Baby & Toys

Toy Makers' 2026 Holiday Picks Span Sensory Play, Building Sets, and Licensed Collectibles

Company-submitted holiday toys range from a customizable dollhouse and space train set to Pokémon collectibles and AI-assisted sticker makers.

Amara DialloNovember 11, 20265 min read0 views

A festive editorial still life shows a modular dollhouse, magnetic building tiles, plush animals, and collectible toys arranged on a wooden table under soft winter light.

Toy and game companies are assembling a broad 2026 holiday lineup that reaches from squishy sensory toys to modular playsets and licensed collectibles. The selections, submitted by manufacturers for retailers to watch, are grouped around imaginative worlds, hands-on building, sensory play, technology, and established franchises. Prices in the assortment range from $4.99 to $279.99, with age targets stretching from 18 months to 15 and older.

Sensory, plush, and active play

Several picks lean on tactile feedback and physical comedy.

  • Chester from Goliath is a butt-shaped interactive character that wiggles and makes silly sounds when squeezed; pressing its head triggers a dance routine. It is priced at $29.99 for ages 8 and up and uses three AAA batteries.
  • Tiggle Me Elmo Giggle Max from Just Play stands 18 inches tall and combines laughter, full-body motion, and other reactions. It is listed at $39.97 for children 18 months and older.
  • Simplay3’s oversized sensory nest rocks and spins in any direction. The low, open design is intended for several children to use together indoors or outdoors; it is priced at $129.99 for ages 2 and up.

Building sets and modular worlds

Construction and configurable playsets make up another cluster, with companies emphasizing replay value and family space.

  • Mattel’s customizable dollhouse includes nine indoor and outdoor play areas, two pools, two slides, and more than 65 accessories. Its two house structures can be joined into one home or connected by a bridge; it is priced at $214.99 for ages 3 and up.
  • Ravensburger’s BRIO World Space Deluxe Set brings the wooden railway into a 56-piece space theme with multiple levels, tunnels, a space station, a rover, and a shuttle with lights and sounds. It costs $279.99.
  • Brave Toys’ CONNETIX travel pack packs 32 compact magnetic pieces and two sheets of reusable stickers into a carry tin for building on the go. It is priced at $25.
  • The LEGO Group’s Bluey set has 106 pieces, Bluey and Rusty mini-figures, and a school scene with a kitchen, café, hospital, and baby-care area. It is priced at $24.99.

Collectibles and licensed favorites

Familiar characters and collector formats appear repeatedly, often at lower price points designed for repeat purchase or gifting.

  • The Pokémon Co. International’s Elite Trainer Box marks 30 years of Pokémon with the Futuristic Rare card rarity, all-foil cards, new visuals, and the return of 30 classic Pokémon. It is priced at $49.99 for ages 6 and up.
  • Jazwares’ interactive Pikachu, created by Wow! Stuff, offers more than 100 action and sound combinations, touch sensors, blinking eyes, mouth movement, and soft puppetronic play. It is priced at $79.99.
  • Tonies’ Toniebox 2 Pokémon set includes Pikachu, Squirtle, Charmander, and Bulbasaur figures that play stories and songs on the screen-free audio player. The set is priced at $199.99 for ages 5 and up.
  • License 2 Play’s Domo collectible returns with a blocky shape, fuzzy texture, and wide-open mouth, priced from $4.99 to $14.99.
  • Super Impulse’s Drip Drops are miniature sneaker collectibles with 16 styles in Series 1, including Hot Wheels, Godzilla, and Smiley themes. Each comes with a shoebox, real laces, a display case, and a keychain.

Technology and creative play

Tech-enabled toys are positioned as tools for customization, performance, or skill practice, with companies adding safeguards or guided play.

  • Hapiko’s voice-powered sticker maker uses AI to create and print sticker combinations. The company says it includes filters and guardrails and is not “always listening.”
  • Cra-Z-Art’s instant camera lets tweens take photos and print them in seconds without extra cables or devices; markers and stickers are included for decorating black-and-white prints.
  • Golden Bear’s Strikesphere basketball trainer uses light-guided drills across three game modes and an LCD scoreboard to track high scores. It is priced at $99.99.
  • Loops Lab’s DJ stage has an eight-spot signature stage that lights in multiple colors, five EDM-inspired band characters called the Waveravers, and two HedX DJ figurines. It is designed for ages 12 and up.

Games and everyday play

  • Taco Cat Games’ go-kart race game lets players back a racer through three races and switch sides when a swap card changes the odds; points depend on finishing position. It is for ages 7 and up.
  • Fizz Creations offers pocket-sized keyring arcades for PAC-MAN and Tetris, plus Grinch-themed keyring, handheld, and plug-and-play games, priced from $16.99 to $39.99.
  • Horizon Group USA’s stress toys contain slow-flow glitter gel and come in licensed themes including Squishmallows, Hello Kitty, SpongeBob SquarePants, Minecraft, Hershey’s, Bluey, and Pudgy Penguins. They are priced from $4.99 to $8.99.
  • ZURU’s Mommy Elephant walks and reveals two, three, or four baby elephants; the babies can connect to her tail to form a train. It requires three AA batteries.

The spread shows how holiday assortment planning is balancing low-cost impulse items with higher-ticket playsets. Licensed characters remain a strong through-line, but companies are also giving shelf space to open-ended building, sensory regulation, and guided skill-building toys. The submissions indicate that retailers will be weighing familiar names against formats that encourage repeat play and collectibility.