While continuing to mourn the loss of its Dreamer-in-Chief Dolly Parton, Dollywood has, once again, earned multiple top honors at the prestigious Golden Ticket Awards, including being named one of the best parks in the world.
Dollywood won four first-place awards at the 2026 event. Parton’s park also received recognition in two other categories at the annual ceremony for the awards presented by Amusement Today that are considered the amusement park industry's equivalent of the Oscars.
A seventh consecutive win for best guest experience was especially meaningful for Dollywood President Eugene Naughton.
“She’d give me a kick in the ass if we weren’t first,” Naughton said of Parton during his acceptance speech. “If you think about her, and every day
that she inspires not only me but our entire organization to be the best we possibly can be, I think best guest experience is a perfect tribute.”
Dollywood wins at the 2026 Golden Ticket Awards
Dollywood is fighting to earn the best park in the world title again, grabbing the No. 2 spot this year after slipping to No. 3 last year and winning the award in 2023. But the park did earn the top prize in four categories.
- Best Guest Experience: Dollywood | Seventh consecutive win
- Best Kids’ Area: Wildwood Grove | Seventh consecutive win
- Best Family Coaster: Big Bear Mountain | Fourth consecutive win
- Most Beautiful Park: Dollywood | Last won in 2024
Dollywood is the only theme park to win the best guest experience award since the category was introduced in 2019.
“We are incredibly humbled by these recognitions from Amusement Today. We don’t set out to win awards. Just like Dolly always wanted, we set out to create experiences that bring families together and give our guests memories they will carry with them long after they leave the Great Smoky Mountains,” Naughton said in a press release.
Dollywood also placed in the following categories:
- Best Park: Dollywood | Second place
- Best Wooden Roller Coaster: Thunderhead | Sixth place
"Being a finalist in six categories and winning the top spot in four truly speaks to the quality this park offers,” Golden Ticket Awards spokesperson Tim Baldwin said.
Europa-Park in Germany was crowned the best park in the world, marking its 11th win. The awards ceremony was held Sept. 12 at the new COTALand theme park at the Circuit of the Americas Formula 1 track in Austin, Texas.
The Golden Ticket Awards began in 1998 and are voted on by hundreds of experienced and well-traveled amusement park fans, industry journalists and ride manufacturers from around the world, according to a press release.
Dollywood has been a dominant park at the annual awards ceremony. In 2024, Dollywood won more awards than any other theme park, and the park earned a legend award for sweeping the best Christmas event category for 15 consecutive years. The Christmas category was retired after Dollywood’s consistent wins.
Devarrick Turner is a trending news reporter. Email devarrick.turner@knoxnews.com.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Dollywood celebrates its first major awards since losing Dolly Parton
