Lego reveals new Star Wars sets powered by "Smart Play" tech at CES 2026

'Smart brick' Lego tech revealed at CES 2026

For over 70 years, kids (and adults) around the world have spent countless hours building anything they could possibly imagine out of Lego. In that time, the toy company has evolved its products to meet the demands of new generations of customers. Once upon a time, you got sets for rocket ships, cars, and police stations. Now, walking the Lego aisle at Target is a sea of Marvel, Star Wars, and even Fast & Furious sets. What could be better than buildable versions of our favorite video games, movies, comic books, and TV shows?

On Monday, Jan. 5, at the Consumer Electronics Show, the Lego Group gave us a potential answer. The company announced Lego Smart Play, which adds smart technology to your Lego builds, thanks to a new smart brick. It's not just a lone brick, though: The company also revealed three new Star Wars building sets, all designed to make use of Smart Play technology.

If you are familiar with the company's line of Super Mario Lego sets, which included special bricks that added electronic elements like sounds, Smart Play should sound familiar. This next iteration brings quite a bit more functionality, though. In a news release for Smart Play, Lego says the new technology will "bring play to life including sensors, accelerometers, light sensing and a sound sensor as well as a miniature speaker driven by an onboard synthesizer, and much more, in addition to easy wireless charging."

One of the more exciting aspects of Smart Play is that it's not just the smart brick. Smart Play minifigures are being introduced, as well as smart "tags," the flat-topped two-by-two pieces. Using those with the Smart Play brick, which serves as the power source, you can create a variety of interactive elements, visuals, sounds, and even certain animations — based on a sizzle reel shown for the technology.

We still don't know the full capabilities of Smart Play, but Lego certainly knows how to get its older fans hooked, given the arrival of three new Star Wars sets. All three will be available for purchase on March 1, though they'll also be up for preorder on Jan. 9. The new sets will be available through Lego's website, stand-alone stores, and other retailers. Check out the set details below.

Darth Vader’s TIE Fighter

• 743 pieces
• Includes: Smart Play brick, Smart Play Darth Vader minifigure, Smart Play tag
• Price: $69.00

Luke’s Red Five X-wing

• 584 pieces
• Includes: Smart Play brick, two Smart Play minifigures (Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia) and five Smart Play tags
• Price: $99.99

Throne Room Duel & A-wing

• 962 pieces
• Includes: Smart Play brick, three Smart Play minifigures (Like Skywalker, Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader), five Smart Play tags
• Price: $159.99

And while expensive Star Wars sets with smart tech built in might sound like an upgrade aimed directly at the company's more adult fans, Lego views this upgrade as a new avenue for how kids play with their toys.

In a statement, Lego Group senior vice president and head of Creative Play Lab Tom Donaldson said, "We truly believe we are setting a new standard for interactive, imaginative experiences and can’t wait to see this innovation in the hands of kids when we launch this year."

If you're a parent out there wondering if this means the bucket full of assorted Lego bricks that your kid regularly leaves spilled out on the floor is pointless now, don't hurl it all into the sun just yet. The Smart Play bricks, tags, and minifigures are compatible with existing Lego sets. We already can't wait to see how big and weird die-hard Lego fans are going to get with their Smart Play builds.

Lego Smart Play's first three sets go up for pre-order on Jan. 9, before releasing on March 1.