These 12 Toys Could Be the Next Hall of Famers at This New York Museum

Did you know the Toy Hall of Fame is located right here in New York state?

With that being said, the Strong National Museum of Play has announced the nominees for the 2026 Toy Hall of Fame.

Toy Hall of Fame Nominees 2026

The Strong Museum of Play is gearing up for the 2026 Toy Hall of Fame. The New York based museum announced the 12 finalist on their website.

On the website they write:

The following 12 toys are finalists for 2026 induction into The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame. Only a few will take their honored places in the hall this year when they are announced by The Strong this November!

The Toy Hall of Fame Finalist for 2026 are:

Bingo
Bop It
Care Bears
Mahjong
Monster High dolls
Mouse Trap
Pokémon Trading Cards
Polly Pocket
the Slide
Sorry!
Tickle Me Elmo
Yahtzee

The competition is tough this year! Unfortunately, the public doesn't get to vote on which toys should make it into the Hall of Fame, but toy experts will be making the final decision.

Which 3 would you pick to go into the Toy Hall of Fame?

My prediction: Pokémon Cards, Tickle Me Elmo, and Bingo.

Where is The Museum of Play in New York?

Every year I would see the nominees for the Toy Hall of Fame come out and never knew the museum that made said decision was right here in New York.

The Strong National Museum of Play is located in Rochester and was named after Margaret Woodbury Strong. Margaret was born into a wealthy family back in the 1800s and spent a good part of her life traveling the world.

During her travels, Woodbury Strong started to collect dolls. According to the Strong Museum she accumulated "an enormous collection of more than 27,000 dolls, dollhouses, miniatures, and thousands of other household and decorative objects."

They say that she had ideas of opening a "Museum of Fascination" to put her collections on display.

Years after her death the Strong National Museum of Play was born. In her will Margaret stated that she wanted her collection to be on display at a public museum.

Which Toys Made It Into The Hall of Fame Last Year?

2025 was an intense toy finalist season.

The 3 inductees in 2025 to the Toy Hall of Fame were: Battleship, Slime and Trivial Pursuit.

All classics for sure! Learn more and visit the Strong National Museum of Play website to see all past and present finalists.