On June 1st, Walibi Belgium lifted the veil on the next major milestone in its development: an internationally significant roller coaster, set to open in 2028, which will take its place at the heart of a brand-new themed area called Festival World. This announcement is part of a broader transformation plan running through 2030.
The future Festival World zone will draw inspiration from the festive atmosphere of New Orleans. It will replace the current Loup-Garou area, which until now was the only zone in the park not yet rethemed — and the only one without the “World” suffix. A second phase of development has been announced for 2030, including the retheming of several existing attractions, new dining spaces, family-friendly drop towers, and a water play area.
Loup-Garou Takes Its Final Bow, RMC Steps In
The 2026 season will be the last for Loup-Garou in its current form. Construction will begin in January 2027. If you haven’t ridden it yet, or want to say goodbye one last time, this season is your only chance. Truth be told, the aging wooden coaster had become harder to enjoy in recent years, with pronounced vibrations and jolts that had gradually worn down the riding experience.
Taking over the project is none other than Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC). The American manufacturer, widely regarded as one of the best in the world and known for building coasters that regularly rank among the top in the industry, wasn’t really a surprise pick: rumors had been pointing in this direction for months. Compagnie des Alpes and RMC have significantly deepened their partnership in recent years, with Untamed at Walibi Holland (2019), YoY at the same park (2025), and more recently the full retrack of Tonnerre 2 Zeus at Parc Astérix using I-Box track (a steel rail system replacing the original wooden rails on the existing structure, delivering a noticeably smoother ride). All signs that hinted at this outcome for a while.
The real question was elsewhere: would RMC simply swap out the rails while keeping the existing layout — as it did with Tonnerre 2 Zeus — or design an entirely new layout from the existing structure, as it did with Untamed? The announcement leaves no room for doubt: Walibi is going with a brand-new layout!
On the menu: 49 meters tall, 106 km/h (66 mph), 1,231 meters of track (a Benelux record), an 89° first drop, and 3 world-first elements!
The Park’s Transformation Continues at Full Speed
This announcement is part of a momentum that began back in 2016. Over the past ten seasons, more than 75% of the park has been transformed, with the opening of four new immersive worlds and eight new attractions. Attendance has grown from 1.3 to over 1.8 million visitors per year, a 43% increase! In total, more than €185 million will have been invested between 2016 and 2030. Festival World will close out this transformation cycle for the park before, perhaps, opening a new chapter…!
This new phase builds on the transformation that began in 2016. Our goal is to make Walibi Belgium – Aqualibi even more appealing by offering experiences that are increasingly immersive, spectacular, and accessible to the whole family
Jean-Christophe Parent, CEO of Walibi Belgium – Aqualibi
Planning a visit to Walibi Belgium? The park is just 30 minutes from Brussels — the perfect opportunity to combine the two. Check out our Brussels + Walibi Belgium travel guide!
Source: press release, Walibi Belgium, June 1, 2026
