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Sally Dark Rides Earns Three European Star Awards for Best Indoor Rides
Sally Dark Rides is celebrating a standout showing in the 2026 European Star Awards, earning three of the top four spots in the Best Indoor Rides category. The recognition was announced during IAAPA Expo Europe in London, highlighting Sally attractions at PortAventura World and Walibi Belgium among Europe’s leading indoor rides.
The recognition puts Sally Dark Rides at the forefront of Europe’s indoor attraction market, with Uncharted: The Enigma of Penitence at PortAventura World taking first place, Sesame Street: Street Mission at PortAventura World earning third place, and Challenge of Tutankhamon at Walibi Belgium receiving fourth place.
Three Attractions - Three Very Different Adventures
The three attractions span more than two decades of Sally Dark Rides’ work in Europe - from the original Challenge of Tutankhamon, which opened in 2003, to the highly advanced Uncharted dark coaster that debuted in 2023. Together, they showcase the range of storytelling, technology and creativity that SDR brings to the attractions industry.
1st Place — Uncharted: The Enigma of Penitence | PortAventura World
Sally Dark Rides partnered with PortAventura World and Intamin to create Uncharted: The Enigma of Penitence, a dark coaster based on the popular Uncharted franchise. The attraction combines traditional dark ride storytelling with a high-speed, multidimensional coaster experience, sending riders through an adventure filled with launches, spinning, backward movement and unexpected drops.
The attraction has continued to earn international recognition since opening in 2023, including previous European Star and IAAPA Brass Ring honors.
We share this honor with Intamin Amusement Rides.
3rd Place — Sesame Street: Street Mission | PortAventura World
A family-focused interactive dark ride, Sesame Street: Street Mission takes guests into the world of Sesame Street alongside Detective Grover as they attempt to solve the mystery of the missing Big Cookie. Guests ride in interactive taxi cabs equipped with “Clue Collectors,” using more than 2,000 virtual and practical targets throughout the attraction.
Since opening in 2019, Street Mission has become one of Sally's most decorated European attractions, with multiple European Star recognitions alongside honors from the Thea Awards and Park World.
We share this honor with ETF Ride Systems & Alterface
4th Place — Challenge of Tutankhamon | Walibi Belgium
More than 20 years after its opening, Challenge of Tutankhamon continues to demonstrate the staying power of a well-designed interactive dark ride. Guests journey into the tomb of King Tutankhamon, battling ancient gods and demons with interactive targets in a race to uncover the pharaoh's treasure.
The attraction features 130 interactive targets, multiple possible endings and a scoring system that turns the ride into a competitive game for riders. It originally opened at what was then Six Flags Belgium in 2003.
We share this honor with ETF Ride Systems.
A European Industry Benchmark
Presented by Kirmes & Park International, the European Star Awards recognize leading amusement parks and attractions across Europe. Established in 2012, the awards are presented annually around IAAPA Expo Europe and are judged by an international panel of industry experts across multiple categories.
For Sally Dark Rides, this year's results represent more than three individual honors. Three Sally attractions occupying three of the top four positions in Europe's Best Indoor Rides category is a significant recognition of the company's longstanding presence and continued innovation in the European dark ride market.
From an interactive adventure that has entertained guests for more than two decades to a cutting-edge dark coaster and a family attraction built around beloved characters, the three recognized attractions demonstrate Sally Dark Rides' ability to create indoor experiences across generations, audiences and technologies.
We’re incredibly proud to see three Sally attractions recognized among the very best indoor rides in Europe. These projects represent very different approaches to dark ride design, but they all share the same foundation: strong storytelling, memorable experiences and close collaboration with our park partners. Seeing Uncharted, Street Mission and Challenge of Tutankhamon recognized together is a great reflection of the depth and longevity of our work in Europe. - Lauren Weaver, VP Business Development and Marketing
