Each year, the biggest toy companies debut their newest launches at The North American International Toy Fair in New York City. And, as The Everymom’s Editor-in-Chief, attending this convention is one of my favorite moments of the year! I get the chance to actually play with toys for a whole day and see what all the kids will be adding to their holiday wish lists. During my visit, I walked the show floor, spotted the breakout hits, and paid close attention to the biggest toy trends for 2026.
The best toys of 2026 aren’t in just one category. From classic American Girl dolls to the latest in STEM and toys encouraging open-ended play, this year’s toys were so much fun to experience. For me, it was all about nostalgia, cozy culture, and leaning into those big cultural moments that everyone will be talking about. Which, of course, means more K-Pop Demon Hunters toys than you can imagine!
Keep reading for the top toy trends of 2026 straight from this year’s Toy Fair—and find out why they’re about to be everywhere!
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The Rise of the ‘Kidult’
Good news for parents! Toys are not just for kids anymore. According to The Toy Association, 81 percent of parents in 2025 added toys for themselves to their own holiday shopping list. No wonder LEGOs for adults, premium collectibles, display-worthy figurines, and nostalgic toys are front and center when it comes to 2026 toy trends, too.
What’s Hot:
- Nostalgic reboots of favorite toys from the ’90s and 2000s
- Pop culture figurines and licensed collectibles
- Advanced building sets for kids
Nostalgic Toys Are Everywhere
As Pinterest Predicts 2026 reported, Gen-Z and Gen Alpha are all about the 2000s-era kids toys. With big sequels and reboots like Toy Story 5 and Masters of the Universe hitting theaters this year, the nostalgia can be felt deeply across the toy world. We’re leaning heavily into favorite characters from Star Wars (ahead of the new Mandalorian movie), Pokémon, Harry Potter, and American Girl, among others.
What’s Hot:
- Harry Potter across every toy category
- American Girl’s collab with Polly Pocket!
- He-Man and Masters of the Universe toys
- The Crossfire board game (remember that?!)
- Pokémon everything
Low-Tech and Screen-Free Toys
One of the clearest takeaways from Toy Fair this year? Simple is back. Amid all the flashing lights and app-connected gadgets, the booths drawing the biggest crowds were filled with hands-on building sets, tactile crafts, classic games, and imagination-driven play. Parents are craving toys that don’t require charging cables, and kids are responding to toys that let them lead the play instead of following instructions from a screen.
What’s Hot:
- Wooden and magnetic building sets
- Craft kits and DIY activity boxes
- Strategy-based board and card games for younger ages
- Open-ended role-play toys that grow with your child
K-Pop Demon Hunters Everything
Just when you thought the Huntrix mania had died down, all of the K-Pop Demon Hunters toys are (still) coming your way. My favorites came in the form of Nerf’s new Huntrix swords and light-up sticks for both the Huntrix girls and the Saja Boys. Uno and Furby are also getting the K-Pop treatment and I expect these toys to take over holiday wish lists in 2026. I know my little one will definitely be adding them to his list for Santa!
What’s Hot:
- NERF Rumi’s Four Tiger Sword
- K-Pop Demon Hunters games like Monopoly and Uno
- Furby Furblets Derpy and Saja Boy Demon
- Huntrix and Saja Boys Light Sticks
Timely Toys: Pop Culture and Big Moments
If low-tech toys are winning parents over, timely toys are capturing kids’ attention. Every year there are a few big cultural moments that make their way to viral status. If you’re trying to predict which toys will dominate group chats and birthday party wish lists this year, this category is where momentum builds fast.
What’s Hot:
- Blind-box collectibles with interactive elements
- FIFA World Cup collectibles
- Character toys tied to upcoming entertainment releases
What These Toy Trends Mean for You in 2026
This year’s toys are clearly not just about play, they’re all about connection and joy across generations. These are the ones that have longevity, and build lifelong memories.
If you’re planning ahead for birthdays or the holiday season, now’s the time to take note. These are the toys that will get added to kids’ wish lists, go viral, and become the gift-opening stories you’ll hear littles retell again and again. Consider this your inside scoop: what we saw at Toy Fair is what’s about to be everywhere. And now, you’re ahead of the curve.
Roberta Correia, Editor-in-Chief
Roberta is an editor with 10+ years experience in content strategy and brand building. Before joining The Everymom she was Editorial Director at Brides and previously served as Digital Editor at Women’s Wear Daily. She grew up in Brazil and currently calls Brooklyn home with her son, Lucas.
