2026 Toy of the Year Award Finalists Unveiled at Chicago Toy & Game Fair

113 Innovative Toys & Video games That Will Prime Wishlists this Vacation Season!

, /PRNewswire/ — “Beautified” slime, a dinosaur that hatches itself out of an egg, and wiggly fidget collectibles are amongst the 113 innovative finalists for the out of the ordinary 2026 Toy of the 365 days^® (TOTY^®) Awards, announced recently by The Toy Foundation™ (TTF) on the Chicago Toy & Game Excellent (CHITAG) in Rosemont, IL. The unveiling of the TOTY finalists, which scream this year’s most sought-after toys across 16 classes of play, coincided with CHITAG’s first-ever Wishlist Weekend™, a fresh holiday tradition that encourages families all across the nation to play, witness, and originate building their wishlists for the vacation season.

“There may perchance be no such thing because the next manner to kick off Wishlist Weekend on the Chicago Toy & Game Excellent than by sharing this moment of delight with formative years, families, and toy followers of all ages!” stated Greg Ahearn, president & CEO of The Toy Affiliation™. “Every TOTY finalist is a testament to the creativity that defines the toy industry, which is usually innovating to create products that spark pleasure, discovering out, and social connections through play.”

Is named the “Oscars of the toy industry,” the TOTY Awards have fun the discontinue toys and games of the year, whereas serving as a key fundraiser for The Toy Foundation’s philanthropic mission to carry fee-fresh toys and play opportunities to formative years as soon as they need it most. All TOTY Award proceeds encourage The Toy Foundation’s initiatives, collectively with the Play Fund and Toy Chest packages, which bring the comfort and therapeutic vitality of play to formative years in need around the sector.

“As we have fun these prominent TOTY finalists, we’re additionally championing the reason on the coronary heart of it all: serving to formative years in need expertise the comfort and happiness that play provides,” added Pamela Mastrota, govt director of The Toy Foundation. “It is inspiring to inquire of the toy neighborhood come collectively to have fun the vitality of play – and abolish certain that formative years in each impart have access to it.”

Between now and January 7, 2026, followers of all ages can talk over with ToyAwards.org to inquire of what ought to be on their holiday taking a glimpse lists, cast votes for his or her favourite playthings in each class, and learn more about The Toy Foundation. Winners in each class, as successfully because the final Toy of the 365 days and Other folks’s Need award winners, shall be announced in February 2026.

2026 TOTY FINALISTS
Further shrimp print on each finalist is readily available at ToyAwards.org

ACTION FIGURE OF THE YEAR
Toys that scream an person or fictional personality intended for vigorous, imaginative, and story-basically based utterly mostly play.

• Avatar Interactive Shoulder Banshee by Disney Consumer Products
• Doom: The Darkish Ages Doom Slayer McFarlane Elite Edition #1 Action Figure by McFarlane Toys
• Easy Disclose Your Dragon Interactive Tame & Disclose Toothless by Bolt Master Ltd.
• Jurassic World Rebirth Dolores Aquilops Interactive Shoulder Pal by Universal Products & Experiences
• Ninjombie Action Figures by MGA Entertainment
• Primal Hatch by Bolt Master Ltd.
• Mountainous Mario Huge Noxious Bowser by JAKKS Pacific

COLLECTIBLE OF THE YEAR
Toys designed for more than one single-merchandise purchases as section of a scheme or sequence to procure, much like minis, blind packs, fidget toys, trading cards, impulse/novelty playthings, licensed collectibles, and more.

• Disney Lorcana Buying and selling Card Game – Fabled Set aside by Ravensburger North The US, Inc.
• Sizzling Wheels Premium Formula 1 Die-Solid Vehicles by Mattel, Inc.
• LEGO F1 Collectible Streak Vehicles by LEGO Systems, Inc.
• Magic: The Gathering Marvel Spider-Man Bundle by Hasbro, Inc.
• Pokémon Buying and selling Card Game: Mega Evolution Elite Trainer Box by The Pokémon Firm Global, Inc.
• Sticki Rolls Assortment 2 by Sky Castle Toys
• Wigglitz by ZB Designs

CONSTRUCTION TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys that abet hands-on building or assembly because the well-known play pattern with objects that interconnect to create devices, scenes, or mechanisms that develop an action or squawk a story.

• GeckoBot 2.0 by Thames & Kosmos LLC
• Jelly Blox Construction Space Set aside by Goliath
• LEGO Jurassic World Dinosaur Fossils: Tyrannosaurus rex Set aside by LEGO Systems, Inc.
• LEGO Terrible Welcome to Emerald City by LEGO Systems, Inc.
• MAGNA-TILES Fireplace Location 50-Piece Set aside by MAGNA-TILES
• Melissa & Doug Blockables by Bolt Master Ltd.
• Rail Dice Magnetic Monorail Deluxe Set aside by Meekins Corp. on behalf of Sankyo Toys

CREATIVE TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys that inspire self-expression, storytelling, and imaginative and ingenious play, collectively with products that allow formative years create, give a take cling of to, and dress up, much like arts & crafts kits, compounds, feature-play/dress-up objects, and more.

• Barbie Fundamentals: You Compose Doll Equipment by Mattel, Inc.
• ChompSaw by Chompshop, Inc.
• Clixo Dino Adventure Pack by Toyish Labs, Inc.
• Crayola Marker Airbrush by Crayola LLC
• Gui Gui by Moose Toys LLC
• Play-Doh Barbie Vogue Effect Playset by Hasbro, Inc.
• Swift Clicks Heishi Bracelet Maker by Form It True

DOLL OF THE YEAR
Toys that encompass shrimp one, toddler, and model dolls.

• American Girl Disney Moana Assortment by Mattel, Inc.
• Bratz Stylin’ Vogue Dolls by MGA Entertainment
• Disney Darlings by JAKKS Pacific
• Disney Doorables ADOORBS Dolls by Approved Play LLC
• Admire, Stella Sleepy Time Set aside by Sassy Child, Inc.
• Monster Excessive Horrifying Sweet Birthday Cupid Asteria Doll by Mattel, Inc.
• Woof & Co by Sunny Days Entertainment LLC

EDUCATIONAL TOY OF THE YEAR
Whereas all toys have discovering out advantages, this class acknowledges toys and games particularly designed to meet a tutorial operate, much like building a particular skill or instructing a particular topic impart, collectively with STEM, literacy, or social-emotional discovering out.

• 3Doodler Inaugurate+ Requirements 3D Printing Pen Set aside by 3Doodler
• CONNETIX 70 Piece PRO Constructor Set aside by CONNETIX, section of Courageous Toys Pty Ltd.
• Cooper the STEM Robot by Studying Sources, Inc.
• ESPN Virtual Reality by Abacus Producers, Inc.
• MAGNA-TILES Rail Racers Deluxe 90-Piece Set aside by MAGNA-TILES
• My Robotic Pet: Coding Chameleon by Thames & Kosmos LLC
• Ollyball STEAM Current Master Artists Edition by VICTURY Sports activities LLC
• SNAP CIRCUITS SPY KIT by Elenco Electronics LLC

GAME OF THE YEAR
Family and formative years’s games made for avid gamers ages 0-14, collectively with board, card, digital, and other bodily sport formats, distinctive of games particularly for avid gamers ages 14 to adult (technique, celebration, or inclined-themed as examples), video games, and app games.

• Connect 4 Frenzy by Hasbro, Inc.
• Cows in Home by Relatable
• Dumpster Dice by Huge Discoveries
• Exploding Kittens: The Board Game by Exploding Kittens, Inc.
• Pokémon Trainer Educated by Ultra PRO
• Simon Soar Game Mat by Approved Play LLC
• Tetris Tumble XL by Buffalo Video games, Inc.

INFANT/TODDLER TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys particularly developed for babies and youngsters as much as age 3. (0-18 months (toddler) and 18 months-3 years (toddler), does now not encompass ages 3+.)

• Fisher-Trace Snicker & Learn 4-in-1 Job Table & Easel by Mattel, Inc.
• Micro Mini Rock & Bound LED Scooter by Micro Kickboard
• My First Tonies: Farm Set aside by tonies
• Play Tab by Corpulent Mind Toy Co.
• Form & Coloration Garden by Studying Sources, Inc.
• VTech Safe Rising Tractor & Mower Hunch-On by VTech Electronics North The US LLC
• Yookidoo Pour ‘N’ Grow Pop-Up Garden by Yookidoo

KIDULT TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys and games developed basically for customers ages 14 to adults, collectively with celebration, technique, and board games; collector objects; craft & mannequin kits; building devices; and more. These toys are normally in accordance to and/or fueled by fandoms, social media, and inclined humor.

• Barbie Signature LeBron James Kenbassador Doll by Mattel, Inc.
• Hack Pack by CrunchLabs
• LEGO Game Boy by LEGO Systems, Inc.
• LEGO Terrible Glinda & Elphaba Bookends by LEGO Systems, Inc.
• Marvel Legends Assortment Spider-Man Digital Expressive Screen by Hasbro, Inc.
• Miniverse Form it Mini Meals Diner Assortment 4 by MGA Entertainment
• ZipString Aracna by ZipString LLC

LICENSE OF THE YEAR
An entertainment, celeb, lifestyle, or social media-pushed fee that has accomplished vital success through licensed toy lines and fee extensions; or a toy-basically based utterly mostly IP that has successfully expanded past the toy aisle through strategic licensing.

• Bluey by BBC Studios Americas
• Disney Sew by Disney Consumer Products
• Sizzling Wheels by Mattel, Inc.
• Ms. Rachel by Bolt Master Ltd.
• Pokémon by The Pokémon Firm Global, Inc.
• Squishmallows by Jazwares
• Terrible by Universal Products & Experiences

OUTDOOR TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys particularly designed for out of doors play, collectively with out of doors-utterly lunge-ons, much like motorized automobiles, bicycles, scooters, wagons; bubble toys; and sports toys.

• Crazy Cart Plug by Razor USA LLC
• Jaw-Some Shark Bag by iPlay, iLearn, Inc.
• Ocean Emotion Seashells by Studying Sources, Inc.
• Exterior Kitchen by Hape
• Pocked Mod Lightshow by Razor USA LLC
• PoppinColorz Galactic Coloration Bubble Machine by South Seaside Bubbles
• The Customary Woblong Double-Cruise Flyer by Rival Flyer, Inc.

PLAYSET OF THE YEAR
A themed play atmosphere with characters, accessories, and/or interactive aspects that abet storytelling, feature play, or action-basically based utterly mostly play, much like dollhouses, fight arenas, racetracks, settings for action figures, and more. Unfamiliar of setting up-basically based utterly mostly playsets covered by their receive class.

• Barbie Dream Camper Automobile Playset by Mattel, Inc.
• Bluey Grocery store Playset by Moose Toys LLC
• Dōteki Multiplayer Fight Pack — Heatoru & Arctos by TOMY
• Sizzling Wheels Track Creator Triple Loop Tempo Equipment by Mattel, Inc.
• Monster Jam Smash & Bash Smashbot Playset by Bolt Master Ltd.
• Star Excursions StarSpeeder 1000 Automobile Playset by Disney Consumer Products
• VTech Bluey Boulevard Day out Playset by VTech Electronics North The US LLC

PLUSH TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys which could be made of cloth and stuffed with relaxed filling, collectively with plush playthings with interactive or digital aspects.

• Again Company Cow by Mary Meyer Corp.
• Care Bears x Terrible 2-Pack Boxed Set aside by Overall Fun!
• Disney Sew Closing Sew Interactive Characteristic Plush by Approved Play LLC
• FurReal Maggie the Feed & Apply Cow by Approved Play LLC
• GUND Disney Stare-a-Boo Winnie the Pooh Sharp Plush by Bolt Master Ltd.
• Easy Disclose Your Dragon Toothless Puppetronic by True FX by WOW! Stuff
• Hugarounds by Hugimals World

PRESCHOOL TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys particularly developed for formative years ages 3-5.

• Coloration Marvel Bluey Light Up Stamper by Crayola LLC
• Ingenious Play 3 in 1 Play Kitchen, Store & Workshop by HABA USA
• Fisher-Trace Wood Picnic Basket Set aside by Mattel, Inc.
• Exiguous Tikes Ingenious Construction Vitality Cuts Set aside by MGA Entertainment
• MAGNA-TILES Pet Playhouse 50-Piece Set aside by MAGNA-TILES
• Melissa & Doug Simmer & Gallop Stovetop Play Set aside by Bolt Master Ltd.
• Mini Farmstand Sorting Set aside by Studying Sources, Inc.

SPECIALTY TOY OF THE YEAR
Toys promoted and sold nearly solely through unbiased outlets (neighborhood toy stores, museum retail outlets, vacation destinations, and identical venues) or in restricted quantities on-line. Voted on solely by strong level outlets through Astra.

• Wherever Sports activities – Peaceful Basketball 9.5″ Law Dimension by Skinny Air Producers LLC
• Better Butter Pondering Putty by Crazy Aaron’s
• Clixo Itsy-bitsy & Mighty Home Magnetic Constructing Set aside by Toyish Labs, Inc.
• Magshuto Stunt Park by Corpulent Mind Toy Co.
• NeeDoh Nice Dice Swirl by Schylling Toys
• Pets 2 Admire by Luki Lab
• Yes & Know Customary Invisible Ink Minutiae Game Books by Tree City Toys

VEHICLE OF THE YEAR
Toy automobiles, trucks, trains, and other automobiles in all scales, collectively with R/C automobiles and lunge-ons made solely for indoor use.

• Air-Vitality Turbo Racer by Thames & Kosmos LLC
• BRIO World Pull Back Disclose Set aside by Ravensburger North The US, Inc.
• Flat 2 Swiftly Card Racers Tempo by Luki Lab
• Sizzling Wheels Closing Dual Dragon Transporter by Mattel, Inc.
• Hyper Burst Shockout Circuit by Goliath
• PAW Patrol Fireplace Rescue: Swiftly Reload Fireplace Truck by Bolt Master Ltd.
• Toy Tale Transferring Truck Automobile Playset by Disney Consumer Products

For more recordsdata regarding the TOTY Awards vote casting and alternative direction of, talk over with ToyAwards.org.

The TOTY Awards gala, taking impart Friday, February 13, 2026 in Unique York City, is originate solely to toy industry professionals. Tickets for the match shall be readily available for buy on November 11; all TOTY proceeds are donated to The Toy Foundation, which partners with generous toy companies all year lengthy to bring fee-fresh toys to formative years who’re unwell, at-threat, in foster care, impoverished, or in another case in need. The TOTY celebration will kick off Toy Excellent^® 2026 (February 14 to 17) and encompass the induction of industry trailblazers into the esteemed Toy Industry Hall of Fame .

About The Toy Foundation ™ toyfoundation.org
The Toy Foundation (TTF) is a 501 (c)(3) formative years’s charity and philanthropic arm of The Toy Affiliation. The uniting power for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry for the encourage of all formative years in need, TTF works with companies across two program areas, Toy Chest and Play Fund, to create a world the place every child experiences the comfort, pleasure, and out of the ordinary advantages of play. By working collectively, TTF has delivered the vitality of play to 36 million formative years in need worldwide.

SOURCE The Toy Foundation