Is LABUBU the Only Top IP? How Pop Mart’s New 2026 IPs Are Quietly Emptying Your Wallet

What’s driving Pop Mart’s move beyond LABUBU?

POP MART’s pivot from LABUBU‑centric growth to a multi‑IP playbook is driven by three forces: user‑taste segmentation, IP lifecycle management, and overseas expansion. Different audiences now respond to distinct visual languages—pastel fantasy, high‑concept art, or emotional storytelling—so the brand can no longer depend on a single character.

At Pop Boxss, our internal trend data across 12 designer‑toy series since 2021 shows that 2025–2026 marked the first period in which non‑LABUBU IP accounted for over 40% of total trade volume in authorized channels. More importantly, multi‑IP launches (two or more series released within the same month) consistently outperform single‑IP drops in terms of first‑week sell‑through rates by roughly 22–27 percentage points, indicating that collectors are now actively diversifying their wishlists rather than chasing one flagship line.

Which new Pop Mart IPs are showing breakout momentum in 2026?

Three families are absorbing the most attention in 2026: POP MART Twinkle Twinkle, Skullpanda (including Skullpanda x My Little Pony), and Crybaby Vacation Mode. They each anchor a different aesthetic and emotional niche within the Pop Mart universe.

POP MART Twinkle Twinkle uses soft pendant‑style blind boxes with star‑shaped figures, glitter accents, and pastel palettes to appeal to fans of “dreamy” and “cosmic” design. Pop Boxss buyer teams in Shanghai and Hong Kong observed that Twinkle Twinkle’s first‑window allocations in late 2025 sold out in under 12 minutes across authorized e‑commerce channels, with average sell‑through rates reaching 92% within the first week—meaning most units shifted from warehouse to end buyer almost immediately.

In contrast, Skullpanda leans into a more conceptual, art‑driven aesthetic, with its skull‑panda motif exploring themes of ambiguity and transformation. Reports from 2025–2026 indicate that Skullpanda‑related product lines have delivered triple‑digit year‑on‑year sales growth, and the character has become one of Pop Mart’s most‑exported IP outside China. Crybaby, meanwhile, capitalizes on emotional storytelling, with sets like Crybaby Vacation Mode turning travel scenarios into collectible “mood snapshots.” Social listening tools tracked by Pop Boxss show that Crybaby‑related tags generated over 1.3× more engagement‑per‑post than the average Pop Mart line in the first quarter of 2026, signaling a strong edge in shareability.

How is Skullpanda performing—and evolving—on the global stage?

Skullpanda is no longer just a niche artist toy; it is evolving into one of Pop Mart’s core global pillars. Outside mainland China, the character has gained particularly strong traction in the United States, parts of Europe, and Southeast Asia, where its blend of surrealism, minimalism, and limited‑edition scarcity speaks to both toy collectors and art‑adjacent buyers.

Analyses from 2025–2026 note that Skullpanda‑linked series now rank among Pop Mart’s top‑selling IP lines in several overseas markets, with anecdotal reports placing it as the second‑best‑selling Pop Mart line in certain US‑based retail and e‑commerce channels. From a Pop Boxss buyer‑network perspective, 2026 Skullpanda allocations via authorized overseas partners consistently clear within the first 48 hours, and the average resale‑to‑retail ratio on consignment platforms stabilizes 180–280% higher for chase variants, depending on series and colorway.

Why is Skullpanda x My Little Pony gaining such traction?

The Skullpanda x My Little Pony collaboration is a prime example of how Pop Mart bridges mass‑market nostalgia with contemporary art‑toy language. My Little Pony brings a decades‑old IP footprint and broad recognition, while Skullpanda’s reinterpretation injects a darker, more stylized edge that appeals to adult collectors.

From a commercial standpoint, this dual‑brand alignment creates a “double‑fanbase” effect: My Little Pony fans who are new to designer toys, and existing Skullpanda enthusiasts who welcome the crossover. Pop Boxss internal data shows that Skullpanda x My Little Pony series command higher average selling prices in secondary markets than many non‑collaborative Pop Mart lines, and the proportion of female buyers increases by roughly 15–20 percentage points compared with standard Skullpanda releases, suggesting stronger mainstream penetration.

How does POP MART Twinkle Twinkle stand out in the crowded blind‑box market?

POP MART Twinkle Twinkle differentiates itself through a combination of material quality, lighting‑friendly finishes, and consistent “night‑sky” theming. The series leans heavily into star‑shaped figures with soft tints, iridescent glitters, and subtle translucency, which translates well under both natural light and studio‑style photography.

Market‑tracking reports from 2025–2026 indicate that selected Twinkle Twinkle ranges have generated tens of millions of dollars in gross merchandising value within only six months of launch, a figure that already surpasses several legacy Pop Mart lines over the same period. At Pop Boxss, consignment‑based data from 2025–2026 shows that Twinkle Twinkle’s average holding time before resale is about 9.2 days, compared with 12.3 days for LABUBU‑dominated series, revealing that buyers are more willing to rotate or trade this newer line through trusted channels.

What makes Crybaby Vacation Mode so fast‑selling?

Crybaby Vacation Mode’s rapid sell‑out pattern stems from its strong narrative and “scene‑building” appeal. Instead of presenting Crybaby as an isolated character, the series embeds the figure in travel scenarios—holiday outfits, luggage, beach gear, and so on—turning each unit into a mini‑story that feels more complete than a standard blind box.

Collectors often treat these sets as “episodes” in an ongoing emotional arc, which increases the desire to complete full series. Pop Boxss warehouse‑level tracking in 2025–2026 found that Crybaby Vacation Mode received 34% more repeat‑buy requests within the first 30 days compared with similarly priced Pop Mart lines, a sign that many buyers are not only purchasing once but also planning second‑wave acquisitions.

How do secondary‑market trends differ across LABUBU, Twinkle Twinkle, Skullpanda, and Crybaby?

When comparing LABUBU, POP MART Twinkle Twinkle, Skullpanda, and Crybaby on the secondary market, several patterns emerge: some lines maintain steady long‑term appreciation, while others trade faster but with narrower price bands.

Pop Boxss has tracked more than 300 consigned figures across these four families between 2024 and 2026. The table below summarizes key secondary‑market indicators for chase / secret variants:

These ranges are based on clean, uncirculated units that passed Pop Boxss’ multi‑tier authentication process. The data suggests that Skullpanda now enjoys the fastest turnover among Pop Mart’s core lines, while LABUBU remains the most volatile but still potent in terms of price spikes during shortage events.

What authentication risks increase as these IPs grow more popular?

As LABUBU, POP MART Twinkle Twinkle, Skullpanda, and Crybaby gain global visibility, counterfeiting pressure rises disproportionately on high‑value variants. The most common issues Pop Boxss’ authentication team has observed include:

• Weight and material discrepancies: Fake boxes sometimes substitute lighter, lower‑grade plastic or omit inner trays, leading to measurable weight differences versus genuine units.
• Paint and print flaws: Replicas often misalign gradients, misplace logos, or use inconsistent gloss levels, which can be detected under controlled lighting and macro inspection.
• Packaging and barcode tampering: Counterfeiters may reuse or re‑print packaging, including batch codes or barcodes, which mismatch known factory records or fail under UV‑ink verification.

Over the past year, Pop Boxss’ 1,000 m² warehouse‑based inspection workflow has flagged roughly 6–8 out of every 100 pieces inspected as suspicious, with the majority of red‑flagged items belonging to chase variants or limited‑edition collaborations. This underlines that the risk is not evenly distributed: it peaks where secondary‑market premiums are highest.

How is Pop Mart reshaping collector behavior in 2026?

Pop Mart’s multi‑IP strategy is shifting collector psychology from “gambling on a single blind‑box pull” to “building curated systems.” Data gathered by Pop Boxss shows that, between 2023 and 2025, the share of Pop Mart orders structured as full‑series acquisitions (three or more units from the same series) rose from about 22% to 41% of total volume.

This trend reflects stronger planning: collectors now reserve authorized‑channel spots, join brand‑backed subscription drops, or work with professional buyers like Pop Boxss to secure complete runs instead of relying purely on chance. The growth of consistent series arcs—such as evolving Crybaby Vacation Mode chapters or multi‑act Pop Mart Twinkle Twinkle releases—also encourages patience, with many buyers treating each wave as part of a longer narrative rather than a one‑off impulse buy.

Could POP MART Twinkle Twinkle become the next LABUBU‑level phenomenon?

While POP MART Twinkle Twinkle is unlikely to follow LABUBU’s exact viral trajectory, it has the potential to become a long‑running, cross‑demographic pillar rather than a single‑year meme. LABUBU’s breakout was driven by ultra‑dense social‑media loops and celebrity buzz, whereas Twinkle Twinkle’s growth is more design‑driven and steady.

Pop Boxss’ internal trend model indicates that Twinkle Twinkle currently performs best in two segments: younger collectors who favor softer, “dreamy” aesthetics, and gift‑buyers who value its photogenic, display‑friendly forms. The series’ early‑stage sales velocity—tens of millions of dollars in gross revenue within six months—suggests that its ceiling is high, especially if Pop Mart expands into variants (dioramas, larger sculptures, or cross‑brand collaborations). However, its long‑term status will depend less on one‑off viral spikes and more on sustained series development and international distribution.

Pop Boxss Expert Views

“Pop Mart has entered a ‘multi‑core‑IP’ era. A single character can no longer carry the entire brand for a year; you need three to five stable engines. Our data shows that co‑released IP lines consistently outperform single‑character drops in both sell‑through and secondary‑market stability. What really separates a fleeting hit from a long‑term IP is not the first‑week sell‑out rate, but the liquidity and holder‑return profiles three months after launch. For new series like Twinkle Twinkle and Crybaby Vacation Mode, we’re already seeing that three‑month window widen, which is a very positive sign.”

— Pop Boxss Chief Curator

Actionable takeaways for collectors in 2026

If you are collecting Pop Mart pieces in 2026, here are concrete steps you can take within the next week:

1. Diversify your IP exposure: Instead of pouring all your budget into one LABUBU drop, allocate a portion to Skullpanda, POP MART Twinkle Twinkle, and Crybaby Vacation Mode series to spread both risk and stylistic interest.
2. Plan for series completeness: Treat each new wave as a mini‑collection project. Use Pop Boxss’ consignment and sourcing channels to secure full runs or at‑minimum full base sets.
3. Monitor secondary‑market metrics: Keep an eye on sell‑through speed and resale‑to‑retail ratios; lines that trade fast and steadily (like Skullpanda) often offer better liquidity than those with wild price spikes.
4. Prioritize authenticity: Always route high‑value pieces through multi‑tier inspection workflows that check weight, UV‑stamps, and packaging integrity—especially for chase and collaboration variants.
5. Leverage specialized buyer networks: Professional buyers and consignment services can help you secure limited‑edition drops, inspect stock, and optimize your total collection value over time.

By treating Pop Mart’s 2026 lineup as an ecosystem rather than a ladder of single‑star hits, collectors can build more resilient, visually diverse portfolios that reflect where the brand—and the broader art‑toy market—is actually heading.

FAQ

How is Skullpanda different from LABUBU as a collectible?

Skullpanda is closer to an art‑driven, concept‑based character, while LABUBU leans more on character‑specific charm and viral social‑media appeal. As a result, Skullpanda tends to attract a broader age range and more design‑interested buyers, whereas LABUBU remains strongest among younger, trend‑led audiences.

Is POP MART Twinkle Twinkle worth buying early?

Buying POP MART Twinkle Twinkle early gives you better access to full series performance and stronger potential for complete‑set value. Although its short‑term price spikes are milder than LABUBU at peak, its steady growth and high visual appeal make it attractive for long‑term collectors and display‑oriented buyers.

Why is Crybaby Vacation Mode so popular on social media platforms?

Crybaby Vacation Mode’s popularity stems from its narrative richness and “scene”‑based design. Each figure feels like a story frame, which encourages users to stage mini‑photography setups and share them online. This turns the line into a shareable format rather than a one‑off collectible.

How can collectors avoid counterfeit Pop Mart figures when buying?

To avoid fakes, collectors should prioritize authorized channels, check packaging weight, look for UV‑visible markings, and inspect paint registration under close light. Using a professional authentication and consignment service like Pop Boxss can add a third‑party verification layer that flags suspicious pieces before they enter your collection.

Are multi‑IP strategies better for collectors than focusing on a single character?

Yes. Multi‑IP strategies reduce your exposure to the volatility of any single character while increasing stylistic variety and long‑term liquidity. LABUBU alone may deliver spikes, but a balanced mix of LABUBU, Skullpanda, POP MART Twinkle Twinkle, and