A British seaside theme park has been named the best in the world, beating international competition 130 years after first opening its doors.
Pleasure Beach Resort in Blackpool has been crowned “Best of the Best” at the 2026 Park World Excellence Awards, becoming the first UK theme park to receive the accolade. The award recognises parks, rides and attractions for outstanding achievements within the amusement industry.
Founded in 1896, the Lancashire attraction was recognised for its sustained success and contribution to the theme park industry over more than a century. Previous recipients of the award include Germany’s Europa-Park, Sweden’s Liseberg and Siam Park in Tenerife.
The Blackpool resort is home to around 30 attractions, combining historic rides with more recent additions. Among its best-known attractions is The Big One, a hypercoaster that was once the tallest and steepest rollercoaster in the world. The park also includes the UK’s only Nickelodeon Land, which features SpongeBob SquarePants and PAW Patrol-themed rides.
Pleasure Beach Resort picked up a second major prize at this year’s awards, with its newest attraction, Aviktas, named “Best Ride of the Year”.
Opened in May 2026 following an £8.7 million investment, Aviktas is a rotating pendulum ride that swings passengers up to 42 metres, or 138 feet, into the air. It is the largest ride of its kind in the UK.
“To be named Best of the Best is a massive achievement for our park,” said Amanda Thompson OBE, CEO of Pleasure Beach Resort. “Our industry is full of so much talent, so to be recognised among the best speaks volumes on the dedication and hard work that has kept us moving forward for 130 years.”
Thompson also welcomed the recognition for the resort’s newest attraction, saying Aviktas had been a “hugely valuable addition” to the park and that she had been delighted by its reception since opening.
The Park World Excellence Awards cover the theme park and attractions industry across Europe, the Middle East and Asia, with prizes spanning categories including waterparks, rides, live entertainment and green initiatives. Germany’s Europa-Park received the “Best of the Best” title in 2025 before the award moved to Blackpool this year.
The recognition adds another chapter to the long history of Pleasure Beach Resort, which has remained one of Blackpool’s best-known visitor attractions since the late 19th century. The park is open through much of the autumn, with its seasonal programme including the Halloween-themed Journey to Hell experience in October.
