If you plan your trips around festivals, fan nights and interactive experiences, these fresh updates from the events world may give you a few new ideas for the year ahead.
1. Fan Fest Nights Return to Universal Studios Hollywood (USA)
Universal has announced a second season of Universal Fan Fest Nights — 12 evenings of a separate night-time event with themed zones for Harry Potter, Super Nintendo World, One Piece, Dungeons & Dragons and more. Expect live shows, quests, night access to rides and special storylines like “Scooby-Doo Meets The Universal Monsters”.
For visitors: a rare chance to be in the park “without the usual crowds” and with a unique programme built around major fandoms.
Scale: ★★★
2. Australia’s Northern Territory Announces a “Super Calendar” of ~40 Major Events
Tourism and Events NT has released a packed calendar of almost 40 festivals and major sports, music and cultural events — from the Darwin Cup Carnival and Darwin Festival to the Parrtjima light festival and the Red CentreNATS car event, plus food festivals like the Darwin Laksa Festival and Greek GleNTi.
For visitors: if you’ve been thinking about a trip to Australia, this is a ready-made checklist to combine travel with standout events across different cities and seasons.
Scale: ★★★
3. First Global Awards Dedicated Specifically to Immersive Experiences
The Immersive Experience Awards have been launched — an international award programme that recognises immersive theatre, escape rooms, VR/AR projects, projection-led exhibitions, immersive dining and brand activations.
For visitors: a good indicator that immersive shows, interactive museums and unusual “deep-dive” experiences will keep growing — and that you can look to award winners when choosing the best of them.
Scale: ★★☆
4. Online Festival of Innovation: How “Wow-Level” Immersive Experiences Are Really Made
The Festival of Innovation (online, 21–22 January 2026) has been announced — a series of sessions on how to create successful immersive experiences, where experts from major venues and creative agencies break down what makes an experience truly powerful.
For visitors: less about “where to go” and more about a chance to peek behind the scenes of the industry and understand why some events resonate and others do not. Useful for anyone who loves immersives and/or is thinking of creating their own experiences.
Scale: ★★☆
5. Trend Watch: Interactive Activities Become the New Normal at Events
A fresh 2026 trends review points to a sharp rise in interactive activations: zones where guests don’t just watch, but do things with their hands, play, create their own objects and leave a trace in the event. These formats are becoming standard not only at festivals, but also at weddings, corporate events and B2B gatherings.
For visitors: expect less “sit and listen” and more “play, try, create” — great news if you enjoy live interaction and new experiences.
Scale: ★★☆
