Theme Park Report
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will officially open at Universal Studios Hollywood on September 16, 2026, Universal has announced. The opening date follows several weeks of technical rehearsals and limited soft openings that began in late July.
The attraction is a high-speed outdoor roller coaster featuring spinning ride vehicles inspired by cars from the Fast & Furious film franchise. According to reporting from BlogMickey and WDW News Today, the coaster reaches speeds of up to 72 mph and runs across 4,100 feet of track. Each vehicle can rotate through 360-degree movements during the ride.
The Hollywood version is located across portions of Universal Studios Hollywood’s Upper and Lower Lots, including an area near the Starway escalator. Its station is housed in a red brick, garage-style structure on the Upper Lot. BlogMickey reported that four vehicles are themed after cars associated with characters from the film series: Dominic Toretto’s black 1970 Dodge Charger, Han Seoul-oh’s Mazda RX-7, Brian O’Conner’s blue Nissan Skyline GT-R and Brian O’Conner’s orange Toyota Supra.
The coaster’s opening had originally been described as a summer debut. Theme Park Insider noted that September 16 falls shortly before the start of autumn on September 22, while WDW News Today reported that the date followed a delay connected to additional sound-barrier work.
Noise has been an issue during the attraction’s testing period. Theme Park Insider reported that nearby residents complained about coaster noise, leading Universal to install additional sound barriers. WDW News Today also reported that residents had complained about hearing riders during rehearsals and that the added barriers were needed before the official debut. Attractions Magazine reported that the work was expected to be completed in time for opening.
A separate Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is also under construction at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando. Although it shares the name and general concept, the Florida project has a different layout and timeline. BlogMickey reported that the Florida version is targeting a 2027 opening, while Theme Park Insider said its sources expected an opening sometime the following spring; Universal has not announced a specific opening date for that installation.
Construction reporting from Attractions Magazine said track installation on the Florida coaster was complete by mid-August, with finishing work continuing. That version includes a planned 170-foot vertical spike, a feature described as unique to the Florida layout.
