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Angel Madison
Tue, July 7, 2026 at 9:09 PM UTC
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If you can believe it, Tickle Me Elmo debuted 30 years ago, in July 1996 (yes, this does make me feel old, thank you for asking). The beloved toy was such an instant sensation among kids; over 5 million sold in the first year—and holiday chaos ensued, with parents desperate to get their hands on the trending toy
To celebrate Tickle Me Elmo’s 30th anniversary, the adorable red Muppet is back and literally bigger than ever: Tickle Me Elmo Giggle Max is nearly five inches larger than the original. While the nostalgic toy officially drops on July 15, you can preorder yours now to ensure you don’t miss out
As a toy editor who has watched trends for decades, I predict that history will repeat itself and Elmo will be a hot Christmas commodity
While I tend to believe that beloved originals should be left as is, I can confirm that bigger is better in this case. Suitable for ages 18 months and up, the new Tickle Me Elmo Giggle Max stands 18 inches tall (the original was 13.5 inches); much better for hugs, in my opinion!
It’s not just the size that makes this brand-new Elmo special; he’s also more interactive now. Kids can tickle not only the belly, but also his left and right feet. Plus, the mouth opens and closes wide with glee, and the arms wave frantically when he gets really excited. Most importantly, the more he gets tickled, the more he giggles. I got my hands on one ahead of the release, and even as a 51-year-old woman, I was charmed by this silly monster’s infectious laugh
When I placed Elmo on stairs and tickled him on his belly even just a little bit, he laughed so hard, he fell over in a giggle fit. That, in turn, made me laugh—so, mission accomplished! Just trust me here: Save yourself from turning into the parents in Jingle All the Way by preordering your toddler a Tickle Me Elmo ASAP
SECURE YOUR TICKLE ME ELMO NOW
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