August 2025 LEGO News Roundup

Getting ready for BrickCon while looking back at a month of great LEGO content!

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Roundup

It’s BrickCon Time!

For many AFOLs, a local LEGO convention is one of the most exciting times of the year. That is definitely the case for me… I really enjoy attending and giving presentations at BrickCon. It’s the longest running LEGO Convention in the world and it happens to be only a few miles from my home!

I hope you can join my talk on Friday, September 5th at 11:00AM PDT.

I hope you can join my talk on Friday, September 5th at 11:00AM PDT.

I’ll be giving a talk again this year! I will be sharing my progress creating the online LEGO Parts Guide, some of the challenges I’ve faced adapting it into a printed book, and some of the ways that I’m planning to address those issues. To make it more fun, it will be an interactive presentation where you can share your thoughts and ideas to help me make the book even better. (Bring your phone so you can participate!)

A Virtual LEGO Convention? BrickCon hosted one of the first big ‘virtual’ LEGO conventions during the COVID lockdowns of 2020 — but they never stopped offering an option to attend as a ‘virtual’ attendee. The 4-day in-person convention costs $85+, but the virtual option is just $25.

Learn more about both the in-person and virtual conventions at brickcon.org — and let me know if you decide to attend in-person or virtually!

Showing our support… I’m also excited to share that for the first time, Brick Architect is one of the event sponsors. This includes recognition on the BrickCon website, but perhaps more importantly for AFOL attendees of the in-person event, you will get a Brick Architect sticker inside your goodie bag! (If for some reason you don’t get one or want a few extra, come find me during the event.)

Remodeling my office with LEGO Decor!

I finally completed a long overdue article where I took a critical look at the LEGO-branded Home/Office Decor produced in partnership with Room Copenhagen. For this project, I created a custom room divider based on an IKEA Expedit bookshelf (a precursor to the popular Kallax line). I chose a neutral burlap backdrop because I thought a rougher material would contrast with the smoothness of LEGO bricks.

Comparing the wood and plastic decor as the backdrop for my office.

Comparing the wood and plastic decor as the backdrop for my office.

As you will learn in the article, the wood and plastic products target completely different audiences based on the price points and aesthetic qualities. The good news for most folks is that the plastic bookshelves, hangers, and picture frames are a better choice for most people based on both aesthetics and a much lower price point. This is especially true if you want to use them as a backdrop for your zoom calls, where the bright colors really shine.

The wooden products look great if you are able to see them in person which is why I decided to keep them in my office. It’s a classy and understated look which will appeal to many builders – if you can stomach the high price!

New at Brick Architect

September 2025 releases for AFOLs

There are a fair number of new releases this month, although they aren’t all available on September 1. I’ve highlighted a few of my favorites, as well as all of the Advent Calendars in case you want to purchase one well in advance of the holiday season.

#43279 WALL-E and EVE looks good and offers good value in a licensed set.

#43279 WALL-E and EVE looks good and offers good value in a licensed set.

Advent Calendars that I wanted to highlight this year:

While we haven’t built or reviewed them yet, I ranked the five advent calendars based on my initial impressions. (At $35 for City/Friends and $45 for the licensed themes, it’s hard to call any of them a great value .)

You can explore all of the new releases by visiting the lego.com store. (Making a purchase using our referral link helps support this website.)

Best articles from around the web

Learn more about the LEGO hobby with this month’s collection of great articles I’ve collected from around the web…

  • Pick a Brick: Standard bricks service halted in North America
    The Trump Administration’s obsession with tariffs has caused a concrete impact to LEGO builders in the US and Canada. Since 1938, The United State has allowed low-value goods to enter the United States duty-free, meaning that there is no tariff on these small shipments. While the original limit was $1 per shipment, it had risen to $800 in recent years. Because the ‘De Minimis exemption’ was removed suddenly, The LEGO Group did not have time to adapt to new regulatory landscape.
    —New Elementary
  • Arcane à la Cheese: Dan O’Connor’s Friction-Fueled Mosaic
    This article showcases the amazing mosaic-building potential of wedging cheese slopes and certain curved elements into place. It’s really next level stuff.
    —BrickNerd
  • LEGO Smart Brick: Interactive brick 2026 … What is known about the system so far. (German)
    More than just rumours, StoneWars dug through public photos and patent applications to share a preview of a possible new system of smart bricks, minifigures containing an electronic tag, and a charging mat.
    —StoneWars
StoneWars found a 2025 patent applications for a "Wireless interactive toy construction element with coils".

StoneWars found this 2025 patent applications for a “Wireless interactive toy construction element with coils”.

  • Review: LEGO Nike Air Max DN Sneakers (Youth)
    Thanks to his small feet, Jay was able to give these bright yellow shoes a try even though they only come in youth-oriented sizes!
    —Jay’s Brick Blog
  • LEGO achieves continued growth and record revenue in 1H 2025 The LEGO Group is having a very strong year, with roughly 10-12% YoY (Year over Year) growth compared to the same period in 2024. Despite high global inflation, these are strong results which are reinforced by findings that they continue to outperform the broader toy market.
    —Brickset
  • Long Arm Luffy and the Birth of Cosmic Noodle Benny
    In this article, Will Hafner takes a closer look at the few LEGO minifigures with very long bendy arms, followed by a guide to build your own stretchy-armed minifigs using LEGO Keychain elements.
    —BrickNerd
Did you know that Minifigure Keychains are produced using different parts than a normal Minifigure?

Did you know that Minifigure Keychains are produced using different parts than a normal Minifigure? (Photo: BrickNerd)


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