2025 is off to a rocking start and Universal has a whole world (or universe?) of things planned for the year. From the yearly Rock the Universe and Mardi Gras concerts to the highly anticipated Halloween Horror Nights and Epic Universe, 2025 has something for everyone at Universal Orlando Resort!

Rock the Universe

Rock the Universe, Florida’s largest Christian rock festival, returns to Universal Studios Florida from 4:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. on January 24 and 25, 2025. Join fellow worshipers (and theme park fans) to exclusive musical acts and select open theme park attractions. RTU’s musical acts are spread across two stages – Music Plaza Stage between Minion Mayhem and Race Through New York and Hollywood Stage across from Mel’s Drive-In.

January 24 Musical Guests

• Brandon Lake
• Matthew West
• Katy Nicole
• Rend Collective
• KB
• Tasha Layton
• Aaron Cole
• Coqui
• Iveth Luna

January 25 Musical Guests

• Forest Frank
• Bethel Music
• ELEVATION RYTHM
• Taya
• Josiah Queen
• Caleb Gordon
• Consumed by Fire
• Coqui
• Allison Eide

Tickets start at $94.99 per person plus tax per night. Read our guide to prepare for your visit.

Universal Mardi Gras

Universal’s Mardi Gras is Universal Orlando’s premier international food festival featuring 17 countries and a street party. Celebrate the worldwide carnival with international food booths, musical performances, a new Tribute Store, new mythical creatures floats for the parade, and more! Dining packages that offer reservations to toss beads from the Mardi Gras parade floats are now open at $89.99 per person plus tax. Universal Orlando Mardi Gras runs daily from February 1 through March 30, 2025.

2025 Universal Mardi Gras Concert Schedule

• February 1 – T-Pain
• February 8 – Joe Jonas
• February 15 – Kool & The Gang
• February 16 – Juanes
• February 22 – Scotty McCreery
• March 1 – Foster the People
• March 8 – Illenium
• March 15 – All Time Low
• March 16 – Lawrence
• March 21 – Coco Jones
• March 22 – DJ Pauly D
• March 29 – TLC

Butterbeer Season

It’s not so much an event as an opportunity to celebrate the amazing flavors of Butterbeer. Look for all of the regular ways to enjoy Butterbeer (All The Butterbeer Options), plus Universal usually announces a few limited-run specialties just for the season. In 2025, Butterbeer Season will begin on March 1 and continue through May 31.

Volcano Bay Nights

In 2025, Universal is debuting a brand new offering that allows guests to “immerse themselves into the Waturi culture”. Yes, that’s light on details, but Universal promises that more specifics on the brand-new Volcano Bay Nights are coming later. This event, which presumably has a special ticket and a price tag attached to it, will be held on April 19, 26, and May 3, 10, 17 of 2025.

An Epic Summer

Yes, it’s the big one. After over a decade of rumors, six years since the announcement, and four years of active construction – Epic Universe is finally here. What else is there to say that hasn’t been said already? Opening May 22, 2025, this new theme park features five new theme lands with dozens of new attractions, restaurants, and shops. There are a lot of questions, and we have the answers in our Epic Universe Guide and F.A.Q.

Universal Orlando CityWalk Changes

CityWalk continues to morph and change. Last year the Cinnabon and Quiet Flight shops closed, the set of shops located to the left of the movie theater entrance. Construction has been intermittent throughout the year completing this project and we now expect the replacement to open by Summer 2025. Universal has not confirmed the new shops and/or restaurants coming to this space, with rumors suggesting an expanded Super Mario Store will open and attach to the existing Universal Studios Store and another part will sell Butterbeer to guests outside the theme parks. With the Cinnabon store closed Universal is building a kiosk across from Bigfire that will sell Cinnabon pastries and drinks to-go.

With Epic Universe’s opening around the corner the park’s preview center in CityWalk is on its last legs. While we expect the store to remain open through the summer it will likely close at the end of the summer or start of the fall for a new experience. Rumors suggest the Preview Center and Hot Dog Hall of Fame might depart for a new beer garden experience in its place. Universal has not announced a closing date or any replacement.

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit Closure

After 15 years of thrills, Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is nearing the end of its useful operating life and will close in 2025. Permits discovered by BehindTheThrills and Alicia Stella point to fully removing the Rip Ride Rockit coaster and replacing it with a new attraction. Universal Orlando confirmed the attraction would close in “early September,” which sounds like September 2nd to us, but we will have to wait for official confirmation. If you love Rip Ride Rocket, then ride one last time before the end of the summer.

Halloween Horror Nights 34 (2025)

Horror’s home is Universal, and Orlando is where you want to be for Halloween Horror Nights this fall. Held on select nights, HHN is a separate ticketed evening event featuring ten haunted houses, five scare zones, two shows, and select USF attractions. This year’s dates for Halloween Horror Nights will be August 29 – November 2, 2025. Universal raises prices roughly 4-7% on each admission type – we expect this year’s admission price to start at $87.99 and Express Pass to start around $135.99. Look for a separate article when ticket details and purchase dates are announced.

Holidays at Universal Orlando

I’m still taking down my decorations as I write this, so of course the best thing to write about now is next Christmas. Universal has announced the return of Holidays at Univeral Orlando for the 2025 holiday season. Expect the holiday parade, Grinchmas show, Tribute Store, and more from 2024 to return. Holidays at Universal Orlando will begin on November 21, 2025 and run daily through December 31, 2025.

Ready for 2025? Lets a go! Leave what you are most excited for in the comments below!

(Originally published January 7, 2025. Last updated/republished January 24, 2025.)