A seaside park on the Lancashire coast has beaten off competition from across Europe, the Middle East and Asia to take the theme park industry's biggest title. Pleasure Beach Resort in Blackpool was named "Best of the Best" at the 2026 Park World Excellence Awards — the first time a UK park has won the honour — landing the prize 130 years after it first opened in 1896.

The judges praised the resort for more than a century of sustained success, and it follows some heavyweight predecessors: Germany's Europa-Park, which took the 2025 title, Sweden's Liseberg and Tenerife's Siam Park.

There was a second gong too. Aviktas, the park's newest ride, was named "Best Ride of the Year". The £8.7 million rotating pendulum opened in May 2026 and swings riders up to 42 metres (138 feet) — the largest attraction of its type in the UK.

CEO Amanda Thompson OBE called the recognition "a massive achievement", noting the talent across the industry and the work that has kept the park moving forward since the Victorian era.

So what do you actually get on a visit? Around 30 attractions, ranging from Victorian-era heritage rides to modern coasters. The headline act is The Big One, a hypercoaster that held the title of world's tallest and steepest rollercoaster when it opened. Families with younger children have the UK's only Nickelodeon Land, with rides themed on SpongeBob SquarePants and PAW Patrol.

The award has put a fresh spotlight on a park that has long been one of Blackpool's most recognisable draws, and the timing is decent for anyone planning a trip: the park stays open through much of autumn, and October brings the Halloween-themed Journey to Hell experience for those who like their thrills after dark.

Why it matters: Blackpool has been quietly rebuilding its reputation as a serious short-break destination, and this is the kind of external validation that helps. If you've dismissed the seaside resort as a nostalgic day trip, the world's best theme park title — plus a brand-new headline ride — gives you a reason to look again. Coaster enthusiasts have long made the pilgrimage for The Big One and the park's historic wooden rides; now there's Aviktas to add to the list, and a proper awards case to show for it.

For families, the mix works: big-thrill coasters for teens, Nickelodeon Land for smaller ones, and the Promenade, tower and Illuminations beyond the park gates if you're staying overnight.