Harkins BackLot in Phoenix boasts sports bar, bowling, food and more
Popular movie theater chain Harkins has opened its first entertainment venue. Take a tour and see what’s on the menu at the restaurant and bar.
Metro Phoenix residents can look forward to new developments coming to the Valley in 2026.
While this year will have some major changes from restaurants and hotels to expansions at Phoenix Sky Harbor, there are also some new entertainment and travel venues residents and tourists can expect. Some of which have experienced multiple delays, while others were slated to open shortly after being announced in 2025.
From a new 4D movie theater and an iconic travel center to a place where you can see the stars or spend time in a foam pit, there are fun options for every age. Here are all the fun places opening in the Phoenix area in 2026.
Arizona Boardwalk SkyWheel
To celebrate 10 years of the Arizona Boardwalk, the Boardwalk SkyWheel is opening later this month.
At 80 feet tall, the colorful Ferris wheel, located near Scottsdale, has 18 fully enclosed, air-conditioned gondolas. There will also be music onboard, vibrant LED lighting and 360-degree views of the Valley and surrounding mountains.
A specific opening date of the Arizona Boardwalk Skywheel had not yet been released; it was expected to be in mid- to late-April 2026.
Pablo’s
“Pablo’s is the house party you never want to leave — an immersive nightlife hideaway in the heart of downtown Phoenix,” according to a press release. “Each room reveals a new mood: three high-spirited bars, the Den, Pablo’s Living Room, the Billiards Room, a central courtyard, a lively front patio and Night Tiger — a pulse-quickening nightclub built for dancing until the lights come on.”
The multilayered nightlife venue was designed to surprise and connect guests at every turn. It will be located at the northwest corner of McKinley Street and First Avenue in downtown Phoenix.
Run by Saguaro Nights Entertainment Group, Pablo’s will open in a 9,000-square-foot historic 1952 building originally constructed as a medical office. The group also enlisted Barter & Shake Creative Hospitality, the award-winning team behind Century Grand, Platform 18 and Undertow, for their cocktail program.
Construction began in October 2025 and an opening was planned for sometime in 2026.
Buc-ee’s
Buc-ee’s is coming to the Valley and had its groundbreaking in May 2025. Founded in 1982, Buc-ee’s is known for its beaver mascot, “the world’s cleanest bathrooms,” cheap gas and homemade barbecue. The locations are also massive, with the Arizona store expected to be 23% larger than a football field.
Originally, the travel center was expected to open in the Grand Canyon state by late 2025, but that timing has since changed. The Goodyear location will open on June 22, 2026. With it comes a new controversial gas policy and an “F” rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Harkins Theatres 4D experience
Harkins Theatres is stepping up the movie-going experience with a new 4D auditorium.
After partnering with Lumma 4D E-Motion, the Arizona chain is equipping theaters with a 4D experience. There will be full sensory-engaging effects like synchronized motion seating, coordinated scents and air, water and environmental cues in order to connect audiences with what’s happening on screen.
The first 4D auditorium will open in August 2026 at the Harkins Norterra located at 2550 W. Happy Valley Road in north Phoenix.
There are also five additional 4D theaters planned for Arizona, officials said, though no further details on the other locations were provided.
International Dark Sky Discovery Center
The International Dark Sky Discovery Center in Fountain Hills was under construction and was originally slated to open in Fountain Hills in the fall of 2025.
The $28 million observatory and science center will cover 23,000 square feet and feature the largest telescope in metro Phoenix, a hyperspace planetarium, a theater, an Einstein exploration station and more. The center’s mission is to educate visitors, support scientific research and promote astrotourism, all while raising awareness of how dark skies benefit human health, wildlife and the environment.
The center was set to open in the fall 2026.
The Rush Funplex
The Rush Funplex is an indoor entertainment chain with go-karts, bowling, mini-golf, arcade games, bumper cars, rock-climbing wall with a foam pit, laser tag, kiddie cars, private party rooms and a cafe.
There will be two locations opening in Arizona: one in Goodyear, at the northeast corner of Yuma Road and Estrella Parkway, and the other in Laveen at the northeast corner of Loop 202 and Dobbins Road in Phoenix. The Laveen location was expected to be a 75,000-square-foot facility and will offer both hourly and daily passes that include access to all attractions.
The Goodyear location was expected to open in spring 2026. The grand opening of the Laveen location was scheduled for December 2026.
Mattel Adventure Park/VAI Resort
Mattel Adventure Park originally planned to open in late 2023 but has been delayed three times since, once to 2024, then to the end of 2025 and now to an unknown future date.
The theme park is the first of its kind and will be at the VAI Resort, which is also under construction in Glendale. It will bring Mattel favorites to life, including Barbie, Thomas & Friends, Hot Wheels and Masters of the Universe.
The 9-acre park will have an indoor-outdoor design with air-conditioned spaces designed to appeal to all ages. Food and beverages will be available.
VAI Resort will announce its opening date approximately nine months in advance, according to its website. There were job postings listed for roles including an executive director of brand marketing and a senior director of project delivery at Mattel Adventure Park through VAI’s page.
A representative for Mattel Adventure Parks did not answer The Arizona Republic’s request for updates about the project.
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‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.azcentral.com ’
