Humphrey the Elephant at Spielwarenmesse 2026

This year’s Spielwarenmesse was full of colour, creativity and thoughtful, innovative products. At our large dual-aspect tickit stand, I greeted friends as they explored all the new tickit wonders. When I wasn’t meeting and greeting in Hall 12, I ventured further afield to meet fellow toy enthusiasts. Here are the trends that caught my very large eye and what they mean for children, parents and educators in 2026.

Screen-free play - a growing trend in 2026

One of the strongest themes across the fair was the growing desire for screen-free play. In a world where technology is everywhere, many families are actively seeking balance.

I saw beautifully designed resources that invite children to touch, build, experiment and imagine without batteries or loud buttons. Hands-on construction sets, sensory materials and creative tools were everywhere.

At tickit, this feels very familiar. We believe play should be explored through tactile, hands-on experiences. From our light panels to our wooden playsets, our toys are designed to support real engagement and focused exploration. When children are given open-ended resources, they slow down, ask questions and develop their own ideas. That is where learning begins.

Sustainable toys and responsible sourcing

As a wooden elephant, sustainability is close to my heart ❤️!

I was delighted to see how seriously the industry is taking responsible sourcing and environmental care.

Our wooden toys are made from FSC-certified or responsibly sourced wood, with formaldehyde-free composite materials and water-based, non-toxic paints and stains. All products are tested to the latest European and international toy safety standards.

Our packaging is moving towards fully recyclable solutions, including glue-free designs and boxes made from at least 75 per cent recycled material. We are committed to eliminating single-use plastics, and at our UK headquarters, solar energy and renewable utilities help reduce our environmental impact.

Eco-friendly toys do not have to be muted. Planet-friendly play can be bold and vibrant, just like nature itself. Our new Lighthouse Island, with bright red stripes, a deep blue base and a rotating gold gem light, proves that sustainability can be bold and compelling.

Creative mindfulness through purposeful play

Another wonderful theme was creative mindfulness. There was a clear focus on helping children feel calm, confident and capable through purposeful play.

Craft activities, construction materials, sensory exploration and hands on making were all prominent. These resources encourage children to concentrate, experiment and build resilience through trial and error.

This aligns beautifully with the curiosity approach and with child led learning environments. Open ended resources that can be used in many ways continue to gain momentum over single use novelty toys. At tickit, every product is designed or endorsed by experienced educators to support real developmental needs.

Whether it is building fine motor skills, encouraging early mathematical thinking or supporting imaginative storytelling, our aim is always to provide meaningful play experiences that last. Some great examples of toys that promote mindfulness are our tickit tickit Gem Cubes and Gem Circles, these gorgeous translucent shapes are tactile and smooth, they make a fantastic chinking sound when stacked and built with and the colours that stream from them when placed in a sunny spot or on a light panel will transfix children an grown-ups alike. Find our more in our blog: Mindfulness Through Creative Play with the tickit Gem Cube and Circle Mirror Trays.

Timeless wooden toys and nostalgic play

I noticed a gentle wave of nostalgia across the halls. Traditional wooden toys, village scenes, farm sets and classic building blocks were celebrated and fitted perfectly with the drive towards screen-free play.

There is something comforting about simple, beautifully crafted toys. They do not rely on licensed characters or digital prompts. Instead, they invite children to create their own stories and imaginative worlds.

This timeless quality sits at the heart of tickit. Our wooden characters such as our Wooden Farm Set and Wooden Enchanted Figures, and our building sets such as our Rainbow Wooden Architect Shapes are designed to be passed down, shared and cherished. They are robust, high quality play resources that hold their value and grow with your child.

Play for all ages

One of the most exciting developments was the growth of products designed for older children, teens and even adults. Construction sets, hobby kits and creative projects were showcased as tools for relaxation, connection and lifelong learning.

We’ve always believed play does not stop at a certain age - it evolves. Resources that encourage collaboration between siblings, friends and even grandparents create shared moments and meaningful conversations that ultimately boost skills like creative language while building core memories.

Many tickit products naturally support multi age exploration. Open ended construction, investigative science tools and creative resources allow children and adults to learn alongside one another. A perfect example of this would be our tickit Wooden Treasures. These lovely little wooden objects can be enjoyed from 3 years to 103 three years and beyond. They make excellent counters for maths exploration, tools for imaginative play scenes, pattern making and mandalas pieces and are even nice to just handle and fidget with.

What this means for families and educators in 2026

From my elephant’s-eye view, Spielwarenmesse 2026 confirmed something important. While the toy industry continues to innovate, the heart of meaningful play remains unchanged.

Children need time, space and thoughtfully designed resources. They need durable, safe and adaptable materials. They need opportunities to follow their curiosity.

tickit exists to provide exactly that. We create premium-quality educational toys that inspire learning through play. From FSC-certified wooden playsets to light panels, loose parts and balance bikes, our products are designed and developed by our experienced UK team.

A final trumpet 🎺

As I packed my trunk at the end of the fair, I felt proud. Proud that the industry is moving towards thoughtful, sustainable and purposeful play. Proud that tickit has championed these values for many years.

If you are looking for high-quality, meaningful toys that inspire imagination, support real learning and are kind to the planet, I would love you to explore the tickit range.

After all, curiosity is a very big thing… and I should know… I am a very big elephant. 🐘