A little piece of theme park magic has arrived in Philadelphia with the brand-new Universal Studios Theme Parks: The Exhibition, which is making its world premiere at The Franklin Institute.
Exhibition attendees can learn about the studio’s bevy of entertainment offerings over the years, from Universal’s earliest Studio Tram Tour — the trolley rides offered through the Universal movie lot, which have been in operation since 1964 — to newer projects like Universal Epic Universe, the Orlando-based theme park (one of the largest and most technologically advanced of its kind) that made its grand debut in May 2025.
In true Franklin Institute form, the display has an educational focus, playing up all the science, technology, engineering, artistry and math involved in theme park design.
Read on for a guide to Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition, which runs from February 14, 2026 through September 7, 2026.
Short answer: Everyone.
A true design-your-own-adventure experience, the exhibition features 100 different theme park artifacts and 20 interactive activities for all ages, highlighting the storytelling, technology and imagination behind Universal theme parks’ immersive worlds.
TL:DR: Whether you’re a cinephile or an adrenaline junkie, coming solo or bringing the whole family, you can create the behind-the-scenes Universal theme parks experience of your dreams.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter? Check. Jurassic World VelociCoaster? Survived. Tram tour? Beep beeped.
Take a peek under the hood of Universal theme parks’ most iconic attractions and learn more about the storytelling and science that keep you screaming — for all the right reasons.
Peruse rare models and prototypes of roller coaster vehicles and full-scale coaster plans; peel back the layers — sometimes literally — of how robotics, sound and special effects can make or break an attraction; and hear from real-life ride engineers, creative directors and more about the highs and lows of their work.
Long before there were theme parks, Universal Studios mesmerized (and in some cases, terrified) generations of moviegoers with blockbuster films, like Dracula and Frankenstein, Jurassic Park and E.T., How to Train Your Dragon and The Secret Life of Pets. Oh, and let’s not forget about Harry Potter.
Steven Spielberg himself sets the scene through video, before you explore the creative process that takes those unforgettable characters and worlds from the screen to real life.
Costumes, props and more show you how movie details — big and small (looking at you, Butter Beer) — take on a life of their own in live shows and parades, rides, merch, and immersive experiences you can see, touch and even eat.
Interactive activities and games are sprinkled throughout the entire exhibition, activating the imaginations of the young — and young at heart.
Create your own haunted house using light and sound, design your own monster, or put your ability to call a live show to the test.
Fall in love with life-size versions of Gingy the Gingerbread Man from Shrek, Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon, and Po and Tigress from Kung Fu Panda.
Commit these memories to film of your own with photo ops set in the worlds of Illumination’s Minions, Nintendo and Jaws.
The fun doesn’t end there. Are you — or someone you know — pondering potential careers? Profession Portals throughout the exhibition feature interviews with everyone from special effects directors and guest experience managers to the CEO of Universal Destinations.
Curious minds with an interest in STEM can enjoy exhibits featuring the physics, psychology and more that get your heart pumping.
Gamers can channel their inner Mario, Luigi or Peach with a Nintendo World selfie station.
Year-round haunt fiends get their fill of spooky fun at a gallery dedicated to all things horror and Universal Monsters.
The exhibition space is wheelchair accessible, and The Franklin Institute offers a number of resources for folks of differing abilities. You can learn more on the official website.
Additionally, many of the interactive activities and games are available in both English and Spanish.
Heck, yeah! The merch shop is packed with all types of greatness inspired by your favorite Universal properties — like Harry Potter, Super Mario and Nintendo, Despicable Me and Minions, and Shrek, plus exclusive exhibition merch. We’re talking Minion T-shirts, Yoshi onesies, Shrek and Donkey plushies, and more.
Timed tickets are required for Universal Theme Parks: The Exhibition, separate from general admission to The Franklin Institute, and on sale now.
Folks can snag daytime tickets for $47 (adults), $43 (teens ages 13 to 17) and $41 (children ages 3 to 12). The best part: General museum admission to the rest of The Franklin Institute is included in the cost.
Looking to save on tickets? Consider visiting during the exhibition’s evening hours, which run from Thursdays to Saturdays after 5 p.m. These tickets cost $25 per person and do not include admission to the rest of the museum.
Universal Destinations & Experiences opened its first theme park in 1964: Universal Studios Hollywood, which grew out of studio tours dating back to the 1910s. Today, there are five theme parks worldwide — in Orlando, Hollywood, Beijing, Singapore and Japan — with more parks on the way in Las Vegas, Texas and the United Kingdom.
The Franklin Institute has hosted world premieres of other A-list attractions, like Harry Potter: The Exhibition and Disney100, highlighting artwork and storytelling from the book/movie franchise and entertainment studio, respectively.
The Franklin Institute — Photo by R. Rabena for Visit Philadelphia
Web Content Manager, Visit Philadelphia
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