By Jon Scarr
Back in April, I had a great time going through Hallmark's 2026 Keepsake Dream Book and checking out all the gaming and pop culture ornaments coming this year. There was a lot to get excited about, especially with Nintendo bringing Yoshi, Lakitu, and Fire Mario into the collection. Throw in the original PlayStation, Link from The Legend of Zelda, and some great additions for Star Wars and Disney fans, and I had plenty to talk about in my gaming and anime guide and pop culture ornaments guide.
Now that July's Ornament Premiere has come and gone, it's been fun seeing some of those ornaments in person instead of just looking at pictures in the Dream Book. Little details like Lakitu's checkered flag, the miniature PlayStation controller, and Yoshi's egg are exactly the sort of things that catch my attention. And with Star Wars and Disney represented too, there's quite a bit here I want to talk about.
What I like about this year's selection is how many different gaming memories it brings together. You've got Mario Kart, Super Mario, Sonic, PlayStation, and The Legend of Zelda represented alongside familiar characters and spacecraft from Star Wars. There's even a limited-edition Aladdin and Jasmine ornament with a completely different artistic style.
Here's a closer look at all nine.
Nintendo and PlayStation Bring Back Some Great Gaming Memories
Nintendo has been part of my gaming life since the 1980s, so the Super Mario ornaments were naturally a big part of my interest in this year's Dream Book. Hallmark has expanded beyond the usual Mario character designs, bringing in familiar faces and moments from the games.
The original PlayStation and Sonic also bring some 1990s gaming nostalgia into the collection.
I still remember heading down to Toronto's Eaton Centre back in 2017 to get Hallmark's original Super Mario ornament. I even wrote a review about it at the time. It's been fun seeing how much Hallmark's Nintendo collection has grown since then.
Lakitu Brings the Mario Kart Starting Grid to Christmas
Lakitu has been part of Mario Kart since the beginning. He's the familiar face floating above the track, signalling the start of a race and rescuing drivers who've gone off course.
Here, Lakitu sits on his smiling cloud, wearing his racing headset and holding the checkered flag. It's the sort of character that Mario Kart fans will recognize immediately.
I particularly like seeing Mario Kart's race official get his own ornament rather than another racer. He's the one who gets everything started, then comes to your rescue when a race goes wrong. Even without a kart in sight, the headset, checkered flag, and smiling cloud tell you exactly who this is.
For longtime Nintendo fans, this is a fun way to celebrate a character who's been with the series for decades.
It's Yoshi! Brings Back a Classic Super Mario Moment
I still remember when Yoshi first appeared in Super Mario World on the SNES. Hatching him from an egg was such a memorable part of that game, and Hallmark has recreated that moment with this ornament.
The design includes a colourful background inspired by the side-scrolling Super Mario games, complete with patterned ground and a bright blue sky.
There's also more to it than the sculpt itself. Hallmark included a lever that activates the hatching movement and plays sounds from the games.
That's a clever choice for Yoshi. His introduction in Super Mario World is such a memorable part of Nintendo history, and the ornament brings that moment into a Christmas decoration.
At $44.99 CAD in the Dream Book, it's one of the more expensive gaming ornaments in the collection, but it also includes movement and sound rather than being a static figure.
Fire Mario Celebrates One of Nintendo's Best-Known Power-Ups
The Fire Flower has been part of Super Mario since the original Super Mario Bros. on the NES. Seeing Mario change into his white-and-red outfit and start throwing fireballs is something Nintendo fans know well.
Fire Mario is caught in the middle of throwing a fireball, complete with his white cap, red overalls, and familiar moustache.
It's also the fifth ornament in Hallmark's Powered Up With Mario series, which has been celebrating different versions of Mario over the years.
What I appreciate about this series is that it goes beyond Mario's standard appearance. The power-ups are a huge part of what makes Super Mario games memorable, and Fire Mario is an easy character to associate with those classic adventures.
Sonic With Chaos Emerald Captures His Classic Attitude
Sonic has been racing across our television screens since the Sega Genesis era, and his blue spikes, red shoes, and confident expression are instantly recognizable.
Sonic is caught mid-stride, holding a green Chaos Emerald in one hand. His raised leg and outstretched arm give the sculpture a sense of movement.
Including the emerald is a nice touch because it connects the ornament directly to Sonic's adventures rather than relying entirely on his appearance.
Mario and Sonic were the faces of Nintendo and Sega's console rivalry in the early 1990s. Seeing them together in Hallmark's 2026 collection brings back memories of those days when everyone seemed to have a favourite console.
PlayStation Console Takes Us Back to Sony's First Console
The original PlayStation changed console gaming when it arrived in the 1990s. Its CD-based games, memory cards, and distinctive grey controller became familiar sights in homes around the world.
This miniature PlayStation recreates that original machine, right down to the circular disc lid, power and reset buttons, and front controller ports. There's even a miniature wired controller resting on top, complete with the familiar PlayStation buttons and directional pad.
It's immediately recognizable as Sony's first console, and I like how Hallmark included the controller rather than stopping at the console itself. It's a small detail, but it helps complete the look.
Pressing the power button lights up the miniature console and plays the familiar two-part PlayStation startup sound. It's a detail that longtime PlayStation fans will recognize immediately.
For me, this is the kind of gaming collectible that doesn't have to stay packed away until Christmas. The miniature console would also make sense alongside a collection of retro gaming memorabilia.
Link Brings Tears of the Kingdom to the Keepsake Collection
The Legend of Zelda has given Nintendo fans some incredible adventures, and Tears of the Kingdom added plenty of memorable moments to the series.
This version of Link comes straight from that game. He's crouching on a rocky platform, wearing his blue-and-brown outfit with his weapons visible on his back.
There's quite a bit packed into the sculpt. The rocky base has a layered, uneven appearance, while Link's equipment adds detail around the back of the figure. His crouching position also gives the ornament a more interesting silhouette than a straightforward standing pose.
Hallmark has also included light and music features, giving the ornament an interactive element beyond its appearance.
As a longtime Nintendo fan, I'm glad to see The Legend of Zelda represented alongside the Super Mario collection. Link is one of Nintendo's most recognizable characters, and the Tears of the Kingdom design gives this ornament a direct connection to one of the series' newer adventures.
Star Wars Adds a Jedi Knight and a Familiar Spacecraft
Star Wars has been a major part of Hallmark's Keepsake collection for years, with ornaments covering everything from the original trilogy to newer films and television series.
The two Star Wars ornaments here represent very different parts of the franchise. One celebrates Luke Skywalker during Return of the Jedi, and the other recreates a spacecraft associated with The Mandalorian.
Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker Returns to the Original Trilogy
Luke Skywalker's appearance in Return of the Jedi remains one of his most recognizable looks.
Gone are the lighter clothes from his earlier adventures. By this point, Luke is wearing his black Jedi outfit and carrying the green lightsaber he built after losing his father's weapon in The Empire Strikes Back.
The Jedi Knight Luke Skywalker ornament captures that appearance, with Luke holding his lightsaber in front of him.
I like that Hallmark went with this version of Luke. Return of the Jedi brings his original trilogy story to its conclusion, and the black outfit and green lightsaber immediately identify that point in his journey.
This is also the 30th ornament in Hallmark's ongoing Star Wars series, giving longtime collectors another entry to add to their existing displays.
The Razor Crest Brings The Mandalorian's Ship to the Collection
The Razor Crest is one of the most recognizable spacecraft introduced during The Mandalorian era of Star Wars.
The original ship was destroyed during the television series, but Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu introduces a new Razor Crest. Hallmark's 2026 ornament represents that newer version rather than the original spacecraft.
Its broad body, two large engines, and distinctive cockpit give it a very different appearance from the X-wings and TIE fighters that have dominated Star Wars merchandise for decades.
The ornament has silver-grey colouring, yellow markings, and the familiar twin-engine design. Those additional colour details help distinguish it from the earlier ship.
I enjoy seeing spacecraft included alongside the character ornaments. Star Wars has always had memorable ship designs, and collecting them is another way to celebrate the franchise.
The Razor Crest originally became available in May, ahead of the July Ornament Premiere. It also gives this group a spacecraft to display alongside Luke and the other Star Wars character ornaments.
Aladdin and Jasmine Bring Precious Moments to Disney
The final ornament comes from a completely different part of Hallmark's collection.
Aladdin and Jasmine Celebrate a Disney Favourite
Disney's Aladdin has been a favourite with audiences since the animated film arrived in 1992. The relationship between Aladdin and Jasmine is central to the movie, particularly their memorable magic carpet ride.
Hallmark's limited-edition Aladdin and Jasmine ornament uses the Precious Moments style, giving both characters the familiar rounded faces and large eyes associated with those collectibles.
The two are sitting together on the magic carpet, holding hands. Jasmine wears her blue outfit, while Aladdin appears in his Prince Ali clothing.
Unlike the gaming and Star Wars ornaments, this one is made from porcelain. That gives collectors a different material to consider, especially when storing it between holiday seasons.
The Precious Moments styling won't appeal to everyone in quite the same way as the traditional Disney character designs, but it's a distinctive interpretation of a familiar scene.
For Disney fans who also collect Precious Moments figures, it brings those two interests together in one Christmas ornament.
These Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments Go Beyond Christmas Decorating
One of the things I enjoy about gaming and pop culture collectibles is how they connect to different periods of our lives.
You can see that throughout this collection. Lakitu's checkered flag brings back those tense moments before a Mario Kart race. Yoshi hatching from his egg is pure Super Mario World nostalgia, while the miniature PlayStation controller and startup sound take us straight back to Sony's first console.
I also like that Hallmark hasn't limited the collection to gaming's biggest characters. Having Lakitu alongside Mario, or a detailed spacecraft like the Razor Crest alongside Luke Skywalker, gives collectors more ways to celebrate the games and movies they grew up with.
These ornaments don't necessarily have to spend the rest of the year packed away in storage, either. The PlayStation would look right at home with a retro gaming collection, and the Nintendo characters could easily find a place alongside other Mario and Zelda collectibles.
And there's still more to look forward to this year! Hallmark's October Ornament Debut is coming up, and I've already got my eye on a few ornaments. Koopa Troopa from Super Mario, Oatchi from Pikmin 4, and Sonic as The Flash are three I'm really excited about, along with the UNSC Warthog from Halo and Ursula from The Little Mermaid. I talked about all five in my Dream Book guides back in April, and I can't wait to see them in person when October rolls around.
For now, these nine ornaments are a fun reminder of how much gaming and pop culture history can fit onto a Christmas tree.
Download the Canadian 2026 Hallmark Keepsake Dream Book here
Download 2026 Hallmark Keepsake Dream Book Wish List here
Jon Scarr
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