Collectables, movie characters and family games on Christmas Top Toy list
Priced at €59.99, Woody can spout favourite phrases, sounds and make realistic lip movements.
The first Toy Story movie came out 30 years ago, but its characters Woody and Buzz Lightyear continue to delight children, proving to be very popular in the lead-up to Christmas.
Inspired by the film Toy Story 5, which came out earlier this year, Smyths Toys has large-scale versions of the characters with 'alive mode' features on sale. They are proving to be very popular in the lead-up to Christmas.
Priced at €59.99 each, Woody and Buzz spout favourite phrases, sounds and make realistic lip movements.
They are some of the 70 items on Smyth's list of Top Toys for Christmas 2026, that “has been curated to showcase the very best of play, with a big focus on imagination, creativity and, above all, fun," said Sinead Byrne, European marketing director at Smyths Toys Superstores.
The retail empire is headquartered in Galway and operated by the Smyth family from Co Mayo. It recorded €2.53 billion in revenue across its 311 Irish, UK and continental European stores in 2024. Last year in the UK, it saw revenue reach over £1 billion (€1.19 billion) for the first time.
Other toys inspired by blockbuster movies include the Leaping Derpy from K-pop Demon Hunters and the PAW Patrol Ultimate Dino Hauler. The Super Mario Galaxy Movie and Spiderman Brand New Day toys are also likely to trend this season, said Smyths.
The company said they are seeing interactive toys like Pets Alive Mommy Elephant & Baby Surprise and Little Live Pets Kiki the Koala be very popular, in addition to non-screen play items such as the Drawing Robot Set, the Double Dance Mat w/Bluetooth and the Gui Gui Salish Deluxe Haul.
The Remote Control Titan Crawler Truck and Beyblades Motorised Stadium are action-packed play items getting a lot of attention, and demand is high for the Kick-About Interactive Training toy on the back of the World Cup this past summer.
Family games such as Rump Race, Poo Drop, Uno Show Em No Mercy Extreme, and strategy games, are also popular.
"Pokémon is also celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, and with the franchise continuing to reach new heights of popularity, we’re excited to mark the occasion with the incredible Real FX Pikachu Puppetronic," said Ms Byrne.
Adult collectors and enthusiasts continue to be one of the fastest-growing customer segments in stores, she said, with mature buyers fueled by nostalgia and pop culture seeking out exclusive, high-end collectables. The LEGO Mercedes Benz Unimog U 5023 is one such sought-after collectable.
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