Our second year of the BestReviews Best of the Best of Toy Fair awards sent us once again to New York Toy Fair to consider thousands of new releases from popular brands and indie newcomers.
The hottest categories right now include “Kidult” toys that appeal to kids and kids-at-heart, nostalgia-focused items and fandom toys from new licenses like KPop Demon Hunters.
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After getting hands-on and experiencing the sights, sensations, sounds and smells of Toy Fair, we picked our 18 winners for 2026.
In this article: LEGO SMART PLAY, Hasbro Dungeons & Dragons: Welcome to the Hellfire Club and Robosen Mini Robots
SMART PLAY is possibly LEGO’s biggest innovation yet, introducing bricks that house miniature computers, speakers, lights and sensors to create dynamic play with many possibilities.
The SMART BRICK, included with All-in-One SMART PLAY sets, detects a SMART Tag nearby to emit a specific set of lights and sounds. Because each SMART BRICK pinpoints the location and proximity of other SMART objects, they allow kids to build sets that interact with specific vehicles, objects and even SMART Minifigs in different ways. Sets that include a SMART BRICK also have wireless chargers to keep the fun going.
The LEGO Smart Play System also won Best Toy in the BestReviews Best of CES 2026 Awards.
Mattel KPop Demon Hunters dolls
The biggest IP in 2026 by far is KPop Demon Hunters, which made its Toy Fair debut this year. From the company that brought us Barbie is a collection of dolls, including the iconic Huntr/x trio of Rumi, Mira and Zoey.
These are bound to become collectibles as the first of their kind, making them a must-have toy for KPop Demon Hunters fans of all ages. We’re predicting these dolls will be the most-sought-after gift this holiday season. At Toy Fair we had an exclusive preview of these dolls, and can confirm the attention to detail is at a level that every KPop Demon Hunters fan will appreciate.
Hasbro Dungeons & Dragons: Welcome to the Hellfire Club
The '80s collide with modern-day nerd culture in Stranger Things’ Welcome to Hellfire Club, a beginner Dungeons & Dragons adventure in a box that follows Eddie Munson’s famous final campaign. It includes several ready-made characters and gorgeous '80s-style illustrations to transport you to a fantasy world full of Demogorgons and other familiar beasties and villains, as well as nods to the characters of "Stranger Things."
While the included characters are helpful, experienced players can also create their own. This set uses a simplified version of 5th-Edition rules to onboard both new players and new dungeon masters.
Rubie’s 2026 Superman and Supergirl costumes
These official 2026 costumes let your kids embody Superman himself or this year’s cinematic newcomer, Supergirl. Rubie’s commitment to movie accuracy shows in the details of both costumes, which release alongside the "Supergirl" movie later this year.
Watchitude Endless Bubble Wrap
This sensory toy achieves the impossible — infinitely poppable bubble wrap. In the form of a pocket-sized rubber square, you can pop this bubble wrap from either side or fold it in half for a satisfying crinkly crunch that never runs out. This is an excellent gift for fidgety kids or adults who want to keep their hands busy at their desk.
Ultra Pro Pokémon Trainer Ultimate
Expanding on the popular Pokémon Trainer Expert, the Pokémon Trainer Ultimate has a portable form-factor (in a Poké Ball shape, of course) that will not only guess which Pokémon you’re thinking of, but will also display its image on a small screen. You can play solo or with friends, and the small size means you can take it anywhere. It’s the perfect gift for anyone who prides themselves on their knowledge of the original 151.
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Star Wars The Black Series and The Vintage Collection figures
New additions to these two collections of iconic Star Wars characters span films and shows from the prequel trilogy to "The Mandalorian" and "Obi-Wan Kenobi." The Mandalorian and Grogu set is impressively realistic, and the Imperial Remnant AT-RT includes the walker vehicle and its driver in the classic Vintage Collection 3.75-inch scale.
Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Color Blast Marker Airbrush
Air brushes can be messy, but this one uses fully washable ink! The Color Blast Marker Airbrush features two elephants — one that is fully paintable, and another that sprays paint from its trunk. The size of these figurines makes them easy to hold for small hands, and the mess comes off easily so kids can paint again and again.
Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Mutant Chaos
One of the bestselling product lines meets slime in Hot Wheels Monster Trucks Mutant Chaos, which feature creature-like monster trucks and slimy obstacles. One set has trucks launching through the slime-filled mouth of a creature, while another has trucks driving through a loop-de-loop covered in slime.
The extra-chunky wheels of each mutant monster truck allow them to blast through the green slime in stunts you have to see to believe. We got hands-on with this slime at Toy Fair and can confirm the drippy lime green slime will never stick to your carpeting.
This soccer ball doesn’t just light up and provide power. It also has an internal energy generator that powers up as you roll, kick and headbutt it around, building on the foundation of the original Soccket in an inflatable form that feels like a real soccer ball. The brilliant internal LEDs allow for nighttime play as well. Equal parts useful and playful, this invention was designed for communities that experience frequent power outages but can be enjoyed by anyone.
At Toy Fair, there were plenty of nice-smelling toys with aromas of flowers, chocolate and fruits — and then there’s Wet Farts, the most foul-smelling prank spray you’ll ever encounter. It pushes the envelope of “harmless pranks” with its pungent, eye-watering stench that only takes one spray to send your victim fleeing the room for a breath of fresh air. It’s remarkable there were so many people hanging around the Laughing Smith booth!
Transformers Collaborative MLS Soccer Optimus Prime
One of the original transforming toys brings a collaboration with Major League Soccer in the form of an Optimus Prime figurine that transforms into a soccer ball. Details include USA shield emblems on the chest and shin, as well as on the smaller soccer ball that rests at Optimus Prime’s feet. With the World Cup being hosted by the U.S. in June, this may be a hard-to-find item.
Spin Master Primal Hatch Megalodon
Last year we called it — Primal Hatch T. Rex was a huge hit around the holidays and beyond. This year, they’ve raised the stakes with a hatching megalodon, complete with a container that fills with bloodred water until the inevitable: a megalodon emerges with its jaws open for a real jump-scare.
What makes this Primal Hatch toy special is that it can be reset so it hatches again and again, making for endless fun (and endless frights). At Toy Fair we previewed a full demonstration and enjoyed the cinematics of the toy, from the drama of the chummed-up water to the sound effects that increase in volume and intensity as the hatch initiates. Plus, this is the first animated surprise hatch toy that includes the water element, so it truly will make a big splash this holiday season.
While there are many toys that communicate with one another to make different sounds and light up, there’s nothing like Robosen Mini Robots — animated figurines that use a single base to provide movement and articulation. The base also allows figurines to play voice lines and other sounds and light up with built-in LEDs.
There’s even software (called Robosen Studio) to create custom sounds and animations, so there is no limit to the number of animations and sounds these figurines can perform. The first sets include a Toy Story collection and a Wall-E collection.
With designs similar to NERF N-Force foam weapons, these replica weapons from KPop Demon Hunters include remarkable details true to the animated originals. Rumi’s 24-inch sword sports constellation “engravings” along the sleek blade. Zoey’s set of three spirit blades have golden handles and similar engravings and look ready to be thrown at a target of your choice. The biggest of the set is, of course, Mira’s polearm, measuring 3 feet long with a curved blade at one end and golden handles along the staff. The Saja Boys will fear anyone wielding these weapons!
Red Toolbox KitchenAid Stand Mixer for Kids
A safe, functioning stand mixer for kids seems like an impossible invention, but we saw it for ourselves at Toy Fair. The Red Toolbox Kitchenaid Stand Mixer for Kids includes several safety features, including two locks and a bowl cover that must all be engaged before you can turn the motor on. It operates at five speeds and can really mix batter with its paddle attachment like a proper stand mixer.
This toy will get kids baking early and will make for many cozy afternoons baking cookies, breads and cakes. While it’s not available for purchase just yet, we loved testing it out at Toy Fair and seeing that it functions so similarly to a regular Kitchenaid Mixer. It will retail for $100 and is one of the first appliance toys a kiddo can keep in their play kitchen and bring into the real kitchen when the cooking mood strikes.
Spin Master Peekimo
With the tagline “Tiny, wearable BFF,” Peekimo was one of the cutest toys we saw. While it’s teeny enough to fit in your hand, it has a big personality. Peekimo wakes up to emerge from its shell and dances around, reacting when you feed it treats or tickle its belly. It reminded us of a low-stakes Neopet, but the animated feature really elevates the interactivity and cuteness of this toy that you can wear on the go. At Toy Fair, we observed that Peekimo can interact with other Peekimos, but the interaction may be friendly or sassy. The personality mystery factor adds a fun and realistic twist to this one.
Exploding Kittens The Board Game
The popular Exploding Kittens card game finds a new form 10 years after its record-breaking success with a board game that innovates within the tabletop space. As a tabletop game creator myself (Tiny Towns and most recently LODGE), I have to call out the centerpiece in Exploding Kittens that makes it a one-of-a-kind. The pop-up-book board with four pages and spaces and an evolving track with a board that flips from calm mode to chaos mode is truly a stand-out in the tabletop game category.
The flipbook design is more than just an eye-catching gimmick. Spaces on the board literally change as the lower layer slides as you turn the page. Book-based games have been around for a while, but this sets a new bar in terms of presentation and innovation.
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