The best places to open a soft play in 2026

Quick answer: The best place to open a soft play is the most underserved catchment near you — where the most children share the fewest existing venues. GetSoftPlay ranks 371 cities across 90 countries by this “demand gap”. In 2026 the widest gaps worldwide are in Huambo (18.67×), Yamoussoukro (13.33×), Douala (12.76×) — but the right answer is the strongest gap within your own reach.

What makes a location good for a soft play?

A good soft play location combines a large child catchment, few competing venues, and an affordable, accessible unit (a retail park or mall works well). GetSoftPlay measures the first two as a single demand gap: children in the catchment ÷ existing venues, versus a regional benchmark. Above 1.0× means underserved.

The most underserved cities worldwide right now

Full worldwide ranking and methodology: Soft Play Opportunity Index 2026.

Best places by region

Pick your region for a demand-ranked list of cities:

• Most underserved UK cities
• Most underserved European cities
• Most underserved North American cities
• Most underserved Latin American cities
• Most underserved Middle Eastern cities
• Most underserved Asia-Pacific cities
• Most underserved African cities

How do I choose between two locations?

Compare their demand gap first, then the practicalities: rent, footfall, parking and unit size. A slightly smaller gap in a cheaper, higher-footfall unit often beats the highest gap in a hard-to-reach one. Once you have a shortlist, check the economics with is soft play profitable and how much soft play centres make.