Updated Oct. 26, 2026. These are eight toys that reached stores in 2026, all checked against the maker's own page or announcement. They include the first garbage-truck Hess Toy Truck, a hand-puppet Pikachu with more than 120 reactions, Mark Rober's CrunchLabs Crunchinator and a volcano roller coaster from LEGO City. Prices are as checked on Amazon or the maker's store on Oct. 26, 2026. Each pick links to its page in the TDmonthly product directory and lists short pros and cons.
1. 2026 Hess Hauler Truck and Snow Plow (on sale Oct. 19)
This year's holiday Hess is the brand's first garbage-truck-style Hauler, paired with its first ATV-style Snow Plow. The six-wheel Hauler has more than 72 LED lights, seven flashing light patterns and six sound effects, which Hess says are the most ever on a holiday Hess truck. A push button lifts the rear hatch, and the plow rolls in and out on a pull-out ramp. The Snow Plow has a pull-back motor, an adjustable plow blade and 12 lights of its own. It went on sale Oct. 19 for $49.99 at HessToyTruck.com, the only place Hess sells it, with Energizer batteries and free standard shipping included. A third-party listing on Amazon was asking $119 on Oct. 26. The package carries a small-parts warning (not for children under 3). See our product page.
Pros: Two new vehicle designs in one box for $49.99; batteries and standard shipping included; lights, sounds and a working ramp
Cons: Sold only at HessToyTruck.com, and resale listings cost more than twice as much; free shipping excludes Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories
Source: GlobeNewswire: 2026 Hess Hauler Truck and Snow Plow On Sale Now
2. Barbie Signature 2026 Holiday Barbie Doll
This year's Holiday Barbie wears a strapless red gown with a full skirt, a bow at the hip, silver drop earrings and red heels. It comes with a doll stand and a Certificate of Authenticity. Mattel's shop lists it at $45 for ages 6 and up. On Amazon on Oct. 26, the blonde version was $44.98 and the brunette version was $44.50. See our product page.
Pros: A dated 2026 collector doll for about $45; stand and certificate included; two hair colors
Cons: Made for display more than rough play, and it can't stand without its stand; holiday collector dolls can sell out (Mattel Creations showed the blonde doll sold out)
Source: Mattel: 2026 Holiday Barbie Doll
3. Pokémon Pikachu Puppetronic by RealFX
WOW! Stuff, a UK company, makes this 16-inch hand-puppet Pikachu under its RealFX label, and Jazwares sells it in the Americas. Kids work it from inside like a puppet, and their hand movements trigger more than 120 sounds and actions. The mouth moves, the eyes blink, the ears move and the cheeks glow. Touch sensors on the head, nose and tummy add electric-attack and battle sounds. It ships in a showcase box that doubles as a display stand. The Puppetronic was released Sept. 15 and was $79 on Amazon on Oct. 26, where the maker's recommended age is 3 and up. See our product page.
Pros: Very expressive for a plush; kids control it by hand rather than pressing a button; the box doubles as a display stand for collectors
Cons: $79 is a lot for a plush; needs 3 AAA batteries (not included); electronics inside mean it can't be washed like a regular plush
Source: WOW! Stuff: Pikachu Puppetronic announcement
4. CrunchLabs by Mark Rober: The Crunchinator
Moose Toys announced its CrunchLabs toy line with YouTuber and former NASA engineer Mark Rober on Feb. 10, and the line arrived this fall. The Crunchinator is a hand-cranked crusher. Kids load a crunchy, squishy or poppable item, pick one of three crunch plates and turn the wrench, which multiplies their strength more than 30 times. It's a hands-on lesson in torque and mechanical advantage. The mess stays in a chamber that rinses clean in a sink. A QR code opens a how-to video from Rober, and a phone holder lets kids film each crunch. It was $34.99 on Amazon on Oct. 26, for ages 8 and up. See our product page.
Pros: Kids can watch real physics happen and want to repeat it; the mess stays inside the chamber; $34.99 includes a video from Mark Rober
Cons: Kids need a steady supply of things to crush, so parents have to set rules; cleanup is a sink job after every squishy or food item
Source: PR Newswire: Moose Toys unveils CrunchLabs toy line
5. MAGNA-TILES Undersea Adventure 58-Piece Set
This set is part of the MAGNA-TILES ocean collection launched July 1. Besides an XL baseplate and the quarter domes and arcs used for pod-shaped builds, it has straight and curved slides, trapdoor tiles, new Sensory Tiles, soft coral and octopus-tentacle pieces, two diver figures and four sea creatures (a dolphin, a shark, a sea turtle and an octopus). The maker lists it at $89.99. The Amazon price was $80 on Oct. 26. MAGNA-TILES pitches it to ages 5 and up, while Amazon's age field says 3 and up. See our product page.
Pros: Building plus role play in one box; slides, trapdoors and soft Sensory Tiles add action and texture; works with other MAGNA-TILES sets
Cons: About $80 for 58 pieces; many pieces are theme-specific; small magnets and parts, not for children under 3
Source: MAGNA-TILES: Undersea Adventure 58-Piece Set
6. LEGO City Lava Land Roller Coaster Park (60501)
Released June 1, this 1,165-piece LEGO City set builds an amusement park around a volcano. Kids launch a 3-car train from the summit through a full loop, and each run can set off a tumbling lava boulder. A dial spins a carousel of four mine carts around a rock crystal. The set has 8 minifigures, one of them wearing a hidden-disabilities sunflower lanyard, plus a posable rock monster, a rock-candy stall, an arcade machine and a souvenir stand. The set was $99.99 on Amazon on Oct. 26, for ages 8 and up. See our product page.
Pros: A working gravity coaster with a loop and a falling boulder; 8 minifigures for role play; an inclusive sunflower-lanyard figure
Cons: $99.99 is a big gift budget; a long build that younger 8-year-olds may need help with; takes up about 21 inches of shelf space
Source: LEGO: Lava Land Roller Coaster Park 60501
7. tonies Disney Cuddle Minnie Mouse
Cuddle Tonies are a new line from tonies, launched in the U.S. on March 11. They're fleece plush characters that also play audio when placed on a Toniebox. Cuddle Minnie plays about 31 minutes of narrated stories, short scenes with Mickey and a calming closing soundscape. Track titles include Minnie's Secret Scavenger Hunt and A Nice Day for a Sail. Tonies says Cuddle Tonies are machine washable and made from recycled polyester. It was $29.94 on Amazon on Oct. 26 ($29.99 at tonies), for ages 3 and up. See our product page.
Pros: An audio character and a plush to cuddle in one; gentle, screen-free bedtime content; easy for preschoolers to start on their own
Cons: Needs a Toniebox, sold separately; about 31 minutes of English-only content for about $30
Source: tonies: Disney Minnie Mouse Cuddle Tonie
8. Kanoodle Fan Edition, 20th Anniversary
Educational Insights marked Kanoodle's 20th anniversary in February with a limited Fan Edition in cyan or magenta cases. Each case has 220 new puzzles, 20 double-sided #ShakeChallenge cards inspired by fans and two bonus pieces on top of the 12 originals. The two colors together have more than 500 new challenges. Like the original, it's a single-player logic puzzle in a closed travel case. The cyan edition was $12.96 on Amazon on Oct. 26, and the maker says it's for ages 8 and up. See our product page.
Pros: A screen-free brain teaser for kids and adults; 220 puzzles for about $13; a compact case for car trips and stocking stuffers
Cons: Single-player only; small pieces are easy to lose; half the 500+ new challenges need the other color
Source: Educational Insights: Kanoodle Fan Edition (Cyan)
For more new products, browse the TDmonthly 2026 Holiday Toy Guide.
For the full weekly market brief: The ToyDirectory Intelligence Report
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#ad As an Amazon Associate, TDmonthly earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability are as of Oct. 26, 2026 and may change.
Writer's Bio: Driven by a fascination with how young people learn, grow, and connect, Laura N. Larsson has spent years researching the role of play and social media in child and adolescent development. Since 2012, she has combined her ecommerce background with in-depth interviews of children and teenagers, producing insightful articles that explore the evolving interplay between play, communication, and online interaction. 
