Universal Epic Universe Scores Big With Multiple Thea Award Wins

Universal Orlando just added a whole new constellation of bragging rights to its already out-of-this-world year. The Themed Entertainment Association has announced its 2025 Thea Award honorees, and Universal walked away with four major “Outstanding Achievement” wins for Epic Universe and its headline attractions. If the parks had a trophy shelf, they’d need to build a new land just to display all of this.

Related: Epic Universe Extends Theme Park Hours for New Year’s Eve

Epic Universe itself took home Outstanding Achievement for Theme Park, officially cementing its status as the industry’s new gold standard. But that was just the beginning. Harry Potter and the Battle at the Ministry conjured up an Outstanding Achievement for Ride Experiences, Monsters Unchained: The Frankenstein Experiment scared up its own Outstanding Achievement for Attraction, and How to Train Your Dragon – Isle of Berk soared away with Outstanding Achievement for Theme Park Land. That’s a sweep that would make even Bowser jealous.

The celebration didn’t stop with the new kids on the block. Former Universal Creative executive Dale Mason received the prestigious Buzz Price Thea Award for a Lifetime of Outstanding Achievement. Mason spent more than 25 years shaping the stories and worlds that fans adore, from The Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Volcano Bay. If you’ve screamed, gasped, or happy-cried in a Universal park over the last two decades, chances are his fingerprints were on it.

Molly Murphy, President of Universal Creative, shared that the wins are a testament not only to the creative team’s imagination but to the deep collaboration across partners who helped bring Epic Universe to life. Universal Orlando Resort President Karen Irwin echoed that excitement, calling the recognition a proud moment for the team members who make the magic feel real for guests every day.

Since opening on May 22, Epic Universe has been redefining what a theme park can be with its five sprawling worlds: Celestial Park, Ministry of Magic, Super Nintendo World, Isle of Berk, and Dark Universe. With this awards haul, Universal Destinations & Experiences now joins a very exclusive club. Epic Universe becomes the third Universal park to earn Thea honors for an entire theme park project, following Islands of Adventure in 2000 and Universal Beijing Resort in 2023.

Related: Celestial Park Unwraps Its First Holiday Season at Epic Universe

In the world of themed entertainment, the Thea Awards are basically the Oscars, Grammys, and Super Bowl rings rolled into one. And Universal just took home a whole armful.

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