Bingo, Care Bears, Pokémon Trading Card Game and slide inducted into National Toy Hall of Fame
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Bingo, Care Bears, the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the slide have been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame as part of its 2026 class, recognizing four toys and games that have entertained generations and influenced the way people play.
The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester announced the four inductees Thursday, Nov. 5, selecting them 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 inductees are now on display at the museum, which is home to the National Toy Hall of Fame.
Bingo
Bingo traces its origins to an Italian lottery played around 1530, which later inspired the game lotto in France and Germany. The game eventually reached the United States in the 1800s, where it evolved into a carnival game known as beano.
During the 1920s, a marketer encountered the game and changed its name to bingo. It later became a popular activity at churches, charitable fundraisers and community gatherings.
Today, bingo continues to attract players of different ages, including younger adults who participate in games hosted at bars and nightclubs.
“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,” said curator Mirek Stolee.
Care Bears
Introduced in the early 1980s, Care Bears became known for promoting kindness, compassion and consideration for others through colorful characters and messages centered on emotions and friendship.
The characters expanded beyond stuffed animals into storybooks, television programs, movies, games and other merchandise, becoming a recognizable brand across multiple generations.
In 2026, Authentic Brands Group completed its acquisition of Care Bears. According to the museum, the brand has generated more than $12 billion in lifetime retail sales and includes more than 100 bears and 500 licensing partners.
“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,” said chief curator Michelle Parnett-Dwyer.
Pokémon Trading Card Game
The Pokémon Trading Card Game, which debuted in 1996, has become one of the world’s most recognizable collectible card games, with billions of cards produced since its introduction.
The game combines collectible Pokémon characters with strategic card battles and has developed a dedicated international following among players of different ages.
Museum officials said the game’s relatively straightforward mechanics and connections to Pokémon video games, anime and manga have helped make it accessible to a broad audience.
“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,” said curator Mirek Stolee.
Slide
The playground slide was also recognized for its lasting influence on recreational play and childhood development.
Although the precise origins of recreational slides remain debated, historians believe they have existed for centuries. Slides became increasingly common in public playgrounds during the early 1900s as communities established dedicated spaces for children to play.
Beyond providing entertainment, slides help children develop motor skills, encourage exploration and introduce opportunities for physical challenges and risk-taking during play.
Modern slides have evolved in design and materials, with customizable and modular structures appearing in playgrounds and recreational spaces.
“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,” said Jeremy Saucier, vice president for collections.
For more information about the National Toy Hall of Fame and its previous inductees, visit museumofplay.org/exhibits/toy-hall-of-fame.
