Nina Juan

IAAPA, the global association for the attractions industry, recently published its outlook on which family entertainment center (FEC) trends will last into 2027—and which will fade. If 2026 taught operators anything, it is that "more" isn't necessarily better: guests have become more selective, and operators are being pushed to look harder at experience, value, labor, and revenue per square foot.

We have summarized the trends IAAPA expects to stay, the ones heading for the exit, and—from our side of the industry—what each one means for the arcade and redemption zone of your venue.

Cashless has overtaken cash among UK arcade visitors for the first time. The question for operators is no longer whether to move — it is how fast, and what to do with the machines already standing on your floor.

From "What Is This?" to "I Get It": Arcade Games Through a Newcomer's Eyes