Christmas toy shopping always arrives faster than you expect. One week it seems ages away, and the next you're scrolling through online shops that are full of things you've never heard of, trying to work out what your child actually wants.
To make that easier, we've pulled together the kids’ toy types that are most worth knowing about this year. Below, you can find our best recommendations on which Christmas toys to choose that are popular with kids, will benefit your child most, and give you the best value for money.
What's Trending in Toys This Christmas
Nostalgia is having a real moment this year. Classic toy formats are getting a fresh, modern update, which makes them an easy way for parents to share something from their own childhood.
Screen-to-play is everywhere too. Beloved characters from films, games, and shows are turning up as toys children can actually hold and build their own stories around.
Small, collectable toys are having a moment of their own as well. Blind-box figures and squishy pocket-sized characters have built genuine collecting communities, and it's not only children joining in.
In our guide to the best Christmas toy types of 2026 below, you’ll clearly see all of these trends pop up!
The Toy Types Worth Knowing About for Christmas 2026
Building and Construction Sets
This year's building sets lean heavily into licensed themes. LEGO sets continue to dominate here, with pieces tied to gaming and film franchises alongside its own original ranges.
If your child likes to see how something works, Meccano takes a more mechanical approach, with buildable vehicles and moving parts to figure out. It suits a wide age range, from simpler starter kits to detailed builds that keep older children busy well past Boxing Day.
Interactive and Tech Toys
Technology toys are the category behind most of the playground conversations about who's got what. VTech and Tonies toys continue to lead the way, with audio players that build listening habits and instruments that encourage performance over screen time.
The toys worth buying here are the ones that are interactive and properly respond to a child, as this is usually what keeps them coming back to them.
Soft and Plush Toys
Soft toys are the quiet comeback category of the year. These toys need no charging and no explaining, which is exactly their appeal for a lot of parents right now.
Squishmallows are the name most children ask for, thanks to their soft, marshmallow-like feel and huge range of characters to collect. Classic teddy bears do the same job for a first Christmas, and they never really go out of fashion.
Collectibles and Pocket-Sized Surprises
Blind-box figures, trading collectables, and mini squishy toys have become one of the fastest-growing categories on our shelves. The appeal of collectable toys is simple: the surprise factor and the fun of building out a full set.
They've crossed over well beyond young children too, into the teen and adult gift market, which makes them brilliant stocking fillers whatever the age on the label.
Educational and STEM Toys
For the child who wants to know how something works, educational and science toys are where to look. Construction and circuitry sets, marble runs, and problem-solving games all fall under this umbrella.
Brands with a genuine track record in hands-on learning tend to be the safest bet here, simply because they're designed to be picked up and used again, not left on a shelf.
Dolls, Small-World, and Role Play
Dolls and playsets remain a dependable favourite, particularly anything tied to a current film or show. Look for sets with genuine play features, like moving parts or interactive rooms, since this is what’s most likely to hold your little one’s attention longest.
Outdoor and Active Play
Coats on, screens off. Kids’ trampolines, ride-on toys, outdoor garden games, and many other outdoor toys are a strong pick for balancing out all the indoor tech on this list.
They're also consistently among the first items to sell out once the weather turns colder, so it's worth shopping this category early.
Fancy Dress and Character Role Play
A perennial favourite under any tree, especially in a year with major family film releases. Kids’ fancy dress costumes and kids’ role-play toys, from a favourite film hero to a pretend kitchen or job set, sell through quickly once they're tied to something a child already loves.
Find This Year's Best Christmas Toys at True Toys
Whichever category you think your child will be most excited to open on the 25th, you can find a fantastic selection of the above kids’ toys in our vast selection at True Toys! In our Christmas toy collection and across our site, you can find great-quality toys from trusted brands, all at honest prices. From Marvel toys and Disney Princess toys to LEGO sets and more, you can find everything you need to beat the Christmas shopping rush and find top toys without spending a fortune.
