LEGO fans have a lot to look forward to throughout 2026, from Spider-Man 3-thematic LEGO models for new ones lord of the rings and Harry Potter contents. On the gaming front, LEGO is set to continue working with its partner Nintendo on some new sets. One of these sets will reportedly focus on the iconic video game villain Ganondorf, with a massive set of over 1,000 pieces to translate his Ocarina of Time LEGO-like design. Then there's a new one Mario Kart set is said to be in the works, and the plumber's beloved brother Luigi is said to be getting a dedicated package that brings the character, his go-kart, and matching accessories to players' collections. While all of this can be great, I was hoping that a little more could be done with it Animal Crossing.
After showering in LEGO, that might sound a little greedy Animal Crossing takes place throughout the year 2025, but what can I say? I love this series and it translates so well to LEGO that the sets could be released for years before the well runs dry. As for 2026, only one polybag is confirmed, so it's hard not to be a little envious of something like the ambitious Ganandorf set. Getting something comparable to the Julian minifigure and matching painting set will be cute, but it should only be the tip of the iceberg. Maybe LEGO will surprise us with some complete sets, but since there are no rumors about them yet, I'm prepared to be disappointed. As for what should happen, I have no shortage of ideas.
LEGO Animal Crossing sets that still have to happen
There have been 15 actual LEGOs so far Animal Crossing sets, which are:
- Julian's birthday party (Julian with hat)
- Bunny's outdoor activities (bunny)
- Boat trip to Kapp'n's Island (Kapp'n and Marshall)
- A visit to Isabella's house (Isabelle and the Fauna)
- Nook's Cranny and Rosie's House (Tom Nook and Rosie)
- Maple Pumpkin Garden (Maple)
- Fly with Dodo Airlines (Wilbur and Tangy)
- KK's concert on the square (KK Slider, Isabelle with red outfit and Audie)
- Stargazing with Celeste (Celeste)
- Leif's Caravan and Garden Shop (Leif and Poppy)
- Able Sisters Clothing Store (Mabel and Sasha)
- Blather Museum Collection (Blathers and Lily)
- Creative Houses: Seasons of Fun (Stitches, Fuschia and Fang)
- Goldie's Cozy House (Goldie)
- Julian's Beach Painting (Julian)
Don't get me wrong, this is a solid build and will last a while longer than LEGO Zelda sets to catch up Animal Crossing as to quantity. Yet, Animal Crossing the series is full of memorable characters and locations that still deserve to be represented through a set. One NPC that immediately jumps out at me is Pascal, an adorable scallop picking otter. I fondly remember logging in every day to find him a scallop the first month after the diving update and desperately trying to collect the DIY. His sense of humor stayed with me, as did his charming animations, and I'd say he's one of the best candidates for the set. Perhaps it could include an island jetty and some fake water, while the accompanying Villager could be one of the popular Octopus characters like Zucker or Marina.
In addition to the Pascal set, I'd like to build a Brewster's Cafe that could be full of cute decor and an energetic, coffee-loving villager like Dom. Flick and CJ is a dynamic duo that Animal Crossing community adores, so why not have a huge set combining fishing and bug hunting? The set could include a sustainable net and rod along with fish and bugs as decorations. Another long-awaited scene will star Redd, a sneaky businessman known for his fake paintings and (occasionally) original decorations. Having Redd and his ship alongside a smart-looking villager trying to see through his lies—perhaps Raymond, New Horizons the upstart that spawned the black market — could bring an attractive package. And finally, there's perhaps the most iconic NPC that still needs a LEGO set: Gulliver. He could focus on digging, with a shovel and a beach floor, while Gullivarrr would make a decent second minifigure.
These five ideas would lead to sets similar in size to what exists now, but I'd also like to see Nintendo shake it up a bit with their Animal Crossing builds. Something huge, on the scale of the Great Deku Tree, would be really cool as a collector's item. As for what might work for massive Animal Crossing set, how about a massive gyroidt like Lloid that players build brick by brick? An island build with gyroids would also be interesting and a nice change from the usual small to medium set approach with NPCs and maybe a villager. Yes, LEGO Animal Crossing The collaboration was pretty thorough, but my favorite characters still need a set, so I really hope the next wave comes.
Polybags shouldn't be the end all be all, but they can be an asset to LEGO Animal Crossing
To be clear, LEGO polybags can be a fun, quick build that gives access to special minifigures you might not have. My concern about the 2026 polybag is that it's the only “set” that seems to be planned for this year, but worse, it could be a repeat of the Julian situation. Instead of the last one Animal Crossing polybag, which brings players a whole new villager to collect, they just got another version of Julian without the birthday hat and in a slightly different outfit. This was a huge waste of potential and I fear the next polybag will be a similar case – a new prop and a rehashed existing minifigure as opposed to something exclusive.
Realistically, there are literally hundreds of them Animal Crossing Villagers, it's impossible for everyone to get a special set. This is where polybags could save the day, as LEGO and Nintendo expand their partnership to release dozens of the most popular characters via polybags. So many characters like my favorite villager, the derpy penguin Roald, would fit this style. As a Jock, he could have a set weight to represent his personality, although characters can also have accessories to enhance their appearance. A pastel-colored swing could come with Judy, a gothic table and matching chairs could accompany Cherry, and something to represent all of Lucky's injuries are just a few of the potential polybag packages. Hopefully at least one of these polybags is planned for this year instead of another reused design, but I'm not holding my breath.
Let's hope LEGO and Nintendo keep the ball rolling Animal Crossing in 2026 instead of narrowing with just one polybag. The collaboration has certainly been good and produced some really adorable kits, but the beloved cozy game still has a lot to offer. And even if full sets are a thing of the past, releasing several – not one – polybags with unique minifigures that weren't included in existing sets would be a great way to keep LEGO going. Animal Crossing fans like me satisfied. Although I can accept that we've been spoiled so far and it's time for more properties like it Zelda If you want to shine in the LEGO spotlight now, there's still plenty of room for new ones Animal Crossing frees up the road.
