Universal Studios Hollywood to open Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster this summer

The new Fast & Furious coaster that has been revving its engines during test runs around the hillside-hugging track will soon get the green flag to officially start racing with thrill seekers on board at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Fast & Furious star Vin Diesel made the summer opening date official on Thursday, Feb. 5 with a television commercial promoting the launch of the new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift roller coaster at Universal Studios Hollywood.

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The summer 2026 launch window means the first riders will climb aboard Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift sometime after June 21 — the first day of summer.

An official opening date will be announced soon by Universal officials.

The Hollywood Drift coaster with 360-degree rotating ride vehicles will feature a state-of-the-art ride system with first-of-its-kind innovations and technological achievements, according to Universal.

The coaster track will employ sound reduction technology to lessen the noise from the coaster for Universal’s residential neighbors.

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Universal Studios Hollywood began conducting on-track launch tests in October with four street racing cars rocketing from zero to 72 mph along the 4,100-foot-long track.

Universal wrapped the coaster cars in a hypnotic geometric black-and-white zebra design to obscure the ride vehicles. Automakers use the eye-catching “dazzle camouflage” to hide the finer details of prototype vehicles during real-world, on-road test drives.

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will be the first high-speed outdoor coaster at Universal Studios Hollywood. The park’s two existing coasters include the 2004 Revenge of the Mummy indoor coaster and the 2016 Flight of the Hippogriff outdoor kiddie coaster.

Hollywood Drift riders will enter through a red brick auto repair garage before boarding a coaster ride vehicle themed to look like an authentic Fast & Furious film car.

The Hollywood Drift in the coaster name references the 2006 Universal Pictures “Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” action film. Drift racers intentionally oversteer to the point of losing traction while maintaining control of the car.