Universal Theme Parks Debuts at The Franklin Institute

February 24, 2026
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The groundbreaking new exhibition, and world premiere, goes inside the immersive world of theme parks, showcasing some of Universal’s most iconic attractions.

World Premiere of Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition Opened at the Franklin Institute on February 14th

The thrills of a lifetime are here Philly! Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition, a groundbreaking new exhibit that takes guests inside the immersive and innovative world of Universal Destinations & Experiences’ theme parks, made its world premiere at The Franklin Institute in Philly on February 14th in partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal. The exhibition is slated to tour North America after its seven month Philadelphia run–which ends September 7th, 2026.

As a distant fan already commented on The Franklin Institute’s Instagram: “SO hype!! 🤩✨️”

What to Expect

Step inside the creative and innovative world of theme parks through the lens of Universal’s fan-favorite attractions, including Jaws, Illumination’s Minions, The Secret Life of Pets and Sing, SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™, Jurassic World, DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon, Universal Monsters, and more.

Play your way through eight themed galleries, where 100 original artifacts bring each experience to life. From authentic costumes and iconic props to early concept models, experience the creativity, artistry, and innovation behind Universal’s most epic attractions.

Snap a photo, storyboard a ride, design and animate horror masks, cue a live show, and experiment with animation and projection mapping – all while hearing directly from the creators, animators, and show writers who make it happen.

Universal Theme Parks Debuts at The Franklin Institute — “Guests aren’t just observing how theme parks are made—they are stepping into the process,” explained Abby Bysshe, Chief Experience and Strategy Officer, The Franklin Institute.

About the Exhibition

The 18,000-square-foot exhibition spans eight galleries, 20 interactive experiences, and 100 artifacts—and features fan-favorite attractions including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, Jaws, Illumination’s Minions, The Secret Life of Pets and Sing, Jurassic World, DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon, Universal Monsters and SUPER NINTENDO WORLD™.

“The themed entertainment industry is innovative and future-ready, and has never been explored this way before,” said Abby Bysshe, Chief Experience and Strategy Officer, The Franklin Institute. “We curated this exhibition so that every object tells a story, and every interactive introduces a creative concept, all within a fun, hands-on environment. Working with talented partners like MDSX and Universal Destinations & Experiences has been incredible, and we are extremely proud of the experience that unfolds within this exhibition,” she added.

Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition is open daily from 9:30 am-5:00 pm, with evening hours Thursday – Saturday. Daytime Tickets include admission to The Franklin Institute: Adult: $47; Teen (age 13-17): $43; Child (age 3-12): $41. Evening Tickets are $25 for all ages; exhibit admission only. Tickets are timed and dated, and advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended at www.fi.edu or by calling 215.448.1200.