Entertainment

A long-awaited new chapter in Austin entertainment now has an opening date.

COTALAND will officially open to the public Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at Circuit of The Americas, giving Central Texas families, amusement park fans and visitors a new destination built around everything from major roller coasters to rides designed for younger children. Tickets for the COTALAND grand opening are now on sale.

For Austin-area residents, the opening represents more than the arrival of another place to spend a Saturday. COTALAND expands Circuit of The Americas from a destination many people associate primarily with Formula 1, MotoGP, concerts and major event weekends into a family attraction designed to bring guests to the property throughout the year.

And after years of planning, construction, ride installations and previews, families who have watched the park take shape finally know when they can walk through the gates.

What Is COTALAND?

COTALAND is a Texas-inspired theme park located alongside Circuit of The Americas in Austin, combining traditional amusement-park attractions with the motorsports identity of the COTA campus.

The concept has been developing for years. Earlier versions of COTALAND included smaller amusement rides at the property, and construction on the significantly expanded park has gradually transformed the attraction into a much larger destination. In May 2024, Circuit of The Americas marked the arrival of the first permanent piece of Palindrome as part of what COTA described as a comprehensive reconstruction of COTALAND.

The park is now being positioned as a major part of the overall COTA experience, with more than 30 attractions planned across thrill, family and children's categories.

That setting makes the project unusual among Texas theme parks. Circuit of The Americas itself spans roughly 1,500 acres and has operated outside downtown Austin since 2012. Its centerpiece is the 3.41-mile Formula 1 racetrack, but the campus has steadily expanded into concerts, karting, community events and other entertainment.

COTALAND adds a distinctly family-focused piece to that mix.

COTALAND Rides Range From Major Coasters to Family Attractions

The Sept. 26 opening is likely to attract plenty of attention from roller coaster fans, particularly because COTALAND's ride lineup includes attractions that are unusual not only for Austin, but for Texas.

Among the most prominent is Circuit Breaker, which COTALAND describes as Texas' only tilt coaster. The coaster incorporates a track section designed to tilt riders before releasing the train into its drop.

Another headline attraction is Palindrome, described by COTA as the first infinity shuttle coaster in the United States and the only steel coaster designed to travel above an active roadway. The ride sends passengers both forward and backward along its course.

But COTALAND is not being designed only for guests chasing the largest coasters.

The announced attraction lineup also includes Downforce, Cloud Flyer, The Soggy Logger, COTALAND Express, Grand Carousel, Lil Logger and Tree House Bounce, along with additional children's rides, water attractions and family experiences.

The park categorizes attractions for different levels of intensity, helping parents determine which rides may be appropriate for younger children and which are designed for more experienced thrill-seekers. Guests should check current height requirements and operating information before visiting.

Families Will Find More Than Roller Coasters

A full visit is also being built around the time spent between rides.

COTALAND plans dining locations, snacks and treats throughout the park, along with games, entertainment and areas for families to explore. That could make the park particularly relevant for Central Texas parents searching for things to do in Austin with kids, family attractions near Austin, Austin theme parks or ideas for weekend outings.

For families with children of different ages, that range may prove important. One person may be ready for Circuit Breaker while another is happier aboard a carousel or smaller children's attraction, allowing families to build a day around more than one level of adventure.

COTALAND has recommended that families check park hours, ride requirements and operating information before arriving, wear comfortable shoes, bring sunscreen, stay hydrated and leave time for breaks throughout the day.

COTALAND Gives Austin Another Year-Round Visitor Attraction

The park's opening also changes the role Circuit of The Americas can play for local residents.

COTA has long drawn national and international visitors for motorsports. It is the nation's only permanent, purpose-built Formula 1 racetrack and hosts events that include Formula 1, MotoGP and other major racing series.

COTALAND gives families a reason to consider the property outside those marquee event weekends.

That could be especially meaningful for residents in southeast Austin and nearby Del Valle, where COTA is already part of the local landscape. The relationship between the venue and the surrounding community has included events such as Del Valle Day, which previously welcomed more than 1,500 area residents to COTA for attractions, local vendors, performances and community resources.

For nearby families, the completion of the expanded theme park means an attraction that has been visible in various stages of construction will become something they can actually experience.

The Questions Families Have Been Asking Finally Have Answers

As construction progressed, COTALAND said it repeatedly heard the same questions from people following the project:

“When are you opening?”

“When can we ride?”

“When can we get tickets?”

The answer to the biggest question is now Sept. 26, 2026.

Tickets are already available through COTALAND's official ticketing site, giving families several weeks to plan before the grand opening. Visitors traveling to the Circuit of The Americas campus should also review current parking, driving and rideshare information before leaving home, particularly because transportation procedures can vary during major COTA events.

What Happens Next

Between now and opening day, COTALAND is expected to continue preparing attractions, dining areas and guest spaces ahead of the first public visitors.

Because theme park operations can change as rides complete testing and final preparations, guests planning a September visit should check COTALAND's official website shortly before traveling for current park hours, attraction availability, ticket terms, accessibility information and weather policies.

For Central Texas residents who have been following the project from its early stages, however, the biggest milestone is settled: COTALAND opens Sept. 26 at Circuit of The Americas in Austin.

It gives local families another option for birthdays, weekends, visiting relatives and those occasional days when everyone simply wants to get out of the house and do something together — while adding another dimension to one of Central Texas' best-known entertainment destinations.

Stay tuned to My Neighborhood News for updates on COTALAND, new Central Texas attractions and other developments shaping where local families live, work and spend their time.

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.