Toy Fair NYC 2026 Recap: The Year of Playful Connection & Creative Expression

I just returned from Toy Fair NYC 2026 at the Javits Center, and I’m both impressed and inspired! This year was the 120th Toy Fair, and it’s still the biggest and most exciting event for toys, games, and youth entertainment in the Western Hemisphere.

As a mom of two playful kids who never want to grow up—and I’m a big kid at heart too—I was really impressed by the new trends this year. I believe play helps kids learn and build confidence, and this year’s toys show they’re more than just “things.” They’re tools for connection. Here’s what I found at Toy Fair 2026!

As an educator and toy fan, walking those aisles is always a workout. I look forward to this event every year, searching for the best and most thoughtful toys for our kids and my homeschool programs. This year was extra special because I attended the official Toy Trends Briefing on Saturday, February 14th, where I heard the research and saw products that will be on everyone’s wish lists.

Toy Fair NYC 2026: A Global Gateway to Play

Toy Fair NYC is a major event for the $45.6 billion U.S. toy industry and attracts attendees from nearly 100 countries. Hundreds of toy companies from all over the world displayed everything from family board games to the latest licensed characters. The atmosphere is always buzzing with excitement. Here’s what I spotted at Toy Fair NYC 2026. Read on!

Related Content: Top Finds of Toy Fair 2025

Trend 1: Cozy Culture & Screen-Free Resets

As our lives get more digital, families are choosing screen-free, low-tech toys to slow down and relax. A March 2025 poll found that 73% of parents think their kids need a break from screens, leading to increased interest in classic toys like puzzles and building sets. This trend focuses on calming colors, soft textures, and nature-inspired designs. In fact, 98% of parents say their kids use plush toys for comfort and stress relief.

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• Top Picks: I saw many new tonies® for screen-free stories, which I already love, and the BubblePlush Yoga-Ball Buddy from hand2mind. It comes with mindful moment cards, yoga poses, and YouTube videos to help kids practice self-care.

I always enjoy checking out the Launch Pad. It’s a special area where new compaies and creators from around the globe get to showcase their new toy inventions. If you’re looking for surprising new ideas and real innovation, this is where you’ll find the next big thing!

• Launch Pad Favorite: Qubitunes by Qubs was my top discovery from the Launch Pad. This screen-free audio system uses wooden blocks to unlock games and music. We especially enjoyed the expansions for Sounds of the Farm, Little Maestro, Bernard’s Kitchen, and Jamming Tour Band. From sensory play for toddlers to calming stories for kids 8 and up, this tech-powered toy is a great “screen detox” pick for your 2026 toy wishlist. Stay tuned for more on this screen-free toy! I’ll be featuring a review on my Instagram soon.

Trend 2: Inspiring Inventors (Maker Movement 3.0)

This trend really resonates with me. I’ve been part of the Maker Movement since the early 2000s, and it’s exciting to watch new makers emerge through play. Today, 96% of parents buy educational toys for holidays because they want tools that help their kids solve problems and build things – think STEAM toys!

• Aerodynamics in Action: Air Toobz by Fat Brain Toys was a lot of fun to see. It’s a vacuum-powered system that lets kids build winding mazes of clear tubes to launch foam balls. It’s a great way for kids to experiment with airflow and physics.
• The Creative Find: Snoodles by Schylling are fun, biodegradable building noodles that let kids and adults bend, twist, and “dip and stick” with water to make endless colorful creations. They’re a great sensory-friendly tool for enjoying a creative moment.

• The STEM Heavy-Hitters: Educational Insights’ Boxineers sets let kids turn regular cardboard boxes into vehicles and animals.
• The Big Highlight: This year’s new partnership between Mark Rober and Moose Toys is one to watch out for. Their CrunchLabs line, featuring “The Crunchinator” and “Elephant Toothpaste Blast,” lets kids experiment with torque and force. Rober’s goal is simple: “Not only do you get the coolest toy, you actually learn the engineering behind it.”

• The Showstopper: Nothing captures “Maker Movement 3.0” better than the ChompSaw by Chompshop. I’ve followed their journey since they made a splash on Shark Tank, so imagine my excitement when I ran into the inventors, Kausi Raman and Max Leichty at Toy Fair! I even got to snap a pic with them to celebrate their massive news: The ChompSaw officially won the 2026 Creative Toy of the Year! Yay!

Trend 3: Throwback Toys = Nostalgia Re-Discovered

I grew up in the ’80s, but now new generations are discovering nostalgia, not just remembering it. Pinterest reports that searches for retro toys are up 225%. Over 60% of today’s most-loved kids’ characters, like Care Bears, Furby, and He-Man, started before 2010.

• The Collector’s Find: The Schylling line of retro tin Space Robots are replicas of 1950s designs like “Mr. Atomic.” They’re perfect for adult collectors and “Kidult” decor.
• The Revival: The Mattel DC Universe Kids Line is a great example of superheroes that have stood the test of time. Gen Z and Alpha are now embracing these throwback heroes, and seeing them updated with modern play features makes this line a real bridge between generations — out later this year!

Trend 4: Express Yourself

Today’s toys include wearables, shareables, and personal collectibles. With 72% of parents watching “toy haul” videos before buying, self-expression matters more than ever.

• The Standout: Hapiko’s stickerbox is the first voice-powered creative tool that turns any idea into a sticker you can color and share. Since 66% of parents want more toys that encourage creativity, this is a big step forward.
• Creative Crafting: Girl Scout Cookie-scented DIY kits from OOLY mix nostalgia with creative, sensory-based crafting. From DIY shrink art to cookie-scented markers, kids can make something unique while enjoying those iconic scents.

Why Play Matters

As the Curiosity Cultivator behind Homeschool STEAM, I see how these toys make a difference every day. When we use them in our enrichment programs, we’re not just playing. We’re learning by doing.

Play helps kids develop emotional self-regulation, problem-solving skills, and the confidence that comes from expressing themselves. It turns a curious child into a confident creator. I’m excited to share these Toy Fair 2026 finds with our community. Here’s to a year with more play, more learning, and staying young at heart!

Y amigos, don’t forget to stay tuned here to see which of these Toy Fair NYC 2026 picks make it onto The Latina Legacy Podcast for our holiday toy round-up this year. Every year, mi amiga, Janny Perez and I have a blast attending Toy Fair together to bring you the best tech and bilingual toys. For more, check out The Latina Mom Legacy podcast and read my past blog posts here and here.

What’s your kid’s favorite toy this year?