WhiteWater Celebrates a Year of World-First Attractions at IAAPA Expo Europe

London, UK – During its IAAPA Expo Europe 2026 press conference, WhiteWater showcased a year of innovations and landmark openings across all its brands, while previewing the next wave of attractions, technology, and guest experiences, with a focus on the latest developments in the region.

Few projects demonstrate the scale of today’s water park ambitions like Aquarabia Qiddiya City in Saudi Arabia, where WhiteWater delivered 15 attractions encompassing 28 water slides, two aquatic play structures, two water-based amusement rides, and a surf lagoon. Its four world record-breakers include the “Junoon Drop” Family Blaster—the world’s tallest and longest family water coaster and the first with a 7-person configuration.

Europe saw several WhiteWater firsts this year. At The Land of Legends in Türkiye, the world’s first Helix Twist uses a physically twisting flume to make the experience part thrill ride, part optical illusion. At PortAventura World’s Caribe Aquatic Park at in Spain, Aquadrenaline™ provides guests adventure-style agility challenges over a pool—without requiring a harness. Candyland Theme Park at Vogue Hotel Supreme Bodrum, also in Türkiye, made headlines with Europe’s tallest water slide and tower. Among the seven new slides is the debut of Canyon—a compact yet striking slide feature offering extreme G forces—as well as the 3-person inline Master Blaster Ultra.

Beyond product launches and record-setting installations, many parks focused on investments that broadened their offerings and encouraged repeat visitation. At Sportoase De Watermolen in Belgium, Europe’s first gamified water slide brings competition into the ride itself, while Funtasia Theme Park in Ireland shows what can be achieved within an existing footprint, adding three new rides to its indoor water park without removing any existing attractions. Similarly, Aquasplash in France expanded with four new slides in a season that saw a 38% attendance increase.

Surf is finding a place in an increasingly diverse mix of destinations, from parks to clubs and resorts, as operators look for experiences that can broaden their appeal and keep guests engaged beyond a single ride. That versatility is opening the door for surf in novel settings.

“What makes surf exciting for operators is that the experience isn’t finished after one ride,” said Paul Chutter, President of Endless Surf. “There is always another wave to try or another skill to develop, which creates a very different relationship between the guest and the attraction. As the technology has become more flexible, we’re able to bring that experience into destinations where surf might never have been considered before.”

At Aquarabia Qiddiya City, an Endless Surf ES32—with 32 caissons—brings the sport into the wider water theme park experience. Like all Endless Surf lagoons, it offers customizable waves ranging from beginner conditions to more challenging sessions. Also in Saudi Arabia, ADRENA at The Red Sea opened an Endless Surf ES36—the Kingdom’s largest surf pool. ADRENA also pairs Endless Surf with FlowSurf™ from FlowRider®, giving guests both travelling waves and a stationary wave within the same destination.

In Europe, surf is moving further into hospitality. Surflux at Van der Valk Hotel Luxembourg-Arlon in Belgium brings FlowSurf indoors, creating a year-round attraction for hotel guests and local visitors. In 2027, Salzburger Hof Leogang will take the concept into the Austrian Alps with a FlowRider Double, adding surf alongside a destination known for mountain sports. Additional FlowRider projects announced include Exit 10 in Saudi Arabia—one of SEVEN’s flagship entertainment developments—and Hove Lagoon at Brighton Beach, part of Surf Collective’s UK network.

While 2026 has brought a busy year of openings, several major WhiteWater projects are already taking shape for what comes next. Long awaited, Oceana Water World at Liseberg in Sweden is preparing to welcome its first guests in 2027. Across 14 water attractions, guests will find experiences ranging from a wave pool, family river, and dedicated water play areas to major new thrills, including Europe’s first six-person water slide and the world’s highest mega-drop Master Blaster, launching at 16.4 meters in height.

Beyond traditional water parks, WhiteWater’s upcoming resort projects show how new aquatic attractions are becoming a more significant part of the guest experience. In Austria, Sonnentherme Lutzmannsburg is embarking on a major €30 million expansion project—the biggest in central Europe— that will introduce five attractions from WhiteWater. In Germany, Familux Resort Oberjoch is also growing its aquatic experience as part of a resort dedicated to families, adding new reasons for guests to spend more time on property.

Similarly at Maxx Royal Maldives, Aquadrenaline will bring an aquatic experience with agility challenges to the luxury island resort. Its arrival in the Maldives also demonstrates how a concept developed for water parks can translate into hotel environments, giving guests a more active way to experience the water while adding something distinctly different to the traditional luxury resort offering.

As physical attractions evolve, the technology surrounding them also advances. This year, Vantage introduced five new features, with implementation across different projects. At Atlantis Dubai, Vantage recently completed a new integration with Opera Cloud, connecting the resort’s property management system with the Aquaventure World experience. When hotel guests check in, their identity and relevant entitlements can carry with them into the water park, bringing together what have traditionally been separate parts of the resort experience.

“The physical attraction is only one part of the experience guests remember,” said Aaron Mendelson, Senior Vice President at Vantage. “How easily they enter, pay, find information, and move through the destination all influences how the day feels. The opportunity is to connect those individual moments so operators can understand the complete guest journey and use that information to make the experience better while the guest is still there.”

Vantage is also currently rolling out its software at Meryal Waterpark, which is located next to the Rixos Premium Qetaifan Island North property, further expanding the use of integrated guest and operational technology in the Middle East.

From world-first attractions and record-breakers to new resort, surf, and technology projects, the developments shared at the trade show highlight the many ways aquatic entertainment continues to evolve.

“IAAPA Expo Europe is always a moment to celebrate what our clients have brought to life, but it’s just as important to look ahead,” said Onno Meeter, President of Water Parks. “The attractions we’re showcasing in London reflect what operators are telling us: they want experiences that truly stand out, maximize the space they have, and bring families together in ways that feel meaningful and memorable.”

Together, the innovations WhiteWater is bringing to London reflect a broader shift in attraction design: giving guests more ways to experience thrills together, more control over how they play, and more reasons to get back in line.