All Photos By Gail

One of the most highly anticipated annual gatherings at NYC’s Javits Center is Toy Fair, a massive showcase for the toy industry where manufacturers, designers, licensors, and inventors reveal what’s next in the world of play. It’s part trade show, part trend forecast, and plenty of joyful overload — a place where plushies, collectibles, games, and wonderfully strange inventions all compete for your attention.

This year marked my second exploration of Toy Fair, and this time I was able to devote two days to fully immerse myself in the festivities. Having that extra time made all the difference. Instead of rushing  from booth to booth, I wandered, discovered, and let the surprises find me.

To me, Toy Fair is like the Summer Fancy Food Show — but for toys. Anything and everything is on display to satisfy every possible taste. Cute? Check. Collectible? Absolutely. Weird? Definitely. Nostalgic? Everywhere. The creativity on display feels endless.

This year, I was especially captivated by the following loosely-grouped-together categories of playthings.

Hello Kitty Teddy Bear, Has as Many Outfit Options as Barbie!

Hello Kitty

Hello Kitty (as always) was everywhere at Toy Fair 2026 — but who’s complaining? From plush collectibles to tiny figures, accessories, and unexpected collaborations, the beloved character continues to reinvent herself while staying unmistakably Hello Kitty.

I spotted Hello Kitty across multiple booths, sometimes in classic red-bow form and other times reimagined in pastel palettes, themed costumes, and collectible series designed for both kids and adult collectors. This year she even came alive as a Chia Pet!

Hello Kitty and Friend Balloons from Tailloon Balloons of Taiwan

There were miniature figures, blind boxes, plush charms, and desk-friendly collectibles that felt designed specifically for display — and Instagram.

It’s always fascinating to see how Hello Kitty evolves each year while remaining timeless.

Hello Kitty Made From Lego Bricks! Enormously Cute!

Hello Kitty Has a Posse

The Plushies

Soft toys were out in full force, and this year’s plushies have personality to spare — the quirkier, the better.

Check out Christmas-themed  Spongebob and Patrick by Teeturtle. Look into their wildly dilated pupils and tell me they aren’t on some sort of consciousness-altering substance  (no judgements).

Do you remember watching the Ren & Stimpy Show  on Sunday mornings way back in the day? I sure do. Super7 is keeping the duo alive as miniature plushies for all you nostalgia addicts. Happy happy, joy joy.

Life-Size Nommi In The Wild

I encountered a wide range of plush creatures, from cute little animals to surreal characters, each more charming than the last. The plush category continues to be one of the most creative spaces at Toy Fair.

Even Crayola Crayon Makes Plushies!

This big cuddly guy appears to be an oversized prototype of the  Flipkins Red Panda plush toy from Wild Republic that was likely created as focal point for their booth. Well played.

Speaking of ‘Plush Seating‘ (get it?) the Squishmallows Throne was back this year for all obligatory Toy Fair souvenir photo ops!

When you’ve got a trend going on, you must yield to it! Check out this bowl chair upholstered with original Palm Pals! So comfy! But what exactly are Palm Pals and why are people obsessed with them?

Palm Pals are small, ultra-soft collectible plush toys made by  Aurora World — and they’ve quietly become one of the biggest “cute collectible” crazes right now. Get a closer look at the extreme cuteness below.

Clearly, they are irresistible. These approximately 5-inch toys literally fit in the palm of your hand and are themed as animals, food, whimsical characters and random quirky things like toast, pickles, or clouds. Oh, the cuteness.

While this tiny strawberry and lemon may look like Palm Pals, they belong to the iscream line of clothing, accessories, and toys for tween girls! Because imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

Is your head spinning yet? Meet the Squish Berries; small plushies that look like a slice of swiss roll with a cute animal face! Squish Berries are riding the wave of Squishmallows popularity, Palm Pals mini collectible trend, and the sensory/fidget toy boom. Also, they’re scented!

Do you need a basket of super tiny Emotional Support Highland Cows? Sure you do! These bite-sized bovines are part of the Emotional Support Pals line from Relatable Toys.

I must now confess that my favorite Toy of the Fair (if forced to choose)  was a small blue plush frog from Rainylune appropriately named Son the Frog Knife Plushie. Adorable, but also slightly menacing, being as he is holding a not-so- tiny knife. His tagline?

Color me smitten. The contrast — soft and cuddly paired with an unexpected threat —  made him unforgettable, as he perfectly captures the current plush trend: cute with a twist. Plush toys are no longer just comforting companions — they now come with unrelenting sass. I approve.

The Squish Toys

Slime may have started the tactile toy craze, but it has clearly evolved into something massive. This year, there was a noticeable shift in focus toward all things squishable — stress-relief toys designed to be squeezed, pressed, poked, and smushed.

Do you like to play with your food? These toys say ‘be my guest!’ Brands are now transforming familiar foods and snacks  into soft, tactile toys. The emphasis is on texture and interaction, with toys that invite constant handling. Some were ultra-soft or gelatinous, others slow-rising, and some felt almost cloud-like in their squishability.

A Different Kind of Squish-Mallow

These toys aren’t just for kids either. Many are designed with desk-friendly stress relief in mind, making them appealing to adults who want something soothing — and stylish — to squish away the stress.

“Oh, Yeah!”

Squishiness is no longer a trend — it’s its own category.

Squish toys have a sub category called “Mix-Ins” which is just gross enough to keep the kids interested. Here we have Mac N Cheese Thinking Putty: a cheesy-yellow slime that can be mixed with plastic bits that resemble macaroni. So super gross — it’s a ‘must have’ for sure.

This mix-in from Orb Toys has everything: attractive dome packaging, blue slime, sea creatures, beads, and some kind of scent as well.  It’s an undersea adventure in a cup. Just don’t try to eat it!

Sugar Swaps triplets squishies (also from Orb Toys) come three to a package to encourage collecting and trading. They are very tiny and slimy, so you know they’re going to get lost  in the carpet immediately, which is why their bodies are infused with glitter! I see you, little squishy!

Funkee Paw-Nana Palz (Orb Toys again) is a silky smooth-to- the-touch stretch toy that’s part Otter, or Bird, and part (mostly) Banana. I guess the name Bananamals was taken?

Assorted Squish Toys By Nee Doh

The Petite Figures

Tiny things make me happy, and Toy Fair delivered plenty of small-scale squee. Petite collectible figures were everywhere — miniature characters, tiny animals, micro-playsets, and blind-box collectibles galore. There’s something irresistible about small things, especially when they come in themed sets or surprise packaging.

A Trio of Tiny Yodas From Monogram International

Winner of the Toy of The Year Award for 2026, Wigglitz are colorful, 3D-printed toys designed to be fidget-friendly, playful, and highly collectible. The Wigglitz booth at Toy Fair was swarmed with people just losing their minds over these tiny  toys that are half the size of  my thumb. What makes them stand out — aside from the mind boggling variety of Wigglitz that exist — is a wiggly body,  making them an ideal stress reliever. Created by ZB Designs, Wigglitz are a phenomena that you can explore by following their Instagram.

Monster Mosh 4-Figure Set Design By Matthew Lineham, Distributed By Culturefly

I found myself repeatedly stopping to admire tiny figures arranged in carefully designed displays, each one inviting you to collect them all. Whether whimsical, nostalgic, or delightfully odd, these small collectibles sparked the squee in me.

Tiny One Piece Characters From Great Eastern Entertainment

Adventure Time Clicky Caps From Monogram International

Tiny Seasonal Tigger and Piglet From Funko Pop

Cleary aimed at the adult collector and fans of the Hellraiser franchise, how can you not be charmed by this tiny Pinhead holding the Lament Configuration Puzzle Box? He’s part of the Tiny Nightmares blind box series of 3-inch figures.

Diamond Painting is a popular, stress reducing craft hobby that involves placing tiny beads or ‘diamonds’ on a pre-printed canvas or blank figure. Diamond Art Club not only has exquisite canvases for all levels of crafters but also offers a line of tiny figures they call Dazzle Pals, which come to life as you complete their colorful signature look with tiny diamonds! Relaxing and extra fun, because you made it!

It was especially exciting to spot a familiar face at Toy Fair: friend of Worleygig and toy designer Eric Althin, better known as Sad Salesman, who debuted a charming new blind box series called Blonks Animal Afternoon. Based on his popular characters, the lineup includes an adorable mix of animals including a Bee, Snail, Bird, Shark, Pig, and a particularly delightful Sea Anemone with a tiny fish friend nestled in its tentacles.

These art toys strike a perfect balance between cute and collectible, with the added appeal of coming from a beloved independent artist. Even better, Blonks are being distributed by Funko and are available now, making it easier than ever for fans to bring these whimsical characters home.

The popularity of miniature collectibles continues to grow, and Toy Fair 2026 empahsized that tiny toys are having a very big moment.

After two very long and wildly fun days exploring Toy Fair 2026, I left both inspired and delighted. The show reaffirmed that play is an art form — one that blends creativity, nostalgia, humor, and innovation.

Toy Fair thrives on creativity, and sometimes the strangest ideas are the most memorable. These offbeat finds often become the ones I think about long after the show ends.