Just thinking about kids crafting their must-have toy lists and the holiday season right around the corner has us feeling all cozy and nostalgic. But… we totally get it if it has you feeling a mild sense of panic, too!
After all, retailers already dropped their hot holiday toy lists before fall even officially started, which can make you feel like you must buy them all now, now, now! But don’t worry — we’re here to encourage everyone to take a collective breather and approach the 2026 holiday toy landscape like the savvy shoppers we all are.
To help you navigate it all and scoop up some of the hottest toys for the kiddos in your life — without breaking the bank — we curated the top 10 toys to prioritize from the 2026 toy lists of Amazon, Macy’s, Walmart, Target and Kohl’s.
What to know about 2026 holiday toy shopping
- Most major retailers’ toy lists dropped in September 2026 so you (and your kids!) can start planning your holiday toy must-haves.
- Some of the most popular toy categories for holiday 2026 include animatronic plushes, STEM learning sets, creative building kits, squishies and blind boxes.
- Some toys have a higher probability of selling out before the holidays, including characters celebrating big anniversaries like Tickle Me Elmo, Pokémon and Barbie in the Nutcracker.
- Many of the hottest toys are not likely to see a significant price drop before the holidays — but you can always earn cash back when you shop in the RetailMeNot Rewards app.
- Top 10 holiday toys 2026
- Major retailers Toy Lists 2026
- Hottest toys of 2026
- Holiday toy shopping FAQs
- How to earn cash back on toy purchases
Our top 10 toys for holiday 2026
| Best STEM toy | Barbie Chemistry Activity Lab |
| Best retro reboot | Sesame Street Tickle Me Elmo Giggle Max Interactive Plush Toy |
| Best squishies | Squeez’M Original Big Block Premium Stress Cube |
| Best LEGO set | LEGO Star Wars SMART Play: Throne Room Duel & A-Wing |
| Best interactive toy | Bitzee KPop Demon Hunters Interactive Digital Pet |
| Best blind box | Fuggler Special Edition Figures Blind Box |
| Best for low-tech play | tonies Toniebox Lite Starter Set |
| Best for creative building | MAGNA-TILES MicroMAGS Cubes |
| Best for toddlers | LeapFrog 6-in-1 Snap & Learn Busy Cube |
| Hottest toy of the year | Pokémon Pikachu Puppetronic by RealFX |
Which stores have holiday toy lists 2026?
Retailers’ top toy lists make it easier to find popular and age-appropriate gifts without the hassle of extensive research. These curated lists offer inspiration and highlight trending or educational toys, saving time for busy shoppers. Our sister site BlackFriday.com publishes annual toy lists and Black Friday ads as soon as they are released, and most major retailers have released this year’s top toy lists as of September 2026.
Feel free to use these 2026 toy lists as a helpful tool to plan your holiday shopping:
- Amazon Toy List 2026
- Kohl’s Toy List 2026
- Macy’s Toy List 2026
- Target Toy List 2026
- Walmart Toy List 2026
The 10 hottest toys for holiday 2026
Best STEM toy
Barbie Chemistry Activity Lab
This adorable Barbie-themed chemistry lab kit is designed for ages 5 and up, and it includes everything needed to conduct 10 science experiments. (Plus, a bonus booklet with 10 additional experiments that can be done with common household materials!) Kids can make cool stuff like glow-in-the-dark chalk, test tube fireworks, a lava lamp, slime and more that will spark curiosity and engage them in hands-on learning. It’s already selling out at some retailers, but still available at Walmart — for now.
Price: $24.99 at Walmart
Best retro reboot
Sesame Street Tickle Me Elmo Giggle Max Interactive Plush Toy
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the original Tickle Me Elmo toy’s release, and now the little guy is back and even more giggly than ever. This 18-inch-tall interactive plush laughs and shakes with his whole body, and even moves his mouth and flaps his arms when you tickle his belly or feet. He also says cute phrases — like “That tickles Elmo!” and “AGAIN!” — and he can even develop hiccups from laughing too much. Just like the original, the giggles are sure to be contagious.
Price: $39.99 at Target
Best squishies
Squeez’M Original Big Block Premium Stress Cube
The NeeDoh Nice Cube is the most popular squishy toy from the viral brand, and it’s also perpetually sold out! Good thing this Squeez’M Big Block squishy fidget toy is a quality alternative to the viral sensation and, bonus, it comes from a dad-owned, U.S.-based brand. Handmade with non-toxic materials, it houses a firm, slow-rise gel inside a durable, tear-resistant shell for a satisfying sensory experience as it’s squeezed and stretched.
Price: From $16.99 at Amazon
Best LEGO set
LEGO Star Wars SMART Play: Throne Room Duel & A-Wing
LEGO launched their innovative and immersive SMART Play technology earlier this year, allowing LEGO builds to react to movement and other stimuli with real-time sounds and dynamic lights. The cool tech brings LEGO to life like never before, and this Star Wars: Return of the Jedi themed set for ages 9 and up is a prime example. It includes two SMART bricks, five SMART tags and three SMART minifigures of Luke Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader — which all interact to trigger reactions like lightsaber and laser sounds, and The Imperial March. It has already been included in sales at Target this season, so we’d check there first for the best price!
Price: $127.99 (orig. $159.99) at Target
Best interactive toy
Bitzee KPop Demon Hunters Interactive Digital Pet
Last year’s surprise Netflix hit, “KPop Demon Hunters,” continues to be a sensation among its young fans, and a ton of themed toys like this digital pet have hit the shelves for holiday 2026. It’s giving Tamagotchi vibes, but with way better music and more engaging creature collecting. Kids can tap, tilt, shake and swipe to trigger different reactions from their digital pet, and ultimately unlock 13 characters via mini games. It has been eligible for sales at Macy’s this season, so you may be able to save a few bucks by purchasing there.
Price: $31.49 (orig. $34.99) at Macy’s
Best blind box
Fuggler Special Edition Figures Blind Box
Move over Labubu — the new creepy-cute, viral collectibles are these odd little Fugglers (officially, a portmanteau of funny and ugly). These Target-exclusive Fuggler blind boxes let kids, teens and even “kidults” unbox one of 38 unique and collectible Fuggler characters. They’re super affordable so you can pick up a bunch to give as fun stocking stuffers. See also: Fuggler’s retro collabs with Care Bears, Power Puff Girls, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and SpongeBob SquarePants!
Price: $3.99 at Target
Best for low-tech play
tonies Toniebox Lite Starter Set
You probably already know about Toniebox, the screen-free audio player that lets little ones listen to their favorite stories simply by connecting a cute Tonie character to the speaker. But in August 2026, they launched their new Toniebox Lite as a compact and lightweight alternative, making it easy for little hands to take on the go. The Toniebox Lite is compatible with all standard audio Tonies characters and Cuddle Tonies, and it supports headphones to make traveling a little more fun for everyone.
Price: $79.94 at Walmart
Best for creative building
MAGNA-TILES MicroMAGS Cubes
MAGNA-TILES have been huge for years now, but the smaller microMAGS are relatively new and make it even easier for little hands to build whatever they can dream up. These brand-new microMAGS Cubes provide even more fun and imaginative play, acting like magnetic building blocks with frustration-free stacking. Little ones can not only stack vertically, but also build out horizontally to bring their ideas to life.
Price: $19.99 at Target
Best for toddlers
LeapFrog 6-in-1 Snap & Learn Busy Cube
This busy cube is packed with engaging surfaces that slide, spin, turn and snap to help little ones ages 1–3 hone fine motor skills and early visual development. It includes six double-sided pieces that can be snapped together to form a cube or other shapes, for a total of 12 unique surfaces with captivating colors and a variety of patterns for tactile stimulation. The cheapest price we’ve seen so far this season has been at Kohl’s, so check there first for the best deal!
Price: $14.99 at Kohl’s
Hottest toy of the year
Pokémon Pikachu Puppetronic by RealFX
Tickle Me Elmo may be turning 30 this year, but so is the entire Pokémon franchise — which is more alive than ever thanks to the success of Pokémon Pokopia, one of the year’s best video games for kids! From the Switch 2 screen to the real world, this cute Puppetronic (that’s part animatronic, part puppet) brings Pikachu to life with touch sensors on his head, nose and belly. He moves his ears and mouth, blinks, and even talks and laughs with more than 120 sounds in Pikachu’s adorable voice. You’ll want to catch this one ASAP because the probability of selling out is high!
Price: $79 at Walmart
FAQ for holiday 2026 toy shopping
What are the trends for holiday toys in 2026?
Some of the biggest toy trends for the 2026 holiday season include sensory squishies like NeeDoh fidget toys and Gui Gui Slime; kid-friendly tech like animatronic characters, and LeapFrog and VTech toys; STEM toys and building toys like MAGNA-TILES and CrunchLabs’ The Crunchinator; blind boxes like those from Pop Mart and Fugglers; and nostalgic reboots from the ’80s, ’90s and Y2K like the Tickle Me Elmo Giggle Max and Pokémon, Furby, Transformers, Mr. Potato Head, Care Bears and My Little Pony toys.
What are the hottest holiday toys right now?
The hottest toys with the biggest sellout risk ahead of holiday 2026 include Sesame Street Tickle Me Elmo Giggle Max, Primal Hatch Megalodon Interactive Hatching Egg Shark Toy, Bitzee KPop Demon Hunters Huntr/X Interactive Toy, Transformers Collaborative x Monster Jam Grave Digger, MAGNA-TILES new microMAGS, Little Live Pets My Magical Dragon Skye, Pokémon Pikachu Puppetronic, Ms. Rachel Speak & Sing Doll, Gui Gui Mega Slime Haul, Bluey Light and Surprise Heeler House, and PAW Patrol Dino Movie toys like the Paw Patrol: The Dino Movie Megasaurus Dino Vehicle.
What is the next big toy craze?
Some of the most viral toy trends ahead of holiday 2026 include blind boxes and squishies. Top blind boxes include the funny-ugly Fugglers, Care Bears Caring Cuties, glow-in-the-dark Smiski and Pop Mart properties like Labubu and SkullPanda. Squishies are also beloved for tactile play, ranging from (the often sold-out) NeeDoh stress-relief fidget toys to huggable Squishmallows.
Which classic toys continue to be popular?
LEGO, Play-Doh, Barbie, Hot Wheels, Lite-Brite, Etch A Sketch, Care Bears and Pokémon toys have decades of history and continue to modernize to appeal to today’s kids. They’re always a safe bet for holiday gifting!
Why are toy prices so high?
Toy prices have continued to rise due to international tariffs and the surging cost of oil. Toys made in America won’t be impacted by tariffs, but the high price of gas to transport them may raise consumer cost. However, most toys are made in China and India, and tariffs are likely to impact large, heavy toys — like dollhouses and ride-on vehicles — and toys with tech upgrades the most.
When should shoppers buy toys for the holiday season to get the best deals?
Now is the best time to start shopping for toy deals for the holiday season. Many toys are likely to be sold out by Black Friday — and the most popular ones probably won’t see major discounts — so it’s a good idea to shop early and often if you are looking for the hottest toys of the year. It’s genuinely never too early to start checking things off your list!
How can shoppers make the most of their holiday toy budget?
Always make sure you know the MSRP (manufacturer suggested retail price) to ensure you are paying the right amount for a toy. Always buy from trusted retailers and trusted manufacturers to ensure you are purchasing affordable, quality toys for the kids in your life. Speaking of quality, you can also sign up for KidsAdvisory — North America’s only children-focused recall alert service — to be notified of any important toy recalls and prioritize safety this holiday season and beyond.
How to earn cash back while holiday toy shopping
Whichever toys you gift to your kiddos this holiday season, you can be sure to earn cash back for your toy purchases with the latest version of the RetailMeNot Rewards app. When you shop your favorite brands from the app, you’ll get guaranteed cash back for purchases from more than 3,500 merchants, including Walmart, Kohl’s and Macy’s. Many major retailers are also bonus eligible, which means your purchases will help you unlock up to $50 in monthly bonus money. In the app, you’ll also find our proprietary Scout Price
tool that can help you find which retailers are offering the best prices on the hottest toys (while also factoring in cash back and verified coupon codes backed up by our exclusive Working Code Promise) to help you maximize your savings this holiday season.
The post Hottest Holiday Toys: Guide for 2026 appeared first on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
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