Bingo, Care Bears, and the Playground Slide Join Toy Hall of Fame
The four 2026 inductees were selected from 12 finalists, including Tickle Me Elmo and Pokémon cards, to join 90 existing members.
By Madison Darwish ·
Bingo, Care Bears, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and the standard playground slide were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame on Thursday.
The four 2026 winners join a roster of 90 existing toys, which includes Mr. Potato Head, G.I. Joe, Cabbage Patch Kids, Dungeons & Dragons, Hot Wheels, and Frisbee.
The selections came from a field of 12 finalists. The other eight candidates were Bop It!, mahjong, Monster High dolls, Polly Pocket, Tickle Me Elmo, Yahtzee, and the board games Sorry! and Mouse Trap.
Curator Mirek Stolee noted that bingo descends from an Italian lottery played around 1530. He stated that the game is now played virtually worldwide. Stolee said bingo is increasingly popular with young adults, noting that public games have moved beyond fundraising into bars and nightclubs.
The Hall credited social media followers, who reached nearly 1 million for the Care Bears, and anime and manga enthusiasts for the Pokémon cards. Jeremy Saucier, vice president for collections, said the slide helps children develop motor skills. He added that people of all ages remember the energizing experience of racing down a slide.
The Strong National Museum of Play, home to the Hall, sets the criteria for induction. A toy must be considered an icon, engage multiple generations, foster creativity, or change play and toy design. Anyone can nominate a toy for consideration.
