatic Park in Tarragona, SpainImage courtesy of WhiteWater

Candyland Theme Park at Vogue Hotel Supreme Bodrum, also in Turkey, boasts Europe's tallest water slide and tower. Its seven new slides include the 3-person inline Master Blaster Ultra, and the debut of Canyon, a compact yet impactful slide feature with extreme G forces.

In addition to product launches and record-setting installations, many parks have focused on enhancing their offerings and encouraging repeat visits.

Europe's first gamified water slide adds competition to the ride itself at Sportoase De Watermolenin in Belgium, while Funtasia Theme Park in Ireland added three new rides to its indoor water park without removing any existing attractions.

Furthermore, Aquasplash in France expanded with four new slides in a season that saw a 38% increase in attendance.

Growth of surf

Surf's flexibility presents opportunities in unusual settings, and it is becoming established in an increasingly diverse mix of destinations, from parks to clubs and resorts, as operators seek experiences that broaden their appeal and engage visitors beyond a single ride.

Paul Chutter, president of Endless Surf, says: "What makes surf exciting for operators is that the experience isn't finished after one ride.

"There is always another wave to try or another skill to develop, which creates a very different relationship between the guest and the attraction. As the technology has become more flexible, we're able to bring that experience into destinations where surf might never have been considered before."

Surf has been added to the wider water theme park experience at Aquarabia Qiddiya City, where an Endless Surf ES32 with 32 caissons offers customisable waves, from beginner sessions to more challenging conditions.

Meanwhile, ADRENA at The Red Sea opened an Endless SurfES36, marking the largest surf pool in Saudi Arabia. ADRENA also combines Endless Surf with FlowSurf from FlowRider, offering visitors both travelling waves and a stationary wave.

In Europe, surf is becoming increasingly integrated into hospitality. At Surflux at Van der Valk Hotel Luxembourg-Arlon in Belgium, an indoor FlowSurf creates a year-round attraction for hotel guests and local visitors.

Next year, Salzburger Hof Leogang will bring a FlowRider Double to the Austrian Alps, adding surf to a location renowned for mountain sports.

Further upcoming FlowRider projects include Exit 10 in Saudi Arabia, one of SEVEN’s signature entertainment developments, and Hove Lagoon at Brighton Beach, part of Surf Collective’s UK network.

Flow Rider installation in Hove Lagoon at Brighton Beach, part of Surf Collective’s UK networkImage courtesy of WhiteWater

Future developments

2026 has seen a busy year of openings, and the next wave of major WhiteWater projects are already taking shape.

The much-anticipated Oceana Water World at Liseberg in Sweden will open in 2027 and feature 14 water attractions. Visitors can expect experiences ranging from a wave pool and family river to dedicated water play areas.

The park's thrill rides will include Europe's first six-person water slide and the world's highest mega-drop, Master Blaster, launching at 16.4 metres.

Looking beyond conventional water parks, WhiteWater's upcoming resort projects demonstrate how new aquatic attractions are becoming increasingly key to the visitor experience.

In Austria, Sonnentherme Lutzmannsburg is beginning a major €30 million expansion, the largest such project in Central Europe. This will feature five attractions from WhiteWater. In Germany, Familux Resort Oberjoch is also expanding its aquatic offerings as part of a family-focused resort, giving guests more reasons to spend time at the property.

Aquadrenaline at Maxx Royal Maldives will introduce an aquatic experience with agility challenges to the luxury island resort. This launch in the Maldives shows how a concept developed for water parks can translate into hotel environments, offering an active experience that stands apart from traditional luxury resort offerings.

Connected experiences

Technology evolves alongside physical attractions, and this year, Vantage has launched five new features.

At Atlantis Dubai, Vantage recently delivered a new integration with Opera Cloud, integrating the resort's property management system with the Aquaventure World experience. When hotel guests check in, their identity and relevant entitlements can carry with them into the water park, merging what are typically separate parts of the resort experience.

Aaron Mendelson, senior vice president at Vantage, says: "The physical attraction is only one part of the experience guests remember.

"How easily they enter, pay, find information, and move through the destination all influences how the day feels. The opportunity is to connect those individual moments so operators can understand the complete guest journey and use that information to make the experience better while the guest is still there."

Vantage is also rolling out its software at Meryal Waterpark, which neighbours the Rixos Premium Qetaifan Island North property, further advancing integrated visitor and operational technology in the Middle East.

Evolution of aquatic entertainment

The developments shared at IAAPA Expo Europe emphasise how aquatic entertainment continues to evolve, from world-first attractions and record-breakers to new resort, surf, and technology projects.

Onno Meeter, president of water parks, says: "IAAPA Expo Europe is always a moment to celebrate what our clients have brought to life, but it’s just as important to look ahead.

"The attractions we’re showcasing in London reflect what operators are telling us: they want experiences that truly stand out, maximize the space they have, and bring families together in ways that feel meaningful and memorable."

The Covered Boomerango at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions' Wisconsin Dells development

Image courtesy of WhiteWater

Together, these innovations reflect a wider shift in attraction design, which gives visitors more control over how they play, more ways to experience thrills together, and more reasons to repeat the experience.

Earlier this month, Kalahari Resorts & Conventions announced that its $85 million, 75,000-square-foot Aquadome expansion at its Wisconsin Dells resort will open on 10 October. The project features three headline slides from WhiteWater, Zambezi Rapids, Viper Venom, and Nile River Racers, all launching from a 70-foot tower.