2026 is the restoration of the Smithsonian Carousel.
when you have artisans fully restoring the horses/chariots/seats one or two at a time? Yes, it takes a long time.
assume ~1 month for each horse.. . so let's assume 56 horses (on a standard carousel). divide by 2, because we're going to assume they are going to do 2 at a time (ie: hired two artisans).
that will take 2.4 years.
Smithsonian is saying 2026, that's 3 1/2 years from now. . . so they either have only one artisan working it, or it's taking longer than 1 month per feature.
regardless, a true restoration takes time.
and that's why those continually bitching about SFStL are just noise. . because they don't care about the facts, they just want to complain.
(complain that the park didn't bring in a temporary replacement during the refurbishment? yeah, right there with you on that. .and the park SHOULD still do that for the current season). but just bitching it's taking a long time? yeah, that's just bitching to bitch about it).