Universal Finally Announces Official Opening Date for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Roller Coaster
Universal has finally announced an official opening date for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift! After lengthy test & adjust, modifications, and delays, USH’s first-ever high-speed outdoor roller coaster will join the theme park family in mid-September 2026. Here are full details, including the announcement from Universal Studios Hollywood and background.
Universal previously announced Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift would open this summer. After rumors of delays and a standoff with locals (more on that in a bit), the roller coaster not-so-quietly began soft openings a little over one month ago, in late July.
Technical rehearsals were then set to a schedule arranged with the Toluca Lake Homeowners Association, the stakeholder representing neighbors. Following that, Universal began Annual Passholder previews, which have since wrapped up.
Following further feedback from the community, it was revealed that while recent sound testing met the Universal’s requirements, they nevertheless agreed in mid-August to install two additional sound barriers to help reduce noise. At the time, construction was expected to be completed by early September.
Fast-forward to the end of August, and Universal Studios Hollywood has announced that the Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will officially open on Wednesday, September 16, 2026.
Technically, September 16, 2026 is still part of the summer season. Nevertheless, this cannot possibly have been what Universal Studios Hollywood had in mind when announcing the Summer 2026 opening.
Theme park summer is widely understood as being Memorial Day to Labor Day, regardless of what the Farmers Almanac or astronomical calendars might say on the subject. And this is over one week after Labor Day, right in time for California’s off-season. Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is also missing the start of Halloween Horror Nights, which almost certainly was not part of the plan.
According to Universal, Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is the fastest roller coaster in the Universal Destinations & Experiences global portfolio. In a technological first, a portion of the thrill ride’s track races through a transparent encased section of the queue, building on the anticipation as guests wait to ride.
Located on the Upper Lot of Universal Studios Hollywood, “Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift” is situated within an expansive red brick-garage-like structure. Two stationary, photo op prop car reproductions welcome guests just outside the ride as they make their way through the entry archway towards the queue.
A unique dual-launching, split-ride track will alternate trains from dispatch to propel guests on an epic ride that will take them over and under portions of the multilevel Starway escalator, through four spectacular launches, an exciting inverted dive loop, twisted pretzel loop and inverted stall, among others, at speeds of up to 72 MPH and a force of up to 3.6 Gs along 4,100 feet of elaborate aerial track constructed with sound-reduction technology while drifting at 360-degrees in their individual ride vehicles.
Thrill seekers will begin their journey lap-bar harnessed into one of four iconic Fast Saga ride vehicles—the Dodge Charger, Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline GT-R and the Toyota Supra—each modeled after the cars driven by characters in the film series.
The arrival platform will be anchored by an all-original, large-scale mural created by world-renowned artist Tristan Eaton, which depicts the finale street racing action scene in 2001’s The Fast and the Furious, with a montage of the aerial-bound Dodge Charger and Toyota Supra vehicles racing against a speeding train. Another Tristan Eaton mural will be featured within the queue in tribute to the entire film franchise.
Designed to advance the storyline while keeping guests entertained, the queue guides guests through an environment filled with recreated props from the Fast Saga films. Highlights of the props include:
- Car Cannon, featuring the car driven by Brian O’Conner in Fast & Furious 6
- Roll Cage and Winch, featuring the 2010 Dodge Charger SRT8, driven by Dom Toretto, in Fast 5
- Vault Truck, as featured in Fast 5
- Motorcycle, as featured in F9, driven by Letty Ortiz
- NOS System and Dodge Charger Engine, a recreation of the internal NOS operating system for the modified Fast & Furious ride vehicles in the films
- Ramp Car, driven by Owen Shaw in Fast & Furious 6
- Rolling Bomb, as featured in Fast X
- Rollover Stunt Rig, a recreation of the rollover stunt rigging system used in the Fast & Furious films
Due to the dynamics of the roller coaster, guests will be required to place all belongings in complimentary lockers, located within the queue area. They will also be required to pass through metal detection before entering the ride platform to ensure all loose articles, including mobile phones, among other items, are placed securely in the lockers.
Equipped with a fully independent audio system, each ride vehicle will surround guests with true‑to‑type engine and sound effects unique to the car they are riding in. Because each ride vehicle is fully rotational and independently programmed to drift in motion along each train, guests can enjoy four varying experiences depending on which vehicle they are seated.
With real estate at a premium at Universal Studios Hollywood, the team behind the roller coaster transformed the hillside terrain into the backbone of the coaster, using its natural contours and vista as both the structural base and a defining element of the ride’s design. The end result delivers panoramic views of the San Fernando Valley, as well as the Universal movie studio backlot and the theme park.
In addition to the version of the roller coaster slated to debut on September 16, 2026 at Universal Studios Hollywood, there’s another Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift being built at Universal Studios Florida that will open in 2027.
The Universal Orlando incarnation will include a 170-foot spike near the CityWalk lagoon, a feature unique to the coaster at Universal Studios Florida. While the two rides share the same name, they are not clones. Each are optimized for the unique footprint of their respective parks. Along with this, Fast & Furious: Supercharged has (thankfully) been put out of its misery on both coasts.
Track installation on the Universal Studios Florida version of the Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift was completed earlier this month. Universal Orlando has not announced a specific 2027 date for the Universal Studios Florida version of the ride. Our expectation is that it’ll be later in the year, especially after seeing how long it took the USH version to open after track installation wrapped up. (Obviously different circumstances, but still!)
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift Neighbor Noise Complaints
Way back in 2023, Universal Studios Hollywood conducted noise tests. The drift effect also utilizes controlled movement to minimize noise to the greatest extent possible. Earlier this year, sound shield panels were installed around certain sections of the tracks to muffle noise so it doesn’t carry across the valley.
With its white frames and green glass, the sound shield is both practical and cool-looking, mirroring the design of the iconic Starway escalators between the Upper and Lower Lots at Universal Studios Hollywood. They also serve the dual purpose of protecting walkers from items falling out of guest pockets on the roller coaster (although mandatory lockers and a strict no loose items policy should address that).
Nevertheless, there’s been a resurgence of complaints from neighbors of Universal Studios Hollywood as the Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift’s opening date has drawn nearer. As noted above, Universal is trying to placate locals with the installation of additional scream shields despite further noise testing not revealing they were necessary.
This followed complaints by local residents living near Universal Studios Hollywood who made a last-ditch public appeal to stop the coaster from opening. Toluca Lake residents have complained that the screams from the roller coaster are “like someone getting murdered.”
This should be entirely expected by anyone who is familiar with any of those things that property owners, and in California of all places, would do everything in their power to stop a roller coaster from opening anywhere in the same zip code as them.
On any given day, I hear or see complaints about trees, dogs, restaurants, parking, traffic, schools, skateboarders, surfers, Cybertrucks, and much more. If every grievance of homeowners was considered newsworthy, the local news would be 8 hours long per day. This is simply to add a bit of context as to why this the complaints are completely expected.
It’s unclear to what extent the complaints of Toluca Lake residents are legitimate and to what extent they’re hyperbole.
Even though Universal Studios Hollywood is adding further sound mitigation measures, they’ve also noted that they don’t need to do this. But what’s unclear is the extent to which this is USH being a good neighbor and attempting to placate neighbors to the greatest extent possible so they’re not resistant to future projects, and what’s out of necessity here.
For whatever it’s worth, I empathize with the neighbors, many of whom have owned their homes since before USH transformed into a theme park. And I say that as someone who is very excited for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift! I know this is an unpopular opinion with theme park fans, which is honestly surprising to me. Who would want a roller coaster in their backyard?
Hollywood Drift Construction & Delays
Rumors of an outdoor thrill coaster at Universal Studios Hollywood began circulating in 2022 following the permanent closure of the park’s Animal Actors on Location and Special Effects stages. Universal Studios Hollywood officially confirmed the project in July 2023, announcing a new, unnamed Fast & Furious-themed roller coaster manufactured by Swiss roller coaster manufacturer Intamin.
Because Universal Studios Hollywood is constrained by its steep hillside geography between the Upper and Lower Lots, civil engineering for the project required extensive terrain work. Groundbreaking began in late 2023. Construction crews erected a massive garage-style load station on the Upper Lot and installed custom support pillars extending down the hillside toward the Lower Lot.
By early 2025, track assembly was well underway, with key signature elements installed—including a dynamic section wrapping directly around the park’s iconic Starway escalators and an enclosed soundproofing show building to comply with local noise regulations. The entire 4,100-foot steel track layout was officially completed back in April 2025.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift reached a major operational milestone in October 2025 with initial launch testing. Throughout 2026, further test & adjust has taken place. The first human passenger testing began this spring, at which time Universal Studios Hollywood announced a Summer 2026 official opening.
There have been various delays since then, with testing becoming more sporadic and modifications made to elements of the ride vehicles. That has fueled the fire on a variety of rumors about Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift being delayed, potentially beyond Summer 2026.
Universal Studios Hollywood shot those down and reiterated that the ride would, in fact, open this summer. That is technically accurate, even if the September 16, 2026 debut date is not what anyone expected from a “Summer 2026” (including, presumably, Universal when they set the opening season).
The new Fast & Furious ride will join Universal Studios Hollywood’s slate of attractions, including the new Super Nintendo World, featuring the critically-acclaimed Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge ride. There’s also the Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash, which is on par with the best Disney dark rides from the last decade.
Other relatively-recent additions include the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, featuring Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey and Flight of the Hippogriff rides; Jurassic World—The Ride; Despicable Me Minion Mayhem; Springfield U.S.A. and The Simpsons Ride. As we’ve mentioned elsewhere, Universal Studios Hollywood has radically transformed and expanded since we first got our APs a decade ago.
That’s all in addition to Universal Studios Hollywood’s signature, behind-the-scenes Studio Tour. Since 1964, the Studio Tour has offered guests a front row seat to filmmaking magic on an authentic movie and television production studio backlot for an exclusive peek at original film sets.
Why We’re Excited for Hollywood Drift
The Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift roller coaster sounds fantastic to us. This will likely be a great thrill ride, and Universal has proven in recent years with VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure that they can do unique coasters like this really well.
Between its location and layout, this Fast & Furious roller coaster looks like it could be even better than those recent additions to Universal Orlando. It should be absolutely awesome, and offer some insane valley views–including the surrounding studios.
It’ll be the best coaster addition to Southern California in a long time, at least until Knott’s Berry Farm finally gets its act together and confirms the long-rumored (but repeatedly debunked) Giga Coaster rumors.
The bottom line is that it’s tough to be disappointed by a new roller coaster coming to Universal Studios Hollywood. The park has been on a roll lately, and it appears that trend will continue with the Fast & Furious roller coaster. I’m personally really looking forward to riding it.
With that said, Universal Creative has also proven that they can do family-friendly attractions really well. Secret Life of Pets: Off the Leash is an underrated masterpiece, and proof-positive that elaborate Audio Animatronics-driven rides still can resonate with today’s audiences.
Not just that, but that dark rides can be built in tight spaces, on efficient turnaround times and with relatively limited budgets (just not by Disney). Mario Kart: Bowser’s Challenge is hardly low-budget or underrated, but it’s another example of Universal pushing the envelope and delivering something ambitious for the whole family.
Honestly, I want to see more of that from Universal. For one thing, I think it’s what Universal Studios Hollywood truly needs. The park just added a big draw for families, but otherwise doesn’t have a ton for kids to do. It also doesn’t have much for older guests or those with motion sickness. Sarah can only do a handful of rides at USH, and our daughter can do even fewer.
While I don’t think every new addition needs to cater to my preferences, I am a bit surprised that Universal isn’t adding more for all-ages. Roller coasters are nice, but I wish they’d bet bigger on elaborate family-friendly attractions, especially given how great Monsters Unchained and Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry turned out.
If you’re preparing for a Southern California vacation, check out our other planning posts, including our exhaustive Guide to Universal Studios Hollywood. Need advice for LA? Read our Ultimate Los Angeles, California Planning Guide. Visiting other SoCal theme parks? Consult our comprehensive Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide and Knott’s Berry Farm Planning Guide.
YOUR THOUGHTS
Excited for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift to open on September 16, 2026 at Universal Studios Hollywood? Have you already experienced the coaster during soft openings or AP previews? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
