LEGO Speed Champions January 2026 – Movie Magic Meets Miniature Motors
Published: 10 months ago
Last Updated: 7 months ago
What’s New in the January 2026 Speed Champions Wave
LEGO Speed Champions roars into 2026 with three movie-inspired builds launching January 1st, each priced at $27.99 / £22.99. This wave marks a significant shift for the theme: rather than chasing the latest supercars and Formula 1 liveries, LEGO is leaning into cinematic nostalgia. The lineup includes the Time Machine from Back to the Future, Lightning McQueen celebrating 20 years of Disney Pixar's Cars, and the APXGP Team Race Car from the 2025 F1 film.
For LEGO® Speed Champions fans, this is a collector's dream. Movie tie-ins bring broader appeal beyond petrolheads, pulling in film buffs, Disney enthusiasts, and nostalgia-driven AFOLs. Each set delivers the trademark Speed Champions formula — compact builds packed with authentic details — but with added emotional resonance from beloved franchises. Whether you're reliving Marty McFly's adventures, celebrating two decades of Radiator Springs, or chasing the adrenaline of modern F1 cinema, these January releases offer something special.
For LEGO investors, Speed Champions remains one of the most interesting themes to watch. With 90 sets since 2015 and an impressive 18% average annualised growth across retired models, it's been a standout performer. However, the market has evolved, and strategic buying has never been more important. Let's dive into what's launching and why these sets deserve attention.
Investor Take: Which Sets Look Strongest and Why
LEGO Speed Champions 77256 Time Machine from Back to the Future – $27.99 / £22.99
"Roads? Where we're going, we don't need roads." The LEGO Speed Champions Time Machine from Back to the Future (77256) captures one of cinema's most iconic vehicles in 357 pieces of brick-built brilliance. Designed for ages 9+, this set celebrates the DeLorean DMC-12 across two of its most memorable configurations.
Builders start with the 1985 version, complete with lightning rod and California license plate from the first film. From there, the model can be rebuilt into its flying variant from Back to the Future Part II, featuring Mr. Fusion, an orange license plate, and sideways wheels that capture the hover-mode aesthetic. Both configurations include signature details: rear air vents, the flux capacitor glowing at the heart of the build, and the time calculator that made time travel possible.
Two LEGO minifigures complete the package — Doc Brown and Marty McFly — ready to be placed in the cockpit for time-traveling adventures. The dual-build approach adds replay value, letting collectors switch between display modes or keep both versions assembled side by side.
At $27.99 / £22.99, this set targets a sweet spot: accessible for younger builders, nostalgic for adults who grew up with the trilogy, and collectible for fans of movie memorabilia. The Back to the Future license carries enduring cultural weight, and Speed Champions' compact format makes it an easy display piece for desks, shelves, or bedside tables. For LEGO investors, movie-licensed Speed Champions sets have historically performed well, particularly those tied to timeless franchises rather than seasonal racing liveries.
LEGO Speed Champions 77255 Lightning McQueen – $27.99 / £22.99
"Ka-chow!" Disney Pixar's Cars turns 20 in 2026, and LEGO is marking the milestone with Lightning McQueen (77255), the first Speed Champions model to feature a detailed undercarriage. With 270 pieces, this build celebrates the beloved racing character in all his yellow-and-orange lightning-bolt glory.
The design captures Lightning McQueen's signature details: his famous number 95, Rust-Eze sponsor logo, "Lightyear"-imprinted tires, and instantly recognisable headlight stickers. What sets this apart from other LEGO Speed Champions models is the attention paid to the undercarriage — a first for the theme — giving builders and displayers an extra layer of authenticity to appreciate.
This set appeals across generations. For kids aged 9+, it's a playable toy car tied to a franchise that's still producing new content. For adults, it's a nostalgic tribute to a film that defined mid-2000s Pixar. The anniversary timing adds collectible weight, positioning this as a commemorative piece rather than just another character build.
At $27.99 / £22.99, Lightning McQueen sits comfortably in impulse-buy territory while offering enough detail and brand recognition to hold long-term appeal. Disney and Pixar licenses tend to maintain value well post-retirement, and the 20th-anniversary branding gives this set a clear marker in the Cars timeline. For LEGO investors, character-driven builds like this often outperform generic vehicle replicas, especially when tied to milestone anniversaries.
LEGO Speed Champions 77252 APXGP Team Race Car from F1® The Movie – $27.99 / £22.99
The newest entry in Speed Champions' movie lineup is the APXGP Team Race Car from F1 The Movie (77252), tied to the 2025 Brad Pitt racing drama. With 268 pieces, this set recreates the fictional team's race car in striking black-and-gold livery, aimed at builders aged 10+.
The design stays true to Speed Champions' commitment to authenticity: sponsor stickers, wider rear tires imprinted with "Pirelli," and sleek aerodynamic lines that capture modern Formula 1 aesthetics. Two LEGO minifigures — Sonny Hayes and Joshua Pearce — represent the film's drivers, each with individual helmets featuring their signatures, a wig accessory, and a wrench (which doubles as a sticker applicator and brick separator).
This set is a fascinating test case for Speed Champions. Unlike timeless properties like Back to the Future or Cars, the F1 film is brand new. Its success as a collectible will depend on the movie's cultural staying power. However, the black-and-gold livery gives it strong shelf appeal, and F1's global fanbase ensures baseline demand from motorsport enthusiasts.
At $27.99 / £22.99, the APXGP Team Race Car offers the same value proposition as its wave-mates: an affordable, display-ready build tied to popular media. For LEGO investors, this one requires more caution than the DeLorean or Lightning McQueen — newer IPs carry higher risk. That said, the minifigures and distinctive livery give it collectible hooks that could pay off if the film resonates.
LEGO Speed Champions as an Investment Theme
LEGO Speed Champions has been one of the standout performers since its 2015 launch, with 90 sets delivering an average 18% annualised growth across retired models. That's exceptional by LEGO investment standards, outpacing many larger, more expensive themes.
However, the market has evolved. As the theme has matured, retail pricing has gradually increased, and widespread discounting — particularly from major retailers like Amazon — has become more common. Deep discounts of 30-40% are no longer rare, which means buying at full RRP is no longer the winning strategy it once was for LEGO investors.
The key to investing in Speed Champions today is timing and patience. Wait for sales, track pricing trends, and buy strategically rather than blindly. Movie-tied sets like the Time Machine and Lightning McQueen offer stronger long-term cases than seasonal racing liveries, as their appeal extends beyond motorsport fans into broader pop culture. Entry price matters more than ever — a set bought at 40% off can still deliver solid returns, while the same set purchased at RRP may struggle to outpace inflation.
For collectors, the theme remains as rewarding as ever. Speed Champions sets are compact, display beautifully, and span a wide range of automotive history. For LEGO investors, the theme still holds potential — it just requires a more considered approach than in its early years.
Final Thoughts
The January 2026 LEGO Speed Champions wave leans into movie magic, delivering three builds that celebrate cinematic icons rather than chasing the latest track superstars. The Time Machine honours Back to the Future, Lightning McQueen marks 20 years of Cars, and the APXGP Team Race Car rides the wave of the new F1 film.
For collectors, these sets offer nostalgia, display appeal, and affordability. For LEGO investors, the Time Machine and Lightning McQueen stand out as the strongest long-term holds, thanks to their timeless franchises and anniversary significance. The APXGP Team Race Car is riskier but could surprise if the film becomes a cultural touchstone.
As always with LEGO Speed Champions, patience pays off. Wait for discounts, buy smart, and let retirement do the heavy lifting. These January releases may be compact, but they pack serious collectible punch.
Author: Sophie Turner
Sophie is a freelance writer and pop culture researcher with a lifelong love of film and fandom. She became an AFOL after building her first LEGO Ideas set and realising how perfectly LEGO captures iconic moments. Her collection centres on Ideas, Disney, and pop culture collaborations, from classic movie scenes to nostalgic TV tie-ins. Sophie explores the emotional side of LEGO collecting, examining how memory, storytelling, and cultural relevance shape demand across generations.
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