Build-A-Bear Happy Meal toys 2026: all 12 bag clips and UK dates
Checked on 13 October 2026. The Build-A-Bear Happy Meal is in McDonald's UK restaurants from Tuesday 22 September to 2 November 2026, and McDonald's Ireland gives the same end date. The toys are 12 mini plush bag clips: McDonald's UK names three of them, and all twelve names are on the McDonald's Italy page, which has Build-A-Bear in its Happy Meal too. Below: the twelve names, the release date and the end date, the small print on choosing a toy, and what else is in the box this October half term.
The 12 Build-A-Bear Happy Meal toys
McDonald's UK names three of the clips on its Happy Meal page — Pawlette, Friendly Fox and Tan Teddy Bear — and McDonald's Ireland names the same three. The full set of names comes from McDonald's Italy: Cookies & Cream Pup, Tan Teddy Bear, Pastel Swirl Kitty, Spring Green Frog, Pumpkin Bear, Polar Bear, Pawlette, Midnight Sparkle Cat, Friendly Fox, Bat, Axolotl and Zombie Axolotl. The Italian site CorriereNerd reports that the UK promotion has the same twelve. On ColleX they are one list, Happy Meal Build-A-Bear.
Each toy is the head of a Build-A-Bear Workshop character on a clip, made for a bag or a set of keys. The official pages do not number them. Two of them are a pair: according to the Italian collectors' site Collectme.it, Axolotl is pink and Zombie Axolotl is green. You will also see the brand written Build A Bear, without the hyphens.
Mark what you already have
Tap — “Have”, tap again — duplicate (×2, ×3…). Hold — “Want” or one less.
- Cookies & Cream Pup
- Tan Teddy Bear
- Pastel Swirl Kitty
- Spring Green Frog
- Pumpkin Bear
- Polar Bear
- Pawlette
- Midnight Sparkle Cat
- Friendly Fox
- Bat
- Axolotl
- Zombie Axolotl
Release date and how long it runs: 22 September to 2 November 2026
| Country | Dates | Source |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 22 September – 2 November 2026 | McDonald's UK |
| Ireland | until 2 November 2026 | McDonald's Ireland |
| Italy | from 2 October 2026, while stocks last | start: Unofficial Happy Meal Italia, CorriereNerd |
The UK start date comes from McDonald's UK's press release of 23 September 2026, which ties the collection to the October half term. The end date is in the small print at the foot of the Happy Meal page: “Until 02nd November”. McDonald's Ireland gives the same end date. The official pages were read on 13 October 2026.
Can you choose the toy? The small print
The same small print settles three things for anyone after all twelve. A Happy Meal “Includes one pre-selected book or toy”, so the toy is chosen for you. The clips are not all in restaurants at once: they arrive at different times and only while stocks last. And buying a toy without the meal is restricted: “Separate sales are limited and Fair Ordering Policy applies.” The block also carries the line “From 11am.”
Halloween Happy Meal toys: four of the twelve
Four of the twelve clips are Halloween inspired, the press release says, without naming them. The only names come from CorriereNerd, which ties Pumpkin Bear, Bat, Midnight Sparkle Cat and above all Zombie Axolotl to Halloween imagery. That makes four, but the site does not say they are the four McDonald's UK means. McDonald's Italy presents the whole collection under a Halloween slogan.
Book, stickers, voucher and a dress-up game
The book option this time is The Big Talent Show, a Build-A-Bear Workshop licensed title. The press release adds three more things: the clips can be personalised with stickers, there is a digital dress-up game, and UK Happy Meal boxes carry a Build-A-Bear voucher that is valid until 30 November 2026.
Build-A-Bear Happy Meal in Ireland and Italy
McDonald's Ireland's Happy Meal page has the same Build-A-Bear toys, names the same three clips and carries the same warning about staggered availability. In Italy the official page lists all twelve but gives no dates, only that the offer lasts while stocks last; the collectors' blog Unofficial Happy Meal Italia and CorriereNerd both date the Italian start to 2 October 2026. The Italian book is “Posso diventare un Inventore curioso!”.
Next Happy Meal toy after Build-A-Bear
McDonald's UK's Happy Meal page is about the current toys. What follows after 2 November goes into our running page, Happy Meal toys right now in the UK, as soon as the Happy Meal page changes.
Keeping track of twelve bag clips
On the ColleX list, mark each clip you own as “Have” and each one still missing as “Want”; if one turns up a second time, set its quantity to 2. Other Happy Meal lists, including SpongeBob x One Piece and BT21, are in the McDonald's section.
Frequently asked questions
When is Build-A-Bear in the Happy Meal?
In the UK from Tuesday 22 September 2026, according to McDonald's UK's press release of 23 September 2026. The Happy Meal pages of McDonald's UK and McDonald's Ireland give 2 November as the end date, while stocks last.
How many Build-A-Bear Happy Meal toys are there in 2026?
Twelve mini plush bag clips: Cookies & Cream Pup, Tan Teddy Bear, Pastel Swirl Kitty, Spring Green Frog, Pumpkin Bear, Polar Bear, Pawlette, Midnight Sparkle Cat, Friendly Fox, Bat, Axolotl and Zombie Axolotl. McDonald's UK names three of them on its Happy Meal page; the twelve names come from the McDonald's Italy page.
Can I choose my Build-A-Bear toy, or buy just the toy without a Happy Meal?
The UK page says a Happy Meal “Includes one pre-selected book or toy”, so the toy is chosen for you. On buying a toy by itself it says: “Separate sales are limited and Fair Ordering Policy applies.”
Is the Build-A-Bear Happy Meal in Ireland?
Yes. McDonald's Ireland's Happy Meal page shows the Build-A-Bear toys, names Pawlette, Friendly Fox and Tan Teddy Bear and gives 2 November as the end date (read on 13 October 2026).
Which Build-A-Bear Happy Meal toys are the Halloween ones?
McDonald's UK only says that four of the twelve are Halloween inspired and does not name them. CorriereNerd ties four clips to Halloween imagery: Pumpkin Bear, Bat, Midnight Sparkle Cat and Zombie Axolotl.
What is the Build-A-Bear Happy Meal book?
The Big Talent Show, a Build-A-Bear Workshop licensed book: a UK Happy Meal comes with either the book or a toy. In Italy the book next to the toys is “Posso diventare un Inventore curioso!”.
How do I swap duplicate Build-A-Bear bag clips on ColleX?
Give the duplicate a quantity of 2 or more under “Have” and mark the clips you still need as “Want”. ColleX then shows collectors whose spares and wants fit yours, and you settle the swap in chat; buying and selling are available where the ColleX Market is open.
Sources: McDonald's UK press release of 23 September 2026; the Happy Meal pages of McDonald's UK and McDonald's Ireland and the McDonald's Italy page (read on 13 October 2026); Unofficial Happy Meal Italia, 2 October 2026; CorriereNerd, October 2026; Collectme.it, 2 October 2026.