Four Toys Join 90 Others in National Hall of Fame

NEW YORK, N.Y. Bingo, Care Bears, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and the playground slide were named the four 2026 inductees into the National Toy Hall of Fame. The announcement came on Thursday, adding these items to a list that already includes Mr. Potato Head and G.I. Joe.

The selection process narrowed a field of 12 finalists to the four winners. The other contenders included Bop It!, mahjong, Monster High dolls, Polly Pocket, Tickle Me Elmo, Yahtzee, the board games Sorry! and Mouse Trap, and the classic playground slide, which ultimately made the cut.

The Strong National Museum of Play, which maintains the Hall, noted that bingo descends from an Italian lottery played around 1530. Curator Mirek Stolee said the game is now played virtually worldwide. Stolee added that while often associated with older audiences, bingo has gained popularity among young adults, with public games moving beyond fundraising into bars and nightclubs.

Social media and fan communities played a role in the other selections. The Care Bears campaign earned nearly 1 million followers on social media. Pokémon trading cards benefited from support by anime enthusiasts and manga readers. Jeremy Saucier, vice president for collections, said the playground slide helps children develop motor skills and encourages exploration. He noted that people of all ages remember the experience of racing down a slide fondly.

To qualify for induction, a toy must be considered an icon, engage multiple generations, foster creativity, or profoundly change play or toy design. Anyone can nominate a toy for consideration.

The four new inductees join 90 toys already enshrined in the National Toy Hall of Fame. The existing list includes Cabbage Patch Kids, Dungeons & Dragons, Hot Wheels, and Frisbee.