The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, announced the National Toy Hall of Fame’s class of 2026 on November 5, 2026. The Pokémon Trading Card Game, Bingo, Care Bears, and the playground slide beat out eight other finalists to earn their spots in the hall.
Established in 1998, the National Toy Hall of Fame honors toys that have inspired creative play and remained popular over time. It moved into The Strong in 2002. Its inductees include commercial products such as LEGO and Barbie, but cardboard boxes, sand, and the Nintendo Game Boy have also made the cut—proof that the hall’s definition of a “toy” extends well beyond products sold in stores.
Anyone can nominate a toy. A team of museum curators, historians, and educators then selects 12 finalists, with the winners decided by a nationwide selection committee. The public can also vote through the Player’s Choice ballot, with the combined public results counting as one ballot. Nominees are judged on icon status, multigenerational popularity, their ability to encourage discovery and creativity, and their impact on how people play.
First released in Japan in 1996, this year’s newly inducted Pokémon cards have grown alongside the Pokemon game series, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Museum curator Mirek Stolee said, “Pokémon TCG’s widespread appeal and global presence are undeniable.” He added that the game successfully adapted mechanics established by earlier card games while making them more accessible to players of different ages.
Previous inductees include Magic: The Gathering, which entered the hall in 2019, and Dungeons & Dragons. Finalists that missed out this year included Mahjong, Polly Pocket, and Tickle Me Elmo. All four new inductees are now on display at The Strong, joining 90 previous honorees in an exhibition charting the evolution of play culture.
via： IGN