6 incredible Universal theme park details revealed in new exhibition
Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition is at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, and we got to visit ahead of its grand opening.
By Ricky Brigante
A vibrant new exhibition pulling back the curtain on the innovation and artistry behind Universal theme parks is making its world premiere at Philadelphia’s The Franklin Institute on Feb. 14, 2026.
At a sneak peek this week, Universal offered a glimpse behind the scenes of how their creative team brings to life their most astounding rides, shows, and characters from Epic Universe to Halloween Horror Nights and many more fan favorites.
Photos by Blake Taylor and Sarah Elger
On hand at the preview event was legendary Universal Orlando Resort art & design veteran Mike Aiello, senior director of entertainment and creative development for Universal Destinations & Experiences. Aiello walked us through the exhibit’s highlights, as seen in the video below, taking special care to point out many thrilling details of the Universal Monsters and Halloween Horror Nights sections — a scream from the past for him after many years of helming all things spooky for Universal Orlando.
In particular, six first-looks at behind-the-scenes details that have shaped today’s landscape of Universal’s themed creations stood out as absolutely worth seeing at the new exhibition.
1.) Learning to design theme park attractions is more possible now than ever before
A standout theme of Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition is showcasing all the various disciplines and talents that artists, writers, engineers, and other creators use to create shows and attractions. Highlighted throughout the exhibit are actual Universal designers, speaking on video about their history with the company, how they got started there, and what still inspires them.
Photos by Attractions Magazine and Sarah Elger
The exhibit allows visitors to get hands-on with controlling animatronics, designing a roller coaster ride track, virtually drawing monster designs, learning projection mapping, and discovering what’s possible with show controllers. These unique interactive components help spark interest in all the various disciplines and specializations that make up these unique jobs.
2.) 3D printed dinosaurs, statues, and ride vehicles
The classic days of designing characters and creatures for theme parks often relied on sculpting physical clay to create maquettes. Over time, these traditional practices evolved to digital 3D modeling.
The exhibition displays a surprising number of 3D printed models to prototype anything from the ride vehicles and raptors seen in Jurassic World VelociCoaster to the uniquely whimsical elements on Epic Universe’s Constellation Carousel.
3.) The monsters of Monsters Unchained went through many looks
For the first time ever, Universal is showing off the process of designing the unique creature looks for Darkmoor in the Dark Universe section of the Epic Universe theme park. And it wasn’t as simple as taking a single sketch to reality. The animatronic figures seen in Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment went through many iterations, fine-tuning their design and the settings around them for the most lifelike impact.
In particular, one design for the Phantom of the Opera’s iconic moment in the ride looked far more like it was carved out of the cavern.
Also shown off is the stamp designers used to press werewolf claw prints into the concrete of Darkmoor.
Dr. Victoria Frankenstein’s costume is also on display, but interestingly, it’s not the one worn by the character’s animatronic likeness in the ride. Instead, it’s the costume worn by a live performer when Dr. Victoria made her two-time-only appearances in the park during the Epic Universe media preview and grand opening day.
4.) Universal hoards its history
This exhibit not only focuses on the latest innovations from Epic Universe, but also pulls out a dive through Universal’s history, much of which has not been seen in decades.
Items included in the historic journey range from the most recently removed pieces from the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit coaster to legendary pieces of Halloween Horror Nights history, including sketches and paper models from the 2007 Carnival of Carnage website designs as well as the original Terra Guard Bike from 2005, which was pulled out of their warehouse just for this exhibit.
5.) Retrofitting attractions is no small matter
When it came to figuring out how to fit something as large and sprawling as the new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster at Universal Studios Hollywood, designers had to visualize how it would impact the park’s skyline. They did so by hand-creating a “white model,” enabling them to see in physical 3D where the peaks might be seen from the nearby Wizarding World of Harry Potter.
Photo by Sarah Elger
6.) Props, food, and merchandise go hand-in-hand
While it’s easy to focus on the memorably large theme park design elements, sometimes it’s the smallest that deliver the biggest impact. On display in the exhibition is a wide assortment of themed merchandise, food, and props that share the same responsibility: deliver delightful details to guests.
Whether it’s the endless array of popcorn buckets or replicas of Candy Frogs and Niffler-shaped pastries, Universal’s design team ensures every detail is cared for.
Dates for Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition
Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition will be on display at Philadelphia’s The Franklin Institute from Feb. 14 – Sept. 7, 2026, after which it is planned to begin touring around the U.S. through 2031. Specific future locations have not yet been announced.
The exhibit is open daily from 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission costs $41 for kids ages 3-12, $43 for teens ages 13-17, and $47 for guests ages 18+.
Additionally, evening hours are available Thursday – Saturday.
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