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Must-have Christmas toys 2026: The toys experts predict will top Christmas lists
From Pokémon and Toy Story 5 to squishies, interactive pets and LEGO, these are the Christmas toys experts are backing for 2026.
- Hollie Bond
- , Olivia Garrett
Published: October 14, 2026 at 2:00 PM
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Christmas may still feel a little way off, but the biggest toy retailers are already revealing the presents they expect to dominate children's wish lists in 2026. And with Hamleys saying its research suggests the week commencing 12 October is when Christmas shopping "officially" starts, plenty of parents are already thinking about what to put under the tree.
Hamleys, Argos, Smyths Toys and The Entertainer have now revealed their expert Christmas toy predictions, alongside new launches from Mattel and True Toys. We're already seeing some clear themes emerge, from Pokémon and Toy Story 5 to interactive pets, sensory toys and nostalgic gifts designed to tempt grown-ups too.
We'll continue updating this guide as more retailers reveal their Christmas picks and our MadeForMums child testers get their hands on this year's biggest launches.
Jump to:
- Must-have Christmas toys at a glance
- How do experts pick the top Christmas toys?
- How we test Christmas toys
- The must-have Christmas toys for 2026
- The biggest Christmas toy trends for 2026
Must-have Christmas toys 2026 at a glance
Big-ticket Christmas toys
- Barbie DreamHouse | £274.99, £199
- Meccano Pro Limited Edition Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 Construction Set | £180
- LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade Building Set | £150
- Hot Wheels City Ultimate T-Rex Garage | £129.99
- Early Learning Centre Wooden Little Chefs Kitchen | £60
- Toniebox 2 Bluey Starter Set | £109.99
Sensory, interactive and electronic toys
- Big Squij range | £9.99
- Primal Hatch Megalodon | £55
- furReal Gabby The Grow And Roar Tiger | £90
- Pokémon Battle Action Pikachu | £50
- Real FX Pikachu Puppetronic | £59.99
- Little Live Pets My Magical Dragon Skye | £55
- Clickeez Bubble Pops Keyboard Mega Mystery Figure Pack | £30
- Hamleys Movers and Shakers interactive soft toys | £22 each
- Toniebox Lite | £59.99
- Fisher-Price Fun Animal Farm | £49.99, £26.39
- Fisher-Price Cuddle & Crawl Duck | £37.99, £26.60
- Chad Valley Wooden Train Set | £15
Character toys and playsets
- Toy Story 5 Ultimate Action Woody and Buzz Lightyear | £59.99 each
- Toy Story 5 Bullseye Jumbo Plush | £50
- KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Golden Singing Dolls | £34.99 each
- Peppa Pig Ready, Pedal, Go | £30
- Bluey Muffin's Home Playset | £40
- Barbie in The Nutcracker dolls | £30
- LEGO KPop Demon Hunters Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird | £47.99
Construction, creative and screen-free toys
- LEGO Pokémon SMART Play Sprigatito, Fuecoco & Quaxly Battle | £30
- LEGO Botanicals Rocking Plants | £14
- LEGO Marvel Doctor Doom Bust | £45
- Mini Brands Really Works Vinyl Playset | £20
- Play-Doh Retro Mix and Play | £19.99, £14.99
- Giftie Badge Maker | £34.99
- LEGO Botanicals Rocking Plants Construction Set | £18, £13.49
Family games and stocking fillers
- Liar's UNO | £11.99, £5.99
- Pictionary Air: Takeover | £23.99, £18.99
How do experts pick their top Christmas toys?
Christmas toy lists aren't simply collections of the newest launches. Retail buying teams spend months monitoring sales, new releases, entertainment trends and the toys generating excitement among children and families.
Selections are normally based on the biggest, best and trendiest moments of the year – and there have been plenty of those. Popular TV shows and social media moments can play a part, as well as the latest advancements in toy technology.
Last year was all about 90s nostalgia, think Sylvanian Families and Hot Wheels, while simple screen free toys, such a pretend air fryers and pizza ovens also proved popular.
This screen-free nostalgia continues for 2026. Mini Brands' tiny working vinyl player has been selected by both Argos and The Entertainer, while construction toys, Hot Wheels and familiar names including Barbie, Peppa Pig and Thomas & Friends continue to feature.
There's also a big focus on some of the characters we've seen in recent releases such as Toy Story 5, The Super Mario Movie and the fact that it's Pokémon's 30th anniversary.
KPop Demon Hunters is also making the jump from screen to toy box, with singing dolls, plush toys and LEGO among this year's retailer picks.
Sensory and tactile toys are also set to be big for Christmas 2026, while the influence of parents who grew up in the 90s means family board games are also seeing a big renaissance.
Smyths' European Marketing Director Sinead Byrne said its 2026 selection focuses particularly on imagination and creativity.
This year’s Top Toys list has been curated to showcase the very best of play, with a big focus on imagination, creativity and, above all, fun.
Sinead Byrne, European Marketing Director at Smyths Toys
At Argos, Head of Toy Buying Chantal Pearce said the retailer is continually monitoring market trends to identify toys that spark children's imaginations.
This year’s Top Toys list brings together the very best in imaginative play and innovation.
Chantal Pearce, Head of Toy Buying at Argos
Hamleys' latest list gives us another clue about what could be big this Christmas. Its Head of Buying and Merchandising, Victoria Kay, says demand for sensory squishy toys is particularly strong.
The Squishy craze is only really just getting going.
Victoria Kay, Head of Buying and Merchandising at Hamleys
The Entertainer, meanwhile, has highlighted just how varied Christmas lists are expected to be in 2026. Geoff Sheffield, Buying Director at The Entertainer, said: "What really stands out about this year’s selection is the variety. From the biggest and best-loved brands to new and exclusive lines."
How do we test the top Christmas toys?
Retailer predictions are a useful starting point, but at MadeForMums we also want to know what children actually think. Our toy reviews combine the expertise of our editorial team with real-world feedback from children and their parents.
For these Christmas toys in particular, we send them out to parent and child testers who deliver detailed feedback as well as direct quotes and imagery from the child themselves. Our family testers consider size, price, assembly, portability, age suitability, durability, how easy it is to store and, of course, how much fun it is!
As more of the biggest 2026 Christmas launches reach our testers, we'll update this guide with their verdicts, including which toys keep children entertained beyond Christmas morning and which offer the best value for families.
The must-have Christmas toys for 2026
1. Big Squij range, £9.99
Recommended by: Hamleys
One of the more affordable toys on this year's expert lists, Hamleys' Big Squij range taps into the growing appetite for sensory toys.
The ultra-soft, slow-rise squishies come in playful designs including a duck, corgi, croissant, watermelon and hearts.
Hamleys says further designs will arrive throughout October, November and December, so this could be one to watch for stocking fillers.
2. Mini Brands Really Works Vinyl Playset, £20
Recommended by: Argos and The Entertainer
Age suitability: 3+
Mini Brands takes its miniature obsession into retro territory with a tiny record player that actually works. Place one of the miniature records onto the player and lower the needle to hear music.
Argos says there are 44 mini records to collect, with additional Mini Vinyl Capsules sold separately.
3. Pokémon Battle Action Pikachu, £50
Recommended by: The Entertainer
Age suitability: 4+
Pokémon celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026, and Pikachu is unsurprisingly appearing on Christmas lists.
This interactive version features touch sensors, a light-up tail and character sounds and movements, including a headbutt and laugh.
4. Primal Hatch Megalodon, £55
Recommended by: Hamleys, Argos and The Entertainer
Age suitability: 5+
Three major retailers have now backed Primal Hatch Megalodon, making it one of the strongest early contenders for Christmas 2026.
The interactive egg uses water, lights, sounds and sensory effects to create a dramatic hatching experience before revealing the shark inside. It's particularly likely to appeal to dinosaur and creature-loving children who enjoy toys with an element of surprise.
Buy Primal Hatch Megalodon for £55 at The Entertainer
5. Real FX Pikachu Puppetronic, price £59.99
Recommended by: Smyths Toys
Pokémon fans have another seriously interactive Pikachu to put on their lists. Smyths has selected the Real FX Pikachu Puppetronic as one of its top Christmas toys during the franchise's 30th anniversary year.
Smyths' Sinead Byrne said: “Pokémon is also celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and with the franchise continuing to reach new heights of popularity, we’re excited to mark the occasion with the incredible Real FX Pikachu Puppetronic.”
6. Peppa Pig Ready, Pedal, Go, £30
Recommended by: Hamleys, Argos and The Entertainer
Age suitability: 3+
Another toy appearing repeatedly on retailer lists is this interactive Peppa Pig, designed for children aged three and over.
Peppa pedals her bike and features more than 70 sounds and phrases activated through smart sensors. At £30, it's also one of the more moderately priced character toys among this year's headline picks.
Buy Peppa Pig Ready, Pedal, Go for £30, £26.99 at Amazon
7. Toy Story 5 Ultimate Action Woody and Buzz Lightyear, £59.99 each
Recommended by: Smyths Toys and Mattel
Age suitability: 3+
With Toy Story 5 providing fresh inspiration for Christmas lists, Mattel's 16-inch Woody and Buzz figures recreate phrases and movements from the film.
The particularly clever feature is Alive Mode. When the figures recognise one another, Woody and Buzz can interact and hold conversations, adding another dimension to role play.
- Buy Toy Story 5 Ultimate Action Buzz Lightyear for £59.99 at Smyths
- Buy Toy Story 5 Ultimate Action Woody for £49.99 at Smyths
8. Giftie Badge Maker, £34.99
Recommended by: MadeForMums Editors
Age suitability: 6+
A craft-lovers dream! This super cute and easy to use badge maker comes is a smart little carry case and allows kids to make up to 50 of their very own badges, using the templates, magazines, their own designs or the app, that they can then gift to their friends or accessorise with.
Buy Giftie Badge Maker for £34.99 at Smyths
9. KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Golden Singing Dolls, £34.99 each
Recommended by: Argos and Mattel
Age suitability: 4+
Rumi, Mira and Zoey from KPop Demon Hunters get the singing-doll treatment, with each doll performing "Golden".
KPop Demon Hunters is cropping up across several retailers' festive selections. Smyths has also picked its Leaping Derpy plush, while True Toys has selected the LEGO KPop Demon Hunters Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird set.
Buy KPop Demon Hunters HUNTR/X Golden Singing Dolls (Rumi) for £34.99, £30 at Amazon
10. furReal Gabby The Grow And Roar Tiger, £89.99
Recommended by: The Entertainer and True Toys
Age suitability: 4+
Interactive pets are another big theme for 2026. Gabby responds as children feed, pet and play with her, with more than 100 sounds and movements.
The Entertainer says the toy has already been selling out frequently, suggesting it could be one parents may want to watch as Christmas approaches.
11. Hot Wheels City Ultimate T-Rex Garage, £130
Recommended by: Argos and Mattel
Age suitability: 4+
Part dinosaur, part enormous Hot Wheels storage and playset, the Ultimate T-Rex Garage features a multi-level track and room for more than 50 vehicles.
Two cars are included, making it ready for racing straight from the box.
Buy Hot Wheels City Ultimate T-Rex Garage for £130, £90 at Argos
12. LEGO Pokémon SMART Play Sprigatito, Fuecoco & Quaxly Battle, £30
Recommended by: Argos
LEGO and Pokémon are two huge names in children's toys, so their latest collaboration is likely to attract plenty of attention.
Argos has included the £30 Sprigatito, Fuecoco & Quaxly Battle set among its top 20 toys for Christmas. This set is part of the new interactive SMART Play™ LEGO range meaning the characters emit fun light and sound effects through LEGO SMART Bricks and LEGO SMART Tags, which can interact with each other as your child manoeuvres them.
Buy LEGO Pokémon SMART Play Sprigatito, Fuecoco & Quaxly Battle from £30 at Argos
13. Barbie in The Nutcracker dolls, £29.99 each
Recommended by: Hamleys and Mattel
Barbie's festive Nutcracker collection is another pick with support from both a manufacturer and a major retailer.
Hamleys has selected Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy, with sparkling ballet outfits and adjustable ballet shoes that allow the dolls to rise onto pointe. Hamleys recommends them for ages four and up.
14. Bluey Muffin's Home Playset, £40
Recommended by: The Entertainer
Age suitability: 3+
Bluey's cousin Muffin gets her own two-storey home, complete with living room, bedroom, kitchen and balcony.
It's exclusive to The Entertainer and offers plenty of scope for children to recreate familiar Bluey-style family adventures and invent their own.
15. Little Live Pets My Magical Dragon Skye, £55
Recommended by: Argos
For children who like the idea of a pet with a little more magic, Skye the interactive dragon responds to being petted, fed and played with through movement and reactions.
16. Clickeez Bubble Pops Keyboard Mega Mystery Figure Pack, £30
Recommended by: The Entertainer
Age suitability: 6+
One of this year's viral sensations turns the oddly satisfying click of a keyboard into a collectible sensory toy.
The Entertainer says Clickeez generated more than 60 million views across TikTok and Instagram last year, and says the keyboards have already been selling out ahead of Christmas.
Buy Clickeez Bubble Pops Keyboard Mega Mystery Figure Pack for £30 at The Entertainer
17. LEGO Marvel Doctor Doom Bust, £44.99
Recommended by: Hamleys
Not every Christmas toy is destined for the playroom. Hamleys' Festive 15 also includes this Doctor Doom display model for Marvel fans aged 18 and over.
The LEGO bust comes with a bonus minifigure and is one of several products showing how Christmas toy lists are increasingly catering for grown-up collectors too.
18. LEGO Botanicals Rocking Plants Construction Set, £18
Recommended by: The Entertainer
Age suitability: 9+
At £18, this is one of the more affordable LEGO picks on the retailer Christmas lists so far.
Builders can create two pastel-coloured plants, Lumi the delosperma and Ellie the echeveria, before displaying the finished models in their room.
19. Toniebox Lite Story Set, £59.99
Recommended by: Argos
Age suitability: 1+
Tonies has become a familiar name on Christmas lists, and Argos has selected the £60 Tonies Lite as one of its top toys for 2026.
The Toniebox Lite, launched in September 2026, and is a smaller, simpler version of the Toniebox, designed to give children the core Tonies listening experience without a screen.
20. LEGO Donkey Kong Arcade Building Set, £150
Recommended by: Argos
Age suitability: 18+
Retro gaming meets LEGO in this £150 Donkey Kong build, one of Argos's biggest Christmas picks of 2026. This product will really appeal to adults who grew up playing Donkey Kong as well as teenagers who enjoy arcade games and more complicated LEGO sets.
Once built you can even play the game using the levers to make Jumpman avoid the 22 barrels that Donkey Kong fires at him!
21. Meccano Pro Limited Edition Aston Martin Aramco Formula 1 Construction Set, £180
Recommended by: The Entertainer
Age suitability: 18+
Another one for older builders as well as F1 fans, this limited-edition Meccano set creates a 1:8 scale Aston Martin Formula One car using 1,203 real metal parts.
It comes with two real tools and The Entertainer estimates up to 15 hours of building time, making this as much a Christmas project as a present. It's exclusive to The Entertainer.
22. Barbie DreamHouse, £274.99
Recommended by: Mattel
Age suitability: 3+
This year's Barbie DreamHouse is a seriously big-ticket Christmas present. The 360-degree design incorporates two houses, three floors, two slides, two pools and a working lift.
There are more than 65 accessories, including furniture, a dining set and a puppy, while interchangeable swings and window frames let children customise the house.
23. Fisher-Price Little People Caring Fun Animal Farm, £49.99
Recommended by: Mattel
Age suitability: 1+
For younger children, this Little People farm combines animal play with early learning. The two-storey barn includes a drop-through silo and animal stalls, with Smart Stages content introducing concepts including colours, counting and opposites.
24. Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Cuddle & Crawl Duck, £37.99
Recommended by: Mattel
Age suitability: From birth
Another top pick from Fisher-Price and this one's perfect for baby's first Christmas. This soft Fisher-Price pick has four ways to play designed to change as babies develop, starting with tummy time before moving on to crawling play.
25. Early Learning Centre Wooden Kitchen, £60
Recommended by: The Entertainer
Age suitability: 3+
Amid all the interactive technology and blockbuster characters, there's still room for classic pretend play.
This wooden kitchen has clicking cooking dials, raised hobs, a sink with turning taps and a microwave with an opening door. It's exclusive to The Entertainer and selected Tesco stores.
26. Pictionary Air: Takeover, £23.99
Recommended by: Mattel
Age suitability: 8+
A potential Christmas Day crowd-pleaser, Pictionary Air: Takeover has players drawing in the air while their teammates try to guess what they're creating.
Both teams play at the same time, adding an extra dose of chaos to the classic drawing game.
27. Play-Doh Retro Mix and Play, £19.99
Recommended by: True Toys
Age suitability: 4+
Another nod to nostalgia, Play-Doh Retro Mix and Play has made True Toys' festive edit for 2026, offering some hands-on, screen-free play among this year's more high-tech launches.
Buy Play-Doh Retro Mix and Play for £19.99, £14.99 at True Toys
28. Liar's UNO, £11.99
Recommended by: Mattel
Age suitability: 7+
UNO has had another mischievous makeover. In Liar's UNO, cards can be played face down, leaving players to decide whether to tell the truth about what they've put down or try their luck with a bluff.
At £11.99, it's also one of the cheapest picks on the Christmas lists we've seen so far.
For any adults who loved Spice Girls as a kid there's also new limited edition Spice Girls UNO launching at the end of October that would make a brilliant nostalgic stocking filler!
29. Chad Valley Alfie And Jo Wooden Train Set, £15
Recommended by: Argos
Age suitability: 2+
At £15, this wooden train set is one of Argos's most affordable top Christmas toys for 2026 and a traditional alternative to the year's electronic and character-led presents.
30. LEGO KPop Demon Hunters Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird, £60
Recommended by: True Toys
Age suitability: 9+
KPop Demon Hunters gets the LEGO treatment with a set featuring Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird, giving fans a building option alongside this year's dolls and plush toys.
Buy LEGO KPop Demon Hunters Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird for £60, £47.99 at True Toys
31. Toy Story 5 Bullseye Jumbo Plush, £50
Recommended by: Argos
Age suitability: 2+
Toy Story 5 looks set to be everywhere this Christmas, and children who prefer cuddles to interactive gadgets can find Woody's trusty horse Bullseye in jumbo life-size plush form.
32. Toniebox 2 Bluey Story Set, £109.99
Recommended by: True Toys
Bluey plus Tonies is a pretty strong combination for preschool Christmas lists. True Toys has selected the Bluey Toniebox 2 Starter Set for its first-ever festive True List. It's available in baby blue or pink.
Shop the Toniebox 2 Bluey Starter Set for £109.99 at True Toys
What are the biggest Christmas toy trends for 2026?
With most of the main toy retailers – Hamleys, Argos, Smyths, The Entertainer and True Toys – having revealed their festive predictions, some clear patterns are emerging.
Sensory toys are having a moment. Hamleys has put its £10 Big Squij range front and centre, while Clickeez offers another tactile option. Hamleys' Victoria Kay said demand for squishies is already "huge", with more designs arriving before Christmas.
Interactive pets are everywhere. From Gabby the tiger and Skye the dragon to Hamleys' Movers and Shakers dogs and cats and the decidedly less cuddly Primal Hatch Megalodon, pretend pets that move and respond to children are appearing across this year's ranges.
Big characters still matter. Pokémon, Peppa Pig, Barbie, Toy Story 5, KPop Demon Hunters, Bluey and Marvel all feature prominently, with toys increasingly designed to let children create their own stories around familiar characters.
Kay said: “Building stories and fun scenarios is such a great take out from some of the character and figure toys – they are empowering children to run with their own imaginations and create rich and dynamic worlds."
Nostalgic toys aren't going anywhere. Mini record players, Meccano, Hot Wheels, Barbie and classic wooden role-play toys suggest plenty of parents may find themselves buying updated versions of the sorts of presents they remember wanting themselves.
There's a wider spread of prices. This year's expert picks range from £10 squishies and sub-£20 LEGO sets to £200 construction projects and Mattel's £274.99 Barbie DreamHouse, giving families options across very different Christmas budgets.
We'll keep updating our must-have Christmas toys guide as new retailer predictions are announced and our MadeForMums testers put 2026's biggest toys through their paces.
We've more top toys, all tested and rated by parents and children, including best toys for 2 year olds, best toys for 3 year olds, best toys for 4 year olds and best toys for 5 year olds.
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Read more:
- Smyths Toys reveals its top toys for Christmas 2026, from Pokémon to Toy Story
- Argos reveals the 20 toys set to be top of kids’ Christmas lists in 2026
- The 10 toys The Entertainer predicts will be on Christmas wish lists in 2026
Authors
Hollie BondSenior Digital Journalist
Hollie is Senior Digital Journalist at MadeForMums. She writes articles about pregnancy, parenting, child health and getting pregnant. She has written for a number of national lifestyle magazines and websites over the past 12 years including Family History Monthly, You and Your Wedding and Muddy Stilettos. She has two children aged 5 and 8 and hasn't slept since 2017!
Olivia Garrett
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