As part of IPW 2026 in Fort Lauderdale, ABC Mundial spoke with Julie Estrada, Public Relations Director for North America at Merlin Entertainments, who presented the latest LEGOLAND developments and the many family experiences the company operates across the United States.

During the Media Marketplace at the leading inbound tourism event in the United States, Estrada especially highlighted the new FIFA World Cup 2026-themed activations arriving at several LEGOLAND parks and destinations across North America.

“We are launching the FIFA World Cup Experience in California, New York and Florida so families can enjoy all the excitement of the World Cup in a fun and fully interactive way,” she explained.

Among the main attractions, visitors will be able to build LEGO jerseys representing their favorite national teams and take photos alongside life-size LEGO figures of soccer stars, including versions of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

One of the most striking announcements is the recreation of SoFi Stadium entirely built with LEGO bricks, featuring a giant model of the stadium where World Cup matches will take place.

“We are building SoFi Stadium completely out of LEGO and recreating the Paraguay versus United States match using LEGO figures,” Julie Estrada revealed.

The executive also confirmed that the FIFA World Cup-related activities will begin on June 11 and continue throughout the summer season.

LEGOLAND also introduced new themed experiences for children and families, including the LEGO Festival, an interactive event featuring five different zones dedicated to gaming, building, dancing, LEGO trading and relaxation areas for the whole family.

All activities are specially designed for children between the ages of 2 and 12.

Another major announcement from Merlin Entertainments is Galactic Coaster, a new indoor space-themed roller coaster recently launched at LEGOLAND California and LEGOLAND Florida Resort.

The attraction allows children to digitally design their own spaceship by customizing wings, tails and visual elements before experiencing the ride while seeing their own spacecraft projected throughout the attraction.

“It is the first new roller coaster at LEGOLAND California in 20 years and the first at LEGOLAND Florida in 15 years,” Estrada noted.

The company also highlighted Merlin Entertainments’ strong commitment to inclusion and accessibility. All LEGOLAND resorts in the United States are currently certified as Autism Certified Centers.

“One in every 36 children in the United States has some form of autism, which is why we developed special sensory programs across all our attractions,” she explained.

These programs include detailed information about visual stimuli, sounds, smells and ride intensity levels to help families better plan their children’s experience inside the parks.

Merlin Entertainments currently operates 44 attractions across the United States, including:

• LEGOLAND California
• LEGOLAND Florida
• SEA LIFE Aquariums
• LEGO Discovery Centers
• Peppa Pig Theme Parks
• Madame Tussauds Orlando

The main LEGOLAND destinations in the United States are located in:

• Carlsbad, California, near San Diego
• Winter Haven, Florida, between Orlando and Tampa
• New York, approximately one hour from Manhattan

With new FIFA World Cup-inspired experiences, innovative interactive attractions and a strong commitment to family inclusion, LEGOLAND and Merlin Entertainments aim to strengthen their position as one of the leading family entertainment tourism brands in North America throughout 2026.