The 50 Most Popular Holiday Toys of 2026
Holiday shopping has started for the 2026 season with Amazon’s October Big Deal Days (aka Early Black Friday) kicking off on October 6th and 7th. There are so many new popular toys on the market and upgrades to the tried-and-true toys we’ve known and loved for many years. Take a look at our list and bring some new toys home for the holidays.
We’ve reviewed many of these toys ourselves, watched countless YouTube reviews, and had a look at the trades to see what toy experts are covering for the 2026 season. Read on!
Plush, Pets & Cuddlies
1. Tickle Me Elmo Giggle Max
The classic giggling Elmo gets a modern upgrade and is on both the Toy Insider and Amazon lists this year. It’s a nostalgic pick for parents and a ready-made hit for toddlers and preschoolers.
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2. Little Live Pets My Magical Dragon Skye
This interactive dragon shows kids how it wants to play based on what appears on its belly, and kids earn gems for caring for it. It blends a cuddly plush with an interactive pet.
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3. furReal Gabby the Grow & Roar Interactive Plush Tiger
This is an interactive tiger that grows and roars in response to play. It’s a Hot 20 selection and a good fit for kids who love animal companions.
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4. Pokémon Pikachu Puppetronic by RealFX
This interactive Pikachu uses hand-controlled puppeteering and touch sensors to produce more than 120 animations. It’s a strong pick for Pokémon fans who want something livelier than a standard plush.
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5. Shrek the Halls Musical Shrek Plush
This plush features the ogre in his holiday best and plays sound effects when kids press his hand. It’s an inexpensive, seasonal stocking-stuffer-sized gift.
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6. Squishmallows Original KPop Demon Hunters Derpy & Sussie
The squishy, huggable Squishmallow format meets one of the year’s biggest movie franchises. Editors have called these among the season’s likeliest hot Squishmallows, so they could sell through quickly.
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7. Buttercups Monkey Plush Toy
This is a soft, affordable plush that earned a spot on the Toy Insider’s Under $20 list. It’s a budget-friendly gift for younger kids.
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8. Peekimo Interactive Pet and Wearable Charm
This one is both an interactive pet and a wearable accessory, which suits the bag-charm trend. It appears on Amazon’s list of hot toys under $50.
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9. Fuggler Gold Edition Blind Box Figure
The “funny-ugly monster” Fuggler gets a gold edition in a blind-box format. Kids won’t know which figure they’ve got until they open it.
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10. Care Bears Caring Cuties
These Care Bears bag charms come in blind boxes, with expressions based on each bear’s personality. They’re a cute collectible for ages 4 and up.
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Dolls, Playsets & Role Play
11. KPop Demon Hunters Rumi “Golden” Singing Doll
This singing doll from Mattel is based on the lead character of the hit film. It’s one of the year’s most talked-about doll releases.
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12. Disney Darlings Magical Birthday Surprises Mickey Mouse Doll
This is a collectiblewith a birthday-surprise theme, picked for the Toy Insider’s Hot 20. It’s a gentle, classic character gift.
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13. American Girl Disney Frozen Elsa Doll
American Girl brings Elsa into its premium doll lineup. It’s a higher-priced keepsake gift for Frozen fans.
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14. Bluey Light and Surprise Heeler House
This playhouse for the Heeler family adds lights and surprises to Bluey’s imaginative play. It’s an easy win for preschool fans of the show.
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15. Melissa & Doug Cheery Lane Modular Play House & Figures
This is a wooden modular dollhouse set with figures, built for open-ended play. It’s a durable pick that can grow with a child over the years.
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16. Luna Storytime Disney Princess Friendship Stories Figurine
This figurine pairs with storytelling and works for kids who like books and character play. It’s from Cottage Door Press and is geared toward ages 8 and up.
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17. MGA’s Miniverse Real Music Record Player & Mystery Packs
Each mystery pack includes four mini vinyl records that play 30-second clips when paired with the record player. It’s a fun miniature collectible with a surprise element.
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18. Play-Doh Super Sizzlin’ Kitchen Playset
This is a kitchen-themed Play-Doh set for pretend cooking. It’s a Toy Insider pick and a dependable choice for younger kids who like creative play.
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19. Super Mario Hatchin’ Yoshi
This interactive Yoshi figure from Nintendo will dramatically hatch right out of a cute white egg with green spots. It’s a good gift for Mario fans who like a bigger, chunkier toy.
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20. NERF KPop Demon Hunters Blaster
Hasbro mixes the NERF brand with the KPop Demon Hunters franchise, and it made the Toy Insider’s Under $20 list. It’s an affordable action-play gift tied to a popular movie.
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Building, STEM & Creative Kits
21. Picasso Tiles 100-Piece Complete Set
These magnetic tiles are a continuous hit for kids of all ages. This set is an Amazon best seller and a gifting must-have.
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22. LEGO Pokémon Iconic Trainer Moments Poké Ball
This 2,368-piece build traces every step of a Pokémon trainer’s journey. It’s a display-worthy project for older kids and adult fans.
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23. LEGO Star Wars Smart Play: Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter
This set uses LEGO’s Smart Play tech to make the build more interactive. It was one of Yahoo’s top picks in the Star Wars and LEGO category.
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24. LEGO Disney Moana 2 HeiHei
This is a brick-built version of the Moana 2 sidekick, so it’s an easy gift for fans of the movie. It’s good for kids who like building characters.
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25. LEGO Ideas Vending Machine
This one is a puzzle-style LEGO build that appears on Amazon’s top list. It’s a good low-cost gift for anyone who enjoys a clever small build.
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26. CrunchLabs by Mark Rober: The Crunchinator
This engineering-focused kit from Mark Rober’s brand is on the STEM 10 list. It’s aimed at curious kids who want to build something that works.
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27. Mindframes Click ‘n’ Create Wearable Construction Set
Kids build wearable creations from a click-together set, and it made the STEM list. It combines construction with dress-up.
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28. RASKARS: Dash Starter Set
This is a STEM-focused starter set for kids who like tinkering and building toy vehicles. It’s a Toy Insider STEM pick.
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29. Scrib3D Advanced 3D Pen Set
A 3D pen lets kids draw objects into the air and build them layer by layer. It suits older kids with a creative or technical streak.
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30. Thames & Kosmos V8 Race Car Kit
Kids assemble a working V8-style engine model and race car. It teaches mechanical basics while still being a toy.
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31. Barbie Chemistry Activity Lab
This kit combines Barbie with simple chemistry experiments. It’s on the STEM list and good for kids who like science projects.
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32. Air Toobz Evo
Kids connect tubes, turn on the fan, and send foam balls racing, hovering, and gliding through different builds. It’s pricier than most items here but it’s a standout for open-ended building.
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Slime, Squishies & Collectibles
33. Gui Gui Mega Slime Haul
This set includes 50+ pieces to unbox, including five slimes, beauty-inspired tools, charms, beads, and animal figures. It’s an unboxing-heavy gift that appears on several top lists.
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34. Gui Gui Fruity Glow Slime
There are 13 Fruity Glow Gui Gui Slimes to collect, with unique textures, scents, and charms. It’s a good add-on or stocking stuffer for slime fans.
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35. NeeDoh Advent Calendar
This advent calendar is packed with squeezable, stretchy sensory fidgets from Schylling.
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36. SQZY Gel Gems (Pyramid, Decahedron & Cube)
These are squishy gel shapes designed for fidgeting and sensory play. They’re a Toy Insider Under $20 pick.
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37. Clickeez Series 3: Bubble Pops
Series 3 has four new themes: Pink Life, Baked Goodies, Magical Glow, and Forest Pals. It’s a small, satisfying fidget collectible.
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38. Starbox Nook Nooks Series 1
These are collectible figures from ZURU, sold as surprise packs. They’re another affordable pick from the Toy Insider list.
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39. Primal Hatch Megalodon Hatching Shark Egg
Unlike most unboxing toys, kids can repeat the hatching experience with the megalodon as many times as they want. It follows last year’s hit dinosaur from the same brand.
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40. Rainbow Loom Spin Studio
This updates the classic Rainbow Loom craft with a spinning mechanism for making bracelets and accessories. It’s a good gift for kids who like making things.
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41. SortAgain
This fine-motor toy has kids flip, crank, and stir balls, which then roll through a maze and get re-sorted. It’s a hands-on pick for younger children.
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42. Hey Clay Shrek
Kids choose Shrek, Fiona, Donkey, or the Gingerbread Man, and families can build a gingerbread house together. It’s a seasonal craft that doubles as a family activity.
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Games, Cards & Tech
43. Guess Who? Pokémon Edition
The classic guessing game gets a Pokémon makeover. It’s an easy family-game-night gift for younger players.
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44. Exploding Kittens: Rage Mode
Players sabotage and eliminate friends and family in this version of Exploding Kittens. It’s a good pick for older kids, teens, and adults.
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45. Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box
This box marks the franchise’s 30th anniversary and is on the Hot 20 list. It’s a collector-friendly gift for trading card fans.
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46. Disney Lorcana Tangled Deck: Rapunzel
This is a ready-to-play Lorcana deck themed around Tangled. It’s a convenient way for newer players to jump into the card game.
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47. Tamagotchi Paradise
The virtual pet craze gets another round with this entry, which appears on Amazon’s list. It will appeal to nostalgic parents as much as kids.
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48. Toniebox Lite
This is a screen-free audio player that kids operate with figurines. Yahoo’s editors picked it as a top screen-free entertainment option.
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Vehicles & Action
49. PAW Patrol: The Dino Movie Megasaurus Dino Vehicle
This set includes an inflatable dinosaur over 2 feet tall, a Rocky figure, and Rocky’s vehicle. It’s timed to the new movie and is aimed at younger kids.
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50. Imperial Remnant AT-RT Walker R/C
This 13-inch AT-RT Walker walks, runs, and turns while blasting laser cannon sounds. It’s a fun remote-control gift for Star Wars fans ages 8 and up.
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Shopping Tips
Popular toys tend to sell out or jump in price as December approaches, so buying in October or early November usually gives you the best selection. Check the age range on each listing, since a few of these (like the LEGO Poké Ball and Exploding Kittens) skew older. Several of the best gifts here, including the NeeDoh, SQZY, and Gui Gui items, cost less than a typical board game.
We represent the toy testers, researchers, and reviewers at Top Holiday Toys!