IAAPA Expo 2026 Best New Product Awards

The Microcom 385M is a compact, versatile thermal printer designed to print labels, tickets, tags, and other media while supporting both HF and UHF RFID encoding. Built for OEM and kiosk integration, it combines reliable printing with RFID capabilities in one flexible solution—ideal for retail, logistics, healthcare, ticketing, and self-service applications.

accesso Intelligence Ask introduces a new way for attraction operators to work with data and make decisions. Ask introduces agentic decision intelligence specifically built for the visitor attractions industry, moving beyond answering questions to taking on business goals and carrying the analytical work forward. Instead of relying on software that users must navigate and interpret, Ask uses AI to do analytical and operational work on behalf of the user. Operators can ask questions or give Ask a business problem or objective in their own words. Ask then determines what matters, brings together the right data and tools, analyzes performance, benchmarks results, forecasts outcomes, recommends what to do next based and increasingly, even does the work for you. It can be used to create reports, build workflows, schedule recurring analysis and more without requiring users to write code, know how to form the prompt or have technical expertise. What makes that particularly significant for attractions is that it isn't generic AI dropped onto a database. It operates over a purpose-built decision intelligence platform with connected attraction systems, attraction-specific business context, forecasting, benchmarks, qualitative visitor intelligence, and an Almanac and Decision Skills purpose-built for the attractions industry. Built on the accesso Intelligence decision intelligence platform, Ask can work across accesso ticketing, point of sale, virtual queuing and distribution products, alongside an ecosystem of third-party systems and other relevant data sources. This gives operators an intelligent partner to investigate issues, surface opportunities and turn insight into action.

Developed using SKC Studios’ conversational AI platform 1956 Individuals, the AI Queen Eleanor experience is the culmination of Leeds Castle’s new exhibition, Pilgrimage of Love: Eleanor of Castile, opening on 9 March 2026. The AI installation allows visitors to speak directly with one of medieval England’s most influential yet often overlooked queens, transforming historical interpretation into a dynamic, real-time conversation. Unlike traditional static digital displays, the AI avatar is aware of its surroundings and recognises when visitors approach. It responds naturally to questions, engaging in unscripted dialogue that allows audiences to explore the past on their own terms. The result is an experience that moves visitors from passive observers to active participants, bridging more than seven centuries of history. Dr Dominique Bouchard FRHistS FSA, Heritage and Engagement Director at Leeds Castle, said: “What’s most exciting about this project is the way it brings people into a more human relationship with the past. We are always striving to help visitors connect with the Castle’s history in ways that feel alive. This new avatar gives audiences the opportunity to learn about the history of Eleanor of Castile as a person, with depth and personality. The introduction of AI Queen Eleanor represents the first time an environment-aware historical AI avatar has been deployed in a heritage setting in this way. By transforming carefully researched historical knowledge into responsive conversation, the project demonstrates how AI can expand access to culture while maintaining the integrity and authority of scholarly interpretation.

Aquaticar® is a patented underwater ride that transforms a body of water into an immersive aquatic adventure. Officially opened in April 2026, Aquarabia water theme park in Qiddiya is the first in the World to offer this unique ride. Participants dry load, two at a time, into futuristic-looking submersible ride vehicles. A canopy is lowered and secured into place over passengers before each vehicle leaves the station and gravity descends to a water depth of 9ft (2.7m). Once underwater, passengers remain dry from mid-chest up and breathe normally within the air-supplied canopy. A large viewing window provides a nearly 180° view into the underwater world. Ride vehicles engage mechanical air registers as they travel along a track. These air registers release a set flow of air beneath the vehicle which replenishes air within the breathing canopy, and also fuels the car's Bubble Engine. Air is captured in large scoops and as the bubbles try to escape to the surface it creates impressive torque that turns a pair of rotors, transmitting power and propulsion to the drive wheels. The vehicles are powered entirely by air bubbles! Vehicles travel at a comfortable speed, comparable to a leisurely walk, and complete the ride course in about 5 minutes. At the end of the ride, an ascending conveyor belt returns vehicles to the station. Aquaticar combines the excitement of a ride with the wonder of being underwater, delivering a unique attraction that is accessible to non-divers, creating an unforgettable immersive experience beneath the surface.

The first commercial arcade game bringing Olympic curling to FECs. Available in solo or head to head modes, players slide physical curling stones down an air hockey surface into a digital display, using tactile buttons to sweep the ice.

Augmented Games redefines the interactive landscape by serving as a smart, scalable platform that bridges the gap between physical sports and digital entertainment. This product establishes a new category of "phygital" play, transforming traditional architectural surfaces into reactive, high-density tracking environments. By synthesizing real-world movement with immersive gaming mechanics, it offers a versatile attraction that thrives in high-traffic zones like FECs, malls, cruise ships, and destination hubs. The logistical revolution of Augmented Games lies in its proprietary, controller-free motion-tracking technology. By utilizing projected or LED surfaces, the system creates a frictionless full-body experience that requires no wearable devices or handheld hardware. This eliminates the technical and operational barriers typically associated with interactive play. Designed for ultimate flexibility, the platform operates with equal efficiency in permanent installations or temporary, event-driven contexts. This modularity ensures that the product can serve as a standalone destination anchor or a high-impact pop-up draw. Through this seamless integration of technology and physical space, Augmented Games provides a turnkey solution that transitions the guest from a passive observer to an active participant, providing the operator with a robust asset designed for maximum space utility.