how long will stardust racers be closed
As of late January 2026, Stardust Racers at Universal Epic Universe is closed indefinitely after a major malfunction, and there is no official reopening date yet.
Why Stardust Racers is closed
On Sunday, January 18, 2026, Stardust Racers was shut down during test runs when both trains failed to clear a hill and became stuck in a valley position on their respective tracks (a “double valley”). This happened after the ride had been closed earlier in the day due to high winds and weather conditions in the Orlando area. No guests were on board at the time, so there were no rider injuries, but the entire ride is now non-operational while Universal works to resolve the issue.
This is actually the second time Stardust Racers has experienced a valleyed train: a similar incident occurred during testing in March 2025, requiring a crane to lift the train out. The repeat of the problem on both tracks has raised concerns among fans and commentators about the ride’s reliability, programming, and how it handles weather.
How long it will likely stay closed
Universal has not announced an exact reopening date for Stardust Racers as of late January 2026. From the incident details:
- Removing valleyed trains, especially when cranes are involved, is a careful, time‑consuming process that can take several days just to get the trains back into the station.
- After the trains are freed, the ride must undergo extensive technical checks, software reviews, and safety validation before it can reopen to guests.
- Analysts and theme park journalists expect that Stardust Racers will remain closed for at least several more days to a week or more , depending on what changes Universal decides to make (e.g., adjusting lift speed, block zone settings, or weather protocols).
Guesses from fans and park insiders range from a closure of about 5–7 days for a relatively straightforward fix, to potentially several weeks if the park decides to make more significant changes to the ride’s operation or programming.
What guests should expect
If visiting Epic Universe right now:
- Guests should plan for Stardust Racers to remain closed for the next several days at minimum.
- The ride status will be visible in the official Epic Universe app, which Universal typically updates if an attraction is temporarily closed.
- In the near term, it’s safest to assume Stardust Racers is not available for the end of the current week, with the possibility of a return sometime in early February, depending on testing and approvals.
Historical context
Stardust Racers has had a troubled history at Epic Universe:
- It was previously closed for over two weeks in September 2025 after a guest died on the ride, reopening in early October 2025 after an internal investigation and safety review.
- The current closure (January 2026) is a separate, mechanical issue involving trains becoming valleyed during test cycles, not a guest incident.
Universal has not yet shared whether this latest closure will lead to longer- term restrictions (like higher wind limits or slower launch speeds), but the double valley is likely to result in some operational changes before Stardust Racers fully returns.
TL;DR: Stardust Racers is closed indefinitely as of January 28, 2026, after both trains became stuck on the track. Universal has not said when it will reopen, but experts expect it to stay closed for at least several more days, and possibly a week or more, while the trains are removed and the ride is retested.