LEGO Launches Interactive SMART Play System

New LEGO sets feature tech-enhanced bricks, tags, and minifigures that add sounds and lights to the building experience.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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LEGO has launched a new SMART Play system that introduces interactive SMART Bricks, SMART Tags, and SMART Minifigures to its building sets. These tech-enhanced pieces can trigger sounds, lights, and other reactions when used with LEGO bricks. The first eight SMART Play sets are exclusively available at Lego.com, and focus on the Star Wars theme. A Good Housekeeping editor had the chance to test out the new SMART Play system and shares her honest thoughts on the experience.

Why it matters

LEGO's new SMART Play system aims to elevate the interactive experience for fans of the building brick brand by adding new layers of technology and interactivity. This represents a significant evolution for the iconic LEGO brand, which has remained largely unchanged since the minifigure was introduced in 1978.

The details

The SMART Play system includes three new interactive pieces - SMART Bricks, SMART Tags, and SMART Minifigures. The SMART Bricks have sensors, accelerometers, and a speaker that can trigger lights and sounds when placed on a SMART Tag or near a SMART Minifigure. This allows for new types of play, like simulating battle sounds or making minifigures talk and sing. The first eight SMART Play sets are Star Wars-themed and require the SMART pieces to function, though they can't be used to make existing LEGO sets interactive.

  • LEGO announced the new SMART Play system on March 1, 2026.
  • The first eight SMART Play sets launched exclusively on Lego.com on March 1, 2026.

The players

LEGO

The Danish toy company known for its iconic building bricks and minifigures.

Marvin Völger

LEGO Smart Play designer who said the company has been working on the new interactive system for nearly a decade.

Alec Scherma

Toy expert who saw the LEGO SMART Play system demonstrated at CES 2026 in Las Vegas.

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What they’re saying

“The system can change colors, make noises, and it has different sensors that can tell if you're 'flying' a ship around, for instance.”

— Alec Scherma, Toy expert (Good Housekeeping)

“You can swap out the tag for whatever sound or noise you want the brick to make, so it allows for more creative and even sillier freedom.”

— Alec Scherma, Toy expert (Good Housekeeping)

“It's very intuitive and completely integrated with our system of play.”

— Marvin Völger, LEGO Smart Play designer (Good Housekeeping)

What’s next

LEGO plans to expand the SMART Play system to additional themes beyond Star Wars in the future.

The takeaway

LEGO's new SMART Play system represents an exciting evolution for the iconic brand, adding new layers of technology and interactivity to the building experience. While the initial Star Wars-themed sets are small and pricey, they offer a glimpse into the future of LEGO play and could appeal to both longtime fans and a new generation of builders.