ENTERTAINMENT

Universal Studios Announces Official Opening Date For 'Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift' Rollercoaster

PUBLISHED Sep 3, 2026, 4:39 AM ET

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Media Bias Meter

Sources: 17

Left 6%

Center 94%

Sources: 17

Universal Studios Hollywood officially announced that its highly anticipated high-speed coaster, Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift, will open to the general public on September 16, 2026. The new attraction features specialized spinning vehicles modeled after cars from the film franchise, reaching speeds up to seventy-two miles per hour across forty-one hundred feet of track. Project timelines experienced minor adjustments over the summer following neighborhood noise evaluations and supplementary sound barrier installations. Park executives confirmed that final preparations and intermittent technical rehearsals are currently underway leading up to the mid-September debut. The multimillion-dollar installation marks the park's first major outdoor high-speed roller coaster addition.

By James Porter | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

On May 3 2024 Universal officially announced the spinning roller coaster project details.
On April 12 2025 Construction crews completed the entire steel track layout structure.
On February 5 2026 A promotional Super Bowl television advertisement confirmed a summer window.
On June 26 2026 Initial target dates circulated widely across online theme park communities.
On July 27 2026 Universal Studios Hollywood commenced unannounced technical rehearsal passenger testing phases.
On August 3 2026 Track installation finished for a separate upcoming Florida installation version.
On August 15 2026 Park management agreed to install additional sound barriers addressing local concerns.
On August 31 2026 Universal officially confirmed the September 16 public grand opening date.
On September 3 2026 Technical rehearsals continued intermittently for select park visitors and passholders.
On September 16 2026 The high-speed roller coaster will officially open to everyone.

News Intelligence

Immediate US impact: Immediate impact on Southern California tourism and regional theme park attendance.
Possible long-term US impact: Long-term boost for Universal Studios Hollywood attendance and franchise merchandise sales.
Most affected groups: Most affected groups include theme park visitors, local residents, and industry analysts.
Reader priority: Readers should prioritize official Universal Studios statements and local park updates.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 17
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 1
Neutral:: 16

Explain Framing

Left: Highlighted local community noise mitigation agreements and neighborhood zoning compliance. Center: Emphasized factual ride specifications, opening dates, and construction milestones. Right: Focused on economic tourism growth and major corporate entertainment investments.