ROCHESTER, New York—It’s official! Today, the National Toy Hall of Fame inducted bingo, Care Bears, The Pokémon Trading Card Game, and slide into the class of 2026. The winners emerged from a field of 12 finalists that also included Bop It!, Mahjong, Monster High dolls, Mouse Trap, Polly Pocket, Sorry!, Tickle Me Elmo, and Yahtzee. The four inducted toys have been enshrined and are on view at The Strong National Museum of Play, home to the National Toy Hall of Fame.
About Bingo: American bingo descends from an Italian lottery played around 1530. The lottery inspired the game lotto, used in France and Germany as a teaching tool. Lotto came to the United States in the 1800s, where it evolved into the carnival game beano. A marketer encountered beano in the 1920s, changed its name to bingo, and the game has become a staple of adult play and fundraisers for churches and charity organizations. Games like bingo are played world-wide. One such game, Loteria, is especially popular in Mexico.
Says Curator Mirek Stolee, “While bingo is now often associated with an older audience, it has become increasingly popular with young adults. Recently, public bingo games have gone beyond fundraising and have become popular in bars and nightclubs.”
About Care Bears: Soft and sweet, cute and cuddly, Care Bears have been teaching youngsters compassion, kindness, and consideration for others since the early 1980s. Stars of storybooks, television shows, movies, games, toys, and home decorations, Care Bears fuel kids’ sense of fantasies and adventure even as they mature emotionally. In 2026, Authentic Brands Group closed its acquisition of Care Bears. The global brand was reported to have generated more than $12 billion in lifetime retail sales and included more than 100 bears and 500 licensing partners.
Says Chief Curator Michelle Parnett-Dwyer, “Care Bears and their emotional architecture have appealed to at least two generations. Nearly a million Care Bear followers on social media, and scores of apps for mobile devices, attest to Care Bears’ enduring popularity and its nimbleness in making new friends even in the electronic world. Of course, most fans, regardless of age, can always use a Care Bear hug.”
About Pokémon Trading Card Game: Pokémon Trading Card Game has impacted trading card games throughout the world, with billions of cards produced since it debuted in 1996. The game’s mechanics are straightforward and can be grasped within a single game. Supported by a dedicated community of anime enthusiasts, manga readers, and video game players, the Pokémon TCG is renowned for its accessibility, making it an attractive option for players of diverse ages and backgrounds.
Says Curator Mirek Stolee, “Pokémon TCG’s widespread appeal and global presence are undeniable. The Pokémon TCG successfully adapted card game formulas established by its predecessors, making it more accessible and infusing it with the lovable Pokémon creatures.”
About Slide: While the origins of the first slide for play and recreation are debated, many scholars believe they have existed for centuries. The playground movement of the early 1900s further introduced slides into public spaces dedicated to children playing together. Slides are both a means for thrill-seeking and exercise. Although the apparatus has changed over time, the benefits of playing with a slide remain the same. Slides help kids to develop motor skills, encourage exploration, and promote risky play. And many grown-ups agree that riding down a slide is invigorating.
Says Jeremy Saucier, Vice President for Collections, “With the right materials and imaginations, slides are a vehicle for free play. Today, slides are customizable, modular, and more flexible. “People of all ages remember fondly the simple, satisfying, and energizing experience of racing down a slide.”
About the National Toy Hall of Fame: The National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong, established in 1998, recognizes toys that have inspired creative play and enjoyed popularity over a sustained period. Each year, the prestigious hall inducts new honorees and showcases both new and historic versions of classic toys beloved by generations. Anyone can nominate a toy to the National Toy Hall of Fame. Final selections are made on the advice of historians, educators, and other individuals who exemplify learning, creativity, and discovery through their lives and careers. Toys are celebrated year-round in a state-of-the-art exhibit at The Strong in Rochester, New York. For more information about the hall and to see the list of previous inductees, visit museumofplay.org/exhibits/toy-hall-of-fame
