LEGO SpongeBob returns after 14 years as September wave hits shops
Sixteen new LEGO sets went on general sale from 1 September 2026, headlined by the long-awaited return of the SpongeBob SquarePants licence after a fourteen-year absence.
What you need to know
- Sixteen new LEGO sets went on general sale from 1 September 2026, with the Batman Returns Batmobile following on 4 September.
- The headline release is LEGO Icons 11386 SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom — 1,794 pieces, £189.99, exclusive to LEGO.com and LEGO Stores.
- The wave also includes a 1,701-piece Star Trek bridge set, a new Midnight Valley Icons sub-theme, a Shrek Minifigures series, three BrickHeadz and five Advent Calendars.
LEGO's biggest single wave of the year is now in shops. Sixteen new sets went on general sale from 1 September 2026, with an eighteenth — the Batman Returns Batmobile — due to follow on 4 September. The headline act is one fans have been waiting fourteen years for: the return of the SpongeBob SquarePants licence in a brand-new 18+ Icons set priced at £189.99.
SpongeBob is back — and this time it's for grown-ups
LEGO Icons 11386 SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom was unveiled on 14 July 2026, timed to coincide with the inaugural SpongeBob Day and SpongeBob's in-universe birthday. Made in partnership with Paramount Products & Experiences, the 1,794-piece set went on pre-order that same day and is now available to buy.
The original LEGO SpongeBob theme ran from 2006 to 2012 before disappearing entirely — skipping every LEGO sub-theme and licensed wave in between. This 2026 return marks the first SpongeBob set to carry an 18+ age rating, and the approach is firmly collector-focused rather than play-set orientated.
The completed model measures 54 cm wide and 24 cm tall, and recreates four locations from the animated series: SpongeBob's pineapple home (complete with living room and bedroom), Squidward's house (living room, bedroom, bathroom and rooftop lounge), Patrick's rock with a detailed interior, and a Jellyfish Fields scene. Five characters are included — SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, Squidward Tentacles, Gary the Snail and DoodleBob — with SpongeBob, Patrick and Squidward all receiving brand-new moulds designed to look more faithful to their cartoon forms. Storyline details include the boatmobile, Squidward's clarinet and music stand, and a portrait of Gary.
The UK RRP is £189.99, and the set is available exclusively from LEGO.com or LEGO Stores. Third-party retail availability has not been confirmed, so buyers should not expect to find it at supermarkets or general toy retailers at launch.
A companion release, LEGO BrickHeadz SpongeBob (40858), offers a more accessible entry point at £10.99 for 72 pieces. Rated for ages 10 and up, it depicts SpongeBob complete with his iconic jelly fishing net and carries BrickHeadz number 328.
Batman Returns Batmobile joins the wave on 4 September
Announced on 18 August 2026 in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, the LEGO DC Batman Returns Batmobile (76355) is available to LEGO Insiders members via early access from 1 September, with general sale opening on 4 September.
The 2,269-piece set is inspired by the vehicle from Tim Burton's 1992 film. According to LEGO's official press release: "this set brings the distinctive vehicle from Tim Burton's Batman Returns to LEGO brick form for the very first time." Its headline feature is a button that causes both sides of the Batmobile to drop away and reveal the Batmissile within — a first for any LEGO Batmobile. One Batman minifigure with a new cowl and cape piece is included. The UK RRP is £189.99.
Star Trek, Midnight Valley and Shrek round out the wave
Also new from 1 September is LEGO Icons 11385 Star Trek: U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 Bridge (£159.99), a 1,701-piece set — the piece count a deliberate nod to the ship's registry number. Where last year's NCC-1701-D model was a starship display piece, this one focuses on the classic 1960s television bridge and features a modular design allowing the main bridge, turbolift, viewscreen and transporter room to be rearranged in multiple configurations. Eight minifigures are included.
A new Icons sub-theme called Midnight Valley makes its debut with 11383 Mayor Manor, described as being aimed at Halloween and spooky LEGO fans and featuring three glow-in-the-dark ghost minifigures. Specific piece count and UK pricing for Mayor Manor have not been confirmed.
The Minifigures line also gets a major licensed addition with 71053 Shrek, a blind-bag series featuring 12 characters from the Kingdom Far Far Away. Individual blind-bag pricing has not been confirmed.
Three new BrickHeadz and five Advent Calendars
September brings three new BrickHeadz alongside the SpongeBob model already mentioned. The Golden Age Superman and Batman two-pack (40859) and the Gremlins Gizmo and Stripe set (40919) are both priced at £22.99.
Five Advent Calendars are set to launch this month, spanning major themes including LEGO Marvel, LEGO Star Wars and LEGO City. The Disney Advent Calendar includes 290 pieces and eight minifigures; the Star Wars edition contains 293 pieces and four minifigures. Individual pricing for the full Advent Calendar range has not been confirmed, but given the track record of popular editions selling out well before December, early purchase is advisable.
One more thing: a LEGO Batman video game tie-in
Slightly beyond the immediate wave, the Deluxe Edition of LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight for Nintendo Switch 2 is due on 18 September 2026, bundling exclusive Batman minifigure 30762 in a paper bag. Deluxe Editions for other platforms will not include the minifigure.
- LEGO Icons 11386 SpongeBob SquarePants: Bikini Bottom — 1,794 pieces | £189.99 | 18+ | LEGO.com and LEGO Stores only
- LEGO DC 76355 Batman Returns Batmobile — 2,269 pieces | £189.99 | 18+ | General sale from 4 September
- LEGO Icons 11385 Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 Bridge — 1,701 pieces | £159.99 | From 1 September
- LEGO BrickHeadz 40858 SpongeBob — 72 pieces | £10.99 | Ages 10+
- LEGO BrickHeadz 40859 Superman and Batman / 40919 Gizmo and Stripe — £22.99 each
Why it matters
SpongeBob's return after fourteen years is more than a nostalgia play — LEGO has pitched this squarely at adult collectors, with an 18+ rating, brand-new character moulds and a display-ready scale that sets it apart from the kid-focused sets of 2006–2012. The LEGO Store and LEGO.com exclusivity means no discounting at launch, so buyers hoping for a supermarket deal will be disappointed. With sell-out risk real on the most popular sets, anyone eyeing the Advent Calendars in particular should move sooner rather than later; the most sought-after often vanish well before December. The Batman Returns Batmobile, meanwhile, is shaping up as a strong second act for fans of the DC Icons line, arriving just days after the main wave.