Humphrey the Elephant at Spielwarenmesse 2026

This year’s Spielwarenmesse was full of colour, creativity and thoughtful product design. At the tickit stand, I welcomed many familiar faces as visitors explored our newest additions. When I was not greeting guests in Hall 12, I explored the exhibition halls to meet fellow toy enthusiasts. Here are a few trends that particularly caught my eye and what they may mean for children, families and educators in 2026.

Screen-free play continues to grow

One of the most noticeable themes across the exhibition was the continued interest in screen-free play. In a world where digital technology is present almost everywhere, many families are looking for ways to restore balance in children’s play experiences.

I saw many beautifully designed resources that encourage children to touch, build, experiment and imagine without batteries or electronic features. Construction materials, sensory resources and creative play tools were widely represented.

At tickit, this philosophy is very familiar. We believe that play should be experienced through tactile, hands-on exploration. From our light panels to our wooden playsets, our toys are designed to support meaningful engagement and focused discovery. When children are provided with open-ended resources, they naturally slow down, explore ideas and develop their own creative solutions. This is where learning truly begins.

Sustainable toys and responsible sourcing

As a wooden elephant, sustainability is something I care deeply about.

It was encouraging to see how seriously the toy industry is approaching responsible sourcing and environmental awareness.

Our wooden toys are produced using FSC-certified or responsibly sourced timber, along with formaldehyde-free composite materials and water-based, non-toxic paints and stains. All products are tested in accordance with current European and international toy safety standards.

Our packaging is also moving towards fully recyclable solutions, including glue-free designs and cartons made with at least 75% recycled material. We are working to eliminate single-use plastics wherever possible. At our UK headquarters, solar energy and renewable utilities also help reduce our environmental impact.

Sustainable toys do not need to be understated. Environmentally responsible play can still be colourful and engaging, just like nature itself. Our Lighthouse Island, with its bright red stripes, deep blue base and rotating golden gem light, shows that sustainability and imaginative design can work beautifully together.

Creative mindfulness through purposeful play

Another theme that stood out was creative mindfulness. Many products were designed to help children feel calm, confident and engaged through purposeful play.

Craft activities, building materials, sensory exploration and hands-on making were all strongly represented. These types of resources encourage children to concentrate, experiment and develop resilience through trial and error.

This approach aligns closely with curiosity-based learning and child-led environments. Open-ended resources that can be used in multiple ways continue to gain popularity compared with single-purpose novelty toys. At tickit, every product is designed or endorsed by experienced educators to support meaningful developmental outcomes.

Whether supporting fine motor development, early mathematical thinking or imaginative storytelling, our aim is always to provide enriching play experiences that last. Good examples include our tickit Gem Cubes and Gem Circles. These translucent shapes are tactile and smooth, create a pleasing sound when stacked, and produce beautiful colours when placed in sunlight or on a light panel. You can read more about this in our blog: Mindfulness Through Creative Play with the tickit Gem Cube and Circle Mirror Trays.

Timeless wooden toys and nostalgic play

I also noticed a renewed appreciation for classic toys. Traditional wooden play sets, village scenes, farm environments and building blocks were widely showcased and complement the move towards screen-free play.

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

This timeless quality is central to tickit’s philosophy. Our wooden characters, such as the Wooden Farm Set and Wooden Enchanted Figures, along with construction sets like the Rainbow Wooden Architect Shapes, are designed to be durable, long-lasting and shared between generations.

Play for all ages

One of the most interesting developments was the increasing number of products aimed at older children, teenagers and adults. Construction kits, hobby projects and creative activities were presented as ways to relax, connect with others and continue learning throughout life.

At tickit, we have always believed that play does not simply stop at a certain age, it evolves. Resources that encourage collaboration between siblings, friends and even grandparents create shared experiences and meaningful conversations.

Many tickit products naturally support multi-age exploration. Open-ended construction sets, investigative science tools and creative materials allow children and adults to learn alongside each other. A good example is our tickit Wooden Treasures collection. These small wooden objects can be enjoyed by ages three and upwards. They are useful for counting activities, imaginative play scenes, pattern making and mandala designs, and they are also satisfying tactile objects to handle.

What this means for families and educators in 2026

From my elephant’s-eye perspective, Spielwarenmesse 2026 reinforced something important. While the toy industry continues to innovate, the foundations of meaningful play remain the same.

Children need time, space and thoughtfully designed resources. They benefit from durable, safe and adaptable materials. Most importantly, they need the freedom to explore their curiosity.

tickit exists to support exactly this. We create high-quality educational toys that encourage 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 more thoughtful, sustainable and purposeful play. Proud that tickit has supported these values for many years.

If you are searching for high-quality toys that inspire imagination, support genuine learning and respect the environment, I invite you to explore the tickit range.

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