CES 2026: LEGO Smart Bricks Explained — A Radical Shift for a Classic Toy

The humble Lego brick is undergoing a dramatic technological makeover that could transform how children and, of course, adults, play with the iconic toy.

At CES 2026 in Las Vegas, the Danish toymaker stepped well outside its usual comfort zone, unveiling a product that blurs the line between traditional construction toys and interactive electronics.

Better known for plastic bricks than silicon chips, the LEGO Group is not a regular presence at the tech industry's biggest showcase. In fact, it's the brand's first showcase at CES.

Yet amid displays from consumer electronics heavyweights at CES 2026, Lego's announcement arguably carried just as much long-term significance for family entertainment.

Smart Technology Hidden in Plain Sight

The company revealed its new Smart Brick, the foundation of a broader Smart Play system. According to Lego, the innovation represents one of the most profound changes to its play system in nearly five decades, marking a shift that keeps physical creativity at the centre while quietly embedding advanced technology inside the brick itself.

Lego chief product officer Julia Goldin described the Smart Brick as 'one of the most significant evolutions in the Lego system since the introduction of the minifigure in 1978'.

It resembles a standard two-by-four brick, albeit translucent, and is designed to click seamlessly into existing Lego builds.

Inside, however, sits a custom-made silicon chip smaller than one of the brick's studs. Packed with sensors, accelerometers, light detection and a miniature speaker, the Smart Brick can detect movement, colour, proximity and interaction with other Lego elements. It can be awakened with a simple shake and wirelessly recharged, removing the need for screens, cables or external controllers.

Goldin said the technology 'unlocks an opportunity for interactivity, new dimensions of responsiveness, more social play and more storytelling'. Crucially, Lego insists the Smart Brick enhances imagination rather than replacing it, reacting to how children play rather than dictating what they should do.

From Engine Roars To Barking Dogs

The company showed of the new brick in actual play at CES 2026. In practice, the Smart Brick brings Lego creations to life in surprisingly nuanced ways. Insert it into a brick-built aeroplane and an engine hum begins.

Fly the model around the living room and the sound intensifies. Add a pilot minifigure and the brick recognises the character, triggering chatter with air traffic control.

Lego says the system also supports competitive and cooperative play, introducing rules and outcomes without the rigidity of a video game. The technology reacts in real time, encouraging experimentation rather than passive consumption.

Star Wars Sets Lead the Rollout

The Smart Brick will launch as part of Lego's new Smart Play platform on 1 March, with the first wave embedded in Lego Star Wars sets developed in collaboration with The Walt Disney Company and Lucasfilm. Lightsabres will hum during duels, starfighters will roar through imagined space battles, and even 'The Imperial March' will play at key moments.

Goldin stressed that this is only the beginning. 'This is the start of an amazing journey', she said. 'There are so many opportunities for how this platform will evolve.'

With more than 20 patented technologies and full compatibility with existing bricks, Lego appears to be betting that the future of play lies not on screens, but inside the bricks themselves.