“Brass Ring Awards 2025”: Joy among Europeans

(eap) With the “Brass Ring Awards”, the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) recognises innovative products and outstanding creativity that represent significant developments or milestones for the global leisure industry. Several prizes in the “Best New Product” category were awarded to the respective manufacturing companies during the IAAPA Expo in Orlando, Florida, which still runs until tomorrow. Exhibitors with particularly noteworthy booth presentations were also honoured in the dedicated “Best Exhibit” category.

Each year, IAAPA highlights the most exceptional new development among the best new products with the special “Impact Award”, as determined by the jury. This time, Mack Rides from Germany has been awarded the Impact Award for “The Rocking Boat”. The Rocking Boat “combines varied ride experiences with a depth-adjusting, direction-shifting, speed-controlled boat, that enables new ways to tell stories,” says the official jury statement. The world’s first Rocking Boat opened this summer at the French theme park Futuroscope under the name “Mission Bermudes” (see EAP cover story in 5/2025). Another ride of this kind will open at Dollywood next year (see EAP news of 18 Sept 2025).

Intamin receives a Brass Ring Award for the "Dynamic Motion Stage", installed at "Danse Macabre", Efteling. © Foto: Efteling In the category “Best New Product: Major Ride/Attraction, Product Cost of more than US $3 million”, the Rocking Boat also took first place. Another award in this category was presented to Intamin Amusement Rides for the “Dynamic Motion Stage”, installed as the centrepiece of Efteling’s attraction “Danse Macabre” (see EAP 1/2025). Two further European companies were delighted to receive a Brass Ring Award for the best new family rides: Sunkid from Austria for its “Sundancer Galaxy”, and RES Rides from Switzerland for the attraction “Pumpen – Super Swing M20”.

Aqua Slidecoaster, Visual © NCL Awards in the field of water slides and water attractions also went to Germany: manufacturer Wiegand.Waterrides – which this week announced the second Slide Coaster for the cruise company Norwegian Cruise Line – received a Brass Ring Award for this attraction type in the “Water Park Ride” category. The Canadian company WhiteWater West, which is represented with an office in Munich, was also honoured in this category for its “Wall Runner”. In the same category, but with the additional condition of product costs under two million US dollars, German supplier Wibit received a Brass Ring Award for its new module “Wave”.

A playground built in the shape of a single letter: This structure was created by KristallTurm. © Foto: KristallTurm “A playground built in the shape of a single letter” – this concept lies behind the “Play Letter” from Bavarian company KristallTurm, which took first place in the “Patron Participation Ride/Attraction” category. Simtec Systems from Braunschweig earned first place in the “Best New Product Concept Award – Major Ride or Water Park Ride” category: the team convinced the jury with its new development “HEXaPOT^® Dark Ride” (read all about the modern dark ride system in EAP 5/2025). Further Concept Awards were presented once again to Mack Rides for “EatX”, the scaled theme park version of the Eatrenalin experience restaurant concept, as well as to Brogent Technologies for their “o-Ride X”. Dutch coaster manufacturer Vekoma Rides received a Concept Award for its Suspended Dark Ride, which will make its debut in 2026 as a new attraction at SeaWorld Orlando.

A complete overview of all Brass Ring Award winners across all categories (including “Best Exhibit”) can be found here.

Learn more about exciting new developments showcased on the trade floor in our EAP trade show report (to be published in issue 1/2026). ■