Universal Fan Fest Nights 2026

[Jerroddragon]

Do we want a 90 min show? Lol

That’s like 1/3 of the night of the event

 

[bdubsCEO]

Who has the ATLA rights? That seems like a perfect fit for FFN.

 

[highdefrex]

Who has the ATLA rights? That seems like a perfect fit for FFN.

Paramount does.

Blegh.

 

[Viator]

Paramount unfortunately does.

 

[Freak]

I’m sorry but what’s ATLA?

Politics and WB buyout squabble aside, couldn’t paramount just work with Universal? For ATLA? I mean they already had the licensing with Transformers and Quiet Place for HHN.

 

[Mr_Pendington]

I’m sorry but what’s ATLA?

Avatar The Last Airbender

 

[Viator]

I’m sorry but what’s ATLA?

Avatar: The Last Airbender. This kid:

 

[Viator]

Via the USH Reddit--the Court of Miracles Fountain is being restored for Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters!!

 

[PerceptiveCoot]

Who has the ATLA rights? That seems like a perfect fit for FFN.

Don't think that's ever happening, Paramount is currently run by a fail son nepo baby who seems more intent on recapturing the nostalgia of his childhood (GI Joe, Transformers, Rush Hour) or making streaming agitslop like Heart of Stone than making anything people would want to see. Certainly not that weird anime poop, which is definitely too niche to be profitable in theaters, no sir.

 

[Viator]

Also for Paramount--they literally yanked TLA's upcoming animated film, a film made for theaters, to be put on the Paramount+ Streamer instead (and killed quite a few TMNT projects)...

I think at this point it might be better off to discount whatever happens with Paramount going forward for future FFN or HHN speculation. For WB...that depends on a few things.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Universal posted a video today about how its a month away from the event

My fingers are crossed that we get some live music in the plaza

Shows are what I think are really missing from USH. I was just at DCA and watched two concerts on the water and live music while we ate food at DCA. Would love the Plaza in general to have more music but really hoping Fan Fest has something to entertain people in the plaza again

 

[deadbydawn]

Looks like the old fountain that has been sitting back behind Little Europe for a while. Good stuff.

 

[Viator]

Heads up for Platinum Passholders, if you go the park you can purchase a 40$ ticket for FFN in-person.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Thats a fire deal

I hope...it's not an indication that the event isn't selling as well as they'd like but congrats to all the AP's holder, Universal treats us soooo much better then Disney

 

[SnideRemarksDept]

Thats a fire deal

I hope...it's not an indication that the event isn't selling as well as they'd like but congrats to all the AP's holder, Universal treats us soooo much better then Disney

I wouldn't be surprised if the numbers were a bit lower compared to this time last year.

Last year's event was, obviously, the first one, so it'd get a boost from just general curiosity. If I remember correctly, they announced all of the IP at the event pretty much immediately, with more specific details trickling in as the event got closer, so people knew right away if there was something they were interested in and that might have front-loaded ticket sales.

This year, it looks like they're trying out more of an HHN-like structure; they announced the tent-pole IPs right away with more announcements coming as we get closer to the event. While the specifics of the offerings are going to be different (One Piece show in WW arena, the HP stuff in the former extended queue), seeing a bunch of repeats might be causing some people to hold off on getting their tickets until they know a bit more.

I think the changes to the rollout are a calculated risk, probably just trying different things to see what works and what doesn't, so it's possible that the lower numbers are within that risk. It's just hard to say what their goals are this early on in the event's life.

 

[BriefCasey]

Heads up for Platinum Passholders, if you go the park you can purchase a 40$ ticket for FFN in-person.

Damn, I'd hope this is the beginning of FFN being worked into Platinum Pass perks like I previously drew up. Might have to see if I can get ahold of one next year if they do it again or integrate it. I'm sure it'd be a hit for Plat holders who don't (normally) do HHN.

 

[Jerroddragon]

Question was there a deal like this last year? I saw someone saying last year there was a cheap ticket deal for all AP levels..but don't remember a 40 dollar deal for all Aps last year

edit: someone is saying there was a ticket deal where anyone with a ticket could get a Fan Fest ticket for 50 bucks last year...and I do remember that

 

[wedgeskywalker9]

Thats a fire deal

I hope...it's not an indication that the event isn't selling as well as they'd like but congrats to all the AP's holder, Universal treats us soooo much better then Disney

Last year they had IPs that had been dormant in the Theme Park / Experiences space for decades. Star Trek hadn't seen anything big since Star Trek Experience in Vegas closed, we all know Back to the Future's story, One Piece hadn't had a stateside theme park presence AFAIK, same with Dungeons and Dragons. It all felt very fresh, and for BTTF especially there was a lot of hype; it's a well loved franchise with a dedicated franchise that had a lot of pent up demand, married with a pitch perfect experience on the actual Courthouse Square. I think that drove a ton of pre-season hype on its own.

This year, outside of anime, they're going with IPs that you've seen recently. Dungeons and Dragons is a literal repeat. Universal Monsters have been at Horror Nights almost every year since 2018, are year round in Vegas now, and have a whole majorly themed land dedicated to them at Epic Universe. Scooby has meet and greets in the park every day. Harry Potter, likewise, has a whole land dedicated to it not only in Orlando, but right in Hollywood as well. Nintendo's doing different colors of the same meet and greet character from last year. Jurassic Park/World is getting some new characters, but again, you can ride the Jurassic World ride any day of regular operation. I'll give an exception to this rule for One Piece, which is getting a major upgrade and again bringing something that I think fans of the franchise haven't seen in this half of the world before and will love; same with Sailor Moon, which also feels like an upgrade from Jujutsu Kaisan last year. But anime aside, even if the specific experience or universe is going to be unique, the IPs themselves don't feel as fresh as they did last year.

 

[BriefCasey]

Last year they had IPs that had been dormant in the Theme Park / Experiences space for decades. Star Trek hadn't seen anything big since Star Trek Experience in Vegas closed, we all know Back to the Future's story, One Piece hadn't had a stateside theme park presence AFAIK, same with Dungeons and Dragons. It all felt very fresh, and for BTTF especially there was a lot of hype; it's a well loved franchise with a dedicated franchise that had a lot of pent up demand, married with a pitch perfect experience on the actual Courthouse Square. I think that drove a ton of pre-season hype on its own.

This year, outside of anime, they're going with IPs that you've seen recently. Dungeons and Dragons is a literal repeat. Universal Monsters have been at Horror Nights almost every year since 2018, are year round in Vegas now, and have a whole majorly themed land dedicated to them at Epic Universe. Scooby has meet and greets in the park every day. Harry Potter, likewise, has a whole land dedicated to it not only in Orlando, but right in Hollywood as well. Nintendo's doing different colors of the same meet and greet character from last year. Jurassic Park/World is getting some new characters, but again, you can ride the Jurassic World ride any day of regular operation. I'll give an exception to this rule for One Piece, which is getting a major upgrade and again bringing something that I think fans of the franchise haven't seen in this half of the world before and will love; same with Sailor Moon, which also feels like an upgrade from Jujutsu Kaisan last year. But anime aside, even if the specific experience or universe is going to be unique, the IPs themselves don't feel as fresh as they did last year.

That sounds about right, but I wanna give credit for SDxUM being some clever use of these existing rights. We at least know it'll make for an inherently interesting experience of them being more than just meet and greets. I'd otherwise agree if it were just the Universal Monsters alone. Then there's how we know it'll be a backlot experience from BTTF, and it all comes down to how it's executed. I hope they don't flub it considering this year already got a blow in the form of nothing in the TWD space.

Given how at this time they aren't willing to build a tent for an experience like they do for HHN, I'd hope the soundstage used for D&D gets something else for year 3, lest D&D becomes the FFN equivalent of The Walking Dead. (No offense to those who like either, I remember how much TWD stuck around from reading up on HHN history despite never going until last year).