Kanurah 2026: Maya Temple meets spectacular Jet Fighter

Kanurah 2026 brings an unusual mix to the funfair: Dutch showman Louis Vallentgoed combines a modern ride with inversions and the story of a mysterious Maya temple. The new attraction by Technical Park is a Jet Fighter model. But the experience does not begin with the thrilling ride. Visitors are first invited to become part of an expedition, complete with a pre-show, soundtrack and specially designed setting.

Kanurah is now more than just an announcement. The ride was seen at several fairs in Austria, the Netherlands and Germany during 2026. Its first official appearance was at the Urfahraner Frühjahrsmarkt in Linz. In summer, it went on to Tilburgse Kermis, where the expanded pre-show was also presented. We take a closer look at the concept, technology and its tour so far.

Kanurah 2026: From Jet Fighter to Maya adventure

A large pendulum ride can impress through its height and motion alone. Vallentgoed, however, wanted to go a step further. Together with The Entertainment Crew, he developed a concept that connects the ride itself with a continuous story. Guests do not simply visit a ride. Instead, they are drawn into the role of participants in an archaeological expedition.

At the heart of the story is the fictional researcher Marcus Vega. He has discovered the temple of Kanurah and needs money to continue his expedition. So he opens the site to visitors who pay to enter. What begins as a harmless sightseeing trip changes as the story unfolds. Gradually, it becomes clear that a secret lies behind the temple. Finally, the story leads directly to the ride itself.

Even the ticket booth follows this idea. Rather than using the usual ride name, the visit is presented as “Temple Tours”. This creates a link between the entrance, the waiting area and the attraction. It is also intended to appeal to people who want to experience a little story alongside the intense movement.

Kanurah's pre-show was expanded in Tilburg

A significant milestone followed in July 2026. In an interview with Kermis FM, Vallentgoed explained that the previously announced pre-show had now become part of the attraction. Visitors in Tilburg could experience the more complete version of the Maya adventure. The additional section is designed as a separate room and develops the temple story further.

Old stones, plants and carefully chosen details create the impression of a long-abandoned site. The presentation does not rely on decoration alone. Sound, lighting and dramatic pacing also play a part. According to Vallentgoed, the music was composed especially for the ride. The show itself can be started using a separate control system, while further effects are part of the ride programme.

Fire and water effects were also announced at first. However, their exact design was still in development during the first year of the ride's tour. So you should not assume that every announced show element will be present at each appearance. Even so, the transition from the waiting area to the pre-show and then the ride makes Kanurah stand out.

Dutch reports also showed photos of the ticket booth and themed rooms in summer. An illustrated report by Kermis FM gives you an idea of how the themed world has been brought to life.

Technical Park: How Jet Fighter technology works

The ride was made by Technical Park in Italy. Vallentgoed says he discovered the Jet Fighter at a trade fair in London. The model is technically related to the well-known Loop Fighter, but uses a more advanced gondola design. The ride has a central moving arm and two passenger carriers that can also turn upside down during the ride.

This means that the height is not the only thing that changes for passengers. Their orientation also keeps changing. As the main arm moves, intense rotations and upside-down sections follow. The sensation can be quite different from that of a conventional swinging ship, where the seats maintain a more stable orientation.

The structure reaches a height of about 24 metres. Alongside its ride technology, Kanurah also has an unusually extensive setting. The operator described the set-up in Tilburg as a job for a team of five to six people. According to him, the attraction is transported in two units: one for the ride and one for the additional pre-show. This shows the effort Vallentgoed has put into the complete mobile concept.

If you are not used to these movements, check the ride's restrictions before riding. Inversions and sudden changes of direction are an integral part of the concept. The applicable safety and height rules are displayed at the attraction itself.

Maya theming instead of a standard funfair façade

The visual design plays a greater role at Kanurah than at many traditional rides with inversions. The Maya temple is more than just a backdrop behind the machinery. Instead, it provides the setting for the entire visitor journey. From the ticket booth to the ride, small details and the specially developed story are intended to create one connected experience.

The challenge is to keep such a production transportable. At a fairground, the available space and set-up times differ from those at an amusement park. The design concept therefore has to be adapted to different fairgrounds again and again. Some parts of the scenery were added gradually over the course of the season. As a result, the complete backdrop was not visible everywhere at the same time.

That is precisely what makes the ride editorially interesting: Kanurah shows that a classic travelling ride and elaborate theme park elements do not have to be mutually exclusive. The coordinated scenery, sound effects and movements give the Jet Fighter its own identity. Whether this concept will inspire more showmen in the long term remains to be seen.

Debut in Linz and appearances at major fairs

The premiere took place in spring 2026 at the Urfahraner Markt in Linz. In its announcement, the city itself explicitly described Kanurah as a new action ride with a Maya design. The ride then travelled to funfairs in the Netherlands. An important summer appearance took it to Tilburg, where visitors could experience the attraction, complete with its pre-show, in July.

Kanurah 2026 also attracted attention in Germany. The Jet Fighter was part of the line-up at the Cannstatter Volksfest and later at the Herbstsend in Münster. The international touring operation suits the family of operators, who have been active in the Dutch showman scene for generations. Vallentgoed had already gained experience with the Power Surge ride before Kanurah.

However, an appearance in a previous season does not automatically confirm that Kanurah will be at the next edition of the same festival. If you want to know whether Kanurah will be appearing near you in the future, it is worth checking our current funfair calendar. There, we distinguish between confirmed bookings and events whose line-up of rides has not yet been fully confirmed.

A look at Kanurah's show in action

Photos show above all the temple-like design. A video is the best way to see how the two gondolas actually move. The following off-ride footage was recorded during Tilburgse Kermis 2026. It shows Louis Vallentgoed's actual ride, not just an identical model operated by someone else.

The view from outside makes the combination of the moving main arm and the inversions particularly clear. If you are more interested in how the themed area is set up, the photo report by Kermis FM linked earlier includes pictures of the additional pre-show and the details in the entrance area.

Kanurah 2026: Who will enjoy the Maya experience?

Kanurah is primarily a thrill ride. If you enjoy intense rotations, upside-down sections and big movements, you should find plenty to enjoy here. At the same time, the story sets the experience apart from a purely technical ride. You can sense the atmosphere even before boarding and get into the role of a participant in a temple expedition.

Kanaruh is less suitable for visitors who prefer a gentle ride. Although the Maya-themed setting may initially suggest a family attraction, the ride itself is a demanding looping ride. If you only want to take photos or watch, you can find interesting views of the movement and decorated front from outside.

You can also find all known technical details, the operator’s history and another video in the existing Kanurah – Vallentgoed attraction profile. Linked events are also shown there. This lets you follow the progress of this special new funfair ride.

Sources: City of Linz – Urfahraner Frühjahrsmarkt 2026; Kermis FM – interview with Louis Vallentgoed and photo report, 19.07.2026; Looopings – theme concept. Video: Funfair Vlogs, off-ride footage of the real attraction at Tilburgse Kermis 2026. For copyright reasons, the linked photos remain the property of their respective rights holders.