The National Toy Hall of Fame has welcomed four new inductees for 2026: bingo, Care Bears, The Pokémon Trading Card Game, and slides. The honorees were selected from a field of 12 finalists and are on display at The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York.
The other finalists included Bop It!, Mahjong, Monster High dolls, Mouse Trap, Polly Pocket, Sorry!, Tickle Me Elmo, and Yahtzee.
Each inductee has a history of bringing people together through play.
Bingo dates back to an Italian lottery played around 1530 and eventually made its way to the U.S., where it became a popular game at church and charity fundraisers. Today, public bingo events have also found a following in bars and nightclubs.
“While bingo is now often associated with an older audience, it has become increasingly popular with young adults,” explains Curator Mirek Stolee. “Recently, public bingo games have gone beyond fundraising and have become popular in bars and nightclubs.”
Care Bears have been sharing messages of compassion, kindness, and consideration since the early 1980s. The characters have appeared in storybooks, TV shows, movies, games, toys, and home decor. This year, Authentic Brands Group closed its acquisition of the brand, which has generated more than $12 billion in lifetime retail sales and includes more than 100 bears and 500 licensing partners.
The brand is preparing to celebrate its 45th anniversary next year.
“Care Bears and their emotional architecture have appealed to at least two generations,” says Chief Curator Michelle Parnett-Dwyer. “Of course, most fans, regardless of age, can always use a Care Bear hug.” Parnett-Dwyer notes the brand boasts almost one million followers on social media and offers fans a variety of apps, pointing to “nimbleness in making new friends even in the electronic world.”
The Pokémon Trading Card Game has been a favorite among Pokémon fans since its debut in 1996, with billions of cards produced. Its straightforward game mechanics help make it accessible to players of different ages and backgrounds.
“Pokémon TCG’s widespread appeal and global presence are undeniable,” Stolee says. “The Pokémon TCG successfully adapted card game formulas established by its predecessors, making it more accessible and infusing it with the lovable Pokémon creatures.”
And then there’s the slide! While its exact origins are debated, slides have been part of recreational play for centuries. The playground movement of the early 1900s helped bring them into public spaces for kids to enjoy. Slides encourage exploration, exercise, motor skill development, and risky play — and the fun of racing down one isn’t limited to kids, and this editor knows better than most.
“With the right materials and imaginations, slides are a vehicle for free play. Today, slides are customizable, modular, and more flexible,” shares Jeremy Saucier, Vice President for Collections. “People of all ages remember fondly the simple, satisfying, and energizing experience of racing down a slide.”
The slide had a moment this fall during the World Series, when the Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays. The Brewers stadium, American Family Field, features a suspended slide over the outfield. The team’s mascot slides into a home plate-shaped platform, and the tradition honors the team’s slide into a giant beer mug at its former home, Milwaukee County Stadium. The original slide, with Bernie’s Chalet, have moved to Lakefront Brewery. Guests of American Family Field can ride the slide up to five times during stadium tours.
Governor’s Island Slide Hill, in New York City, offers the city’s longest slide at 57 feet (and three stories), while a slide in Boston has gone viral several times for its shocking speed. Security guards routinely patrol Boston City Hall Plaza to keep curious adults from enjoying misadventure.
Established in 1998, the National Toy Hall of Fame recognizes toys that have inspired creative play and remained popular over time. Anyone can nominate a toy for consideration, and selections are made with advice from historians, educators, and other experts.
The new inductees are on display at the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong National Museum of Play.
POKÉMON TRADING CARD GAME 30TH CELEBRATION ELITE TRAINER BOX
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CARE BEARS COZY PLUSH ASSORTMENT
This collection of 14-inch plush Care Bears includes Cheer Bear, Grumpy Bear, Share Bear, Stormy Heart Bear (pictured). Bedtime Bear, and Togetherness Bear. They have new belly badges and are made from sustainable materials.
