PLAYMOBIL makes its auction debuts at Hôtel Drouot

Organised by auction house Pestel-Debord, the sale will feature more than 280 lots from PLAYMOBIL’s advertising and promotional archives, with proceeds going to CEKEDUBONHEUR, an association supporting children in hospital. This unprecedented event shines a light on a phenomenon well known to enthusiasts: for several decades, PLAYMOBIL has been more than just a toy. It has become a true collector’s item, passed down from one generation to the next.
 

Bringing together pieces used exclusively for professional purposes, this sale offers an exceptional collection that has never been available to the general public:
• More than 70 giant figures depicting iconic PLAYMOBIL characters and animals
• More than 170 three-dimensional dioramas showcasing the brand’s major themes: Police, Farm, Horse Riding, Animals, Princesses and Knights and Castles
• Around 30 advertising and promotional displays (POS): 3D structures, display stands, totems, presentation tables and scenographic elements.

Among these pieces, the giant figures and promotional displays are particularly sought after by collectors. Designed for use in shops and at events, they are exceptionally rare on the market and have, until now, circulated only among a small circle of enthusiasts.
 

In recent years, a thriving community of PLAYMOBIL collectors has emerged. Many of these enthusiasts have rediscovered the toys of their childhood and now share them with their own children. Some devote entire rooms to their collections, recreate monuments, settings and dioramas, organise exhibitions and build vast scenes that bring to life the worlds imagined by the brand.

More than a quest for rarity, collecting PLAYMOBIL is driven above all by passion, nostalgia and the desire to pass something on to the next generation. The most sought-after pieces are often those recalling the major themes of the 1980s and 1990s.

While some pieces have increased in value over time, PLAYMOBIL collecting remains first and foremost a passion, fuelled by nostalgia, creativity and the passing of a shared enthusiasm from one generation to the next.

All proceeds from the sale will be donated to CEKEDUBONHEUR, an association founded in 2004 by Hélène Sy, which works every day to bring joy, culture and entertainment to children in hospital. With the support of its volunteers and partners, the association runs educational, recreational, cultural and wellbeing initiatives in more than 130 healthcare establishments.

Ahead of the sale, the world of PLAYMOBIL will take over Hôtel Drouot from 23 to 26 September 2026 with an immersive, family-friendly exhibition open to all. The sale forms part of a new programme launched by Hôtel Drouot from autumn 2026, with its spaces opening every Saturday to offer the public new opportunities to discover themed auctions, exhibitions and events accessible to all.

Visitors of all ages will be able to discover these exceptional displays, take part in a treasure hunt organised in partnership with the CHOCO STORY Chocolate Museum, and create their own PLAYMOBIL figure in a dedicated space.

An invitation to discover PLAYMOBIL in a new light: no longer simply as a toy, but as a world that has continued to inspire and delight children and adults alike for more than fifty years.