LEGO World 2026 in Utrecht: Our Visit, Giant Builds, NINJAGO and AFOL Highlights
On Monday, 19 October 2026, we visited LEGO World in Utrecht. It was a full day of giant models, imaginative fan creations and countless opportunities to build things ourselves. By the time we had explored the Jaarbeurs, one thing was clear: this event has a lot to offer, even if we could see room for improvement in a few areas.
Our visit on 19 October 2026: giant LEGO figures welcome visitors at the entrance to the Jaarbeurs.
A smooth arrival – and straight into a world of LEGO
Getting in was quick and straightforward. We already had our tickets, so there was no need to wait around before entering the exhibition. One of the first things we came across was the so-called LEGO shower, a playful installation featuring little 1 × 1 bricks that immediately put us in the right mood. Just a few steps further on was the large NINJAGO area, and it quickly became obvious how much space had been given to the different themed worlds.
LEGO World 2026 ran from 15 to 21 October and spread across halls 7 to 11 of the Jaarbeurs. Rather than one continuous exhibition, visitors could explore clearly defined zones covering everything from NINJAGO and Star Wars to Friends, Technic, Botanicals and hands-on building activities. For families, this worked particularly well: everyone could head towards the themes they enjoyed most.
15 years of LEGO NINJAGO – one of the standout areas
NINJAGO celebrated its 15th anniversary in 2026, and there was no missing the occasion in Utrecht. Impressive giant figures, themed scenery and plenty of interactive activities made for a lively area. We watched children working together on large builds, while a huge NINJAGO mosaic was also part of the programme. Experiences like these show why LEGO World wants to be much more than an exhibition where you simply look at models from behind a barrier.
A giant NINJAGO character and a building activity celebrating the theme's 15th anniversary.
Life-size supercars that were impossible to overlook
The oversized vehicle models were real eye-catchers. One of the highlights of the LEGO Technic area was the impressive life-size Koenigsegg Sadair's Spear. There were other spectacular cars made from LEGO bricks too, including a blue Bugatti and red racing cars. You only really appreciate the skill involved when you stand beside them and see how their shapes, curves and intricate details have been reproduced using rectangular bricks.
For us, these vehicles were undoubtedly among the day's best photo opportunities. They were the kind of builds that made even visitors who do not follow every new LEGO set stop and look.
Three automotive highlights: the Koenigsegg, the Bugatti and a red LEGO racing car.
The AFOL Fan Zone: where every little detail matters
We found the AFOL Fan Zone just as fascinating. AFOL stands for Adult Fans of LEGO – enthusiasts who sometimes spend years working on their own creations. Their displays reveal another side of the hobby: original ideas, unusual building techniques and carefully crafted details that are easy to miss at first glance.
We particularly enjoyed the enormous dioramas. A sprawling landscape with a railway, safari scenes and vehicles invited us to keep looking for little surprises. Nearby were spectacular original builds, including tall and intricately illuminated structures. This is what makes a LEGO event especially interesting for adult fans: you go home with fresh ideas and a different way of looking at familiar bricks.
Two examples from the AFOL Fan Zone: richly detailed fantasy builds and a large railway landscape.
Harry Potter, One Piece, Disney and much more
When it came to the giant figures, we hardly knew which one to photograph first. We spotted Harry Potter with his broomstick and an enormous Luffy from One Piece, among many other characters, scenes and themed displays. The sheer variety meant there was something for fans of almost every major film, series or LEGO universe.
One thing did stand out, however: several remarkable models deserved better lighting. In some of the darker halls, details that looked fantastic up close were difficult to appreciate properly. More focused illumination could have made certain displays even more impressive.
Some of the giant LEGO characters and themed displays we photographed during our visit.
LEGO Friends, Bluey and colourful family attractions
LEGO Friends was more than a collection of large character models: it had its own bright, colourful experience area. We particularly noticed the small, illuminated teacup ride, which added a real fairground atmosphere. There was also a programme of music and entertainment, along with many activities where children could get involved themselves.
Characters such as Bluey also appeared as giant LEGO sculptures. For younger visitors, these photo spots, play areas and interactive activities offered plenty of variety. Anyone who simply wanted to sit down and build could enjoy vast spaces stocked with thousands of LEGO and DUPLO bricks.
LEGO Friends: giant characters and the colourful teacup ride.
Bluey was also represented as a life-size LEGO sculpture.
LEGO Botanicals and imaginative decorative displays
The LEGO Botanicals area brought a calmer, more colourful atmosphere. Flower arrangements and carefully designed settings offered a welcome change of pace between the action-packed play worlds. For 2026, the organisers had even announced a large display featuring 13,000 LEGO tulips. Overall, we enjoyed how different the themed areas felt, even though some presentations were more elaborate than others.
Floral displays brought a quieter moment between the larger themed worlds.
Workshops, shows and plenty of room to build
The sheer number of hands-on activities was a major plus. Children could create their own designs at building tables, contribute to group projects and join workshops. Live entertainment was part of the experience too, including shows with circus and magic elements. We thought this balance between looking at models and making something yourself worked particularly well: visitors did not have to spend the whole day just walking from one display to the next.
The spacious layout, with plenty of separate activity zones, also helped spread visitors around the halls. The most popular attractions naturally drew more people, but overall the event felt pleasantly organised.
Food, drinks and somewhere to take a break
There were plenty of options for food and drinks. Several smaller stalls were spread across the halls, alongside larger seating and rest areas. At an event of this size, that matters, especially for families who need a break during the day. We found the catering arrangements well organised, even if the food options were very much what you would expect at a large exhibition.
One of the larger seating and food areas inside the Jaarbeurs.
The LEGO shop: good deals, but not everything was cheap
Of course, we could not leave without taking a look around the enormous shopping area. The store was impressively large and stocked a huge range of products. During our visit, we spotted plenty of sets discounted by around 30%, sometimes even more. Some of those deals were definitely worth considering.
We were less impressed by the cost of individual bricks. The Pick a Brick selection, in particular, seemed expensive to us. Our advice would be to compare prices if you are looking for specific pieces or sets rather than assuming everything at the event is a bargain.
One small disappointment: the Dutch double-decker bus
LEGO World is all about big, surprising displays. That is why we were a little disappointed that the striking orange Dutch double-decker bus at the show was a real bus rather than a giant model built entirely from LEGO bricks. It still made a good photo opportunity, but at an event like this we would have loved to see a full-size brick-built version.
We have fond memories of earlier editions, including 2019, when giant brick-built versions of everyday vehicles such as a bus and a tow truck left visitors amazed. In our view, more extraordinary builds on that scale would make today's event even stronger.
The orange Dutch bus at LEGO World 2026 – a real vehicle, not a model made entirely from LEGO bricks.
Our verdict: a great LEGO day, with some room for improvement
We thoroughly enjoyed our visit on 19 October. The AFOL Fan Zone, life-size sports cars, NINJAGO anniversary celebrations and hands-on building activities were among our most memorable moments. A smooth entry process and a good selection of places to eat and drink also made the day more enjoyable.
Our few criticisms mainly concern the presentation of certain models, what we felt were high Pick a Brick prices, and a wish to see even more extraordinary XXL-scale LEGO creations. For families with children, LEGO World is a fantastic day out. Adult fans can also spend hours finding new details in the dioramas and complex models.
Our tip: allow plenty of time, wear comfortable shoes and do not stop only at the big branded attractions. The original creations in the AFOL Fan Zone are among the most rewarding discoveries of the day.
Visited by Brixembourg on Monday, 19 October 2026, at Jaarbeurs Utrecht. All photos: Brixembourg. General event information: www.legoworld.nl and www.jaarbeurs.nl.
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