Rocket Licensing has announced its plans for BLE 2026, where, on stand A205, this leading independent agency will be promoting a portfolio of brands that have been making their licensing presence felt during 2026 and are set for a very big 2027.
They include SpudBros, the phenomenally successful food business that is now a cultural phenomenon, the globally loved Miffy, the massively successful cartoon novel series and film hit Dog Man, the hugely popular CBeebies brand Bing, the publishing sensations Horrible Histories and Horrible Science, the iconic Christmas tradition The Elf on the Shelf®, and classic film franchises like Amazon MGM’s Rocky and Robocop and more recent megahits such as Dune and The Monsterverse. Massively popular kids’ TV show SuperThings, ESA, Europe’s comprehensive space agency, award-winning brand Kodak and Amazon MGM will also be among the highlights on the Rocket stand.
New to Rocket’s stand at BLE is Spud Bros®, a brand that has also pioneered a cultural movement centred on joy, food, and connection that has taken brothers Jacob and Harley Nelson known as the TramFam, from its origins on a tram selling spuds to enthusiastic customers in Preston to major events across the UK and beyond. Spud Bros® and The TramFam are today social media stars across multiple channels including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube, with a community of over 8 million spud lovers. The irresistible appeal of a wholesome, healthy, inclusive and accessible brand founded on fun, quality, authenticity and Britishness is now underpinning a licensing programme aimed at a strong core target market of 18-34-year-old men and women.
It’s been a busy time for Miffy, with new partners like Wild, Pelham, Yopp and Tom and collaborations such as Grind and Cutter & Squidge along with the launch of a new CGI-animated TV series from StudioCanal, Mercis and SUPERPROD Animation on Sky. The series retains Miffy’s iconic look but is set in a contemporary world and features new stories and characters.
Sky has acquired the UK rights for the series at a time when Miffy is building strongly on the momentum that has made the brand a global phenomenon. Today it can boast over 90 million books sold worldwide, supported by television series, YouTube channels, multiple influencers and celebrities and a loyal and growing social media following across many channels – not to mention a successful licensing programme.
In the UK, a fan base ranging from infants and toddlers to teens and young adults has helped firmly establish the brand at at retail with a range of partners such as Next, M&S, Boots, Skinnydip, Urban Outfitters and Daisy Street, across apparel, accessories and bags, plush, infant development, homewares and textiles and greeting cards.
Dog
Man: Big Jim Believes, debuted at the top of the Official UK Top 50
in its first week on sale in November 2025 and has pushed overall
DogMan
book sales past the 70 million mark in 50 languages. The 2025 Dog Man
movie from DreamWorks Animation, was a number one box office hit in
multiple territories, including the UK. Dog Man #15, Dog Man:
Sprinkle in Time, launching on 3 November, and DogMan the musical
14-city tour, along with support for the national Year of Reading and
the 10th anniversary, are all happening this year.
Rocket Licensing, appointed to manage UK and Eire licensing by The Joester Loria Group for Dav Pilkey’s Monster Island, LLC for the Dog Man and Cat Kid Comic Club properties, is now building a licensing programme for the massively successful kids’ brand (which is also loved by quite a few adults).
The brand is a massive hit around the globe where top-selling Dog Man product includes toys, board games, a video game, apparel and school supplies, all sold at leading retailers. In the UK and Eire, the Dog Man licensing campaign is expanding quickly with a range of partners that already includes Jakks Pacific, University Games, Bioworld, Danilo, Dreamtex and Warmies.
Many more announcements are expected in the coming months as Rocket targets a long list of categories in its ongoing campaign.
Bing, the highly acclaimed, award-winning preschool property from Acamar Films, provides emotional and social development to help young children as they grow.
The hugely popular CBeebies and BBC iPlayer series helps children get ready for life through relatable everyday adventures. As the only truly child-centric preschool brand, Bing resonates deeply with young children and their families, enjoying exceptional exposure across multiple platforms. Toys, publishing, live experiences and events underpin a successful licensing programme, which will be further strengthened by the arrival of 26 new episodes currently in pre-production.
The blend of facts and irreverent humour that have made the Horrible book brands such a hit – in categories including TV, escape rooms, theatre shows, science kits and magazines – has also massively boosted awareness of Horrible Histories, Horrible Science and Horrible Geography and inspired Tonies story characters, board games, card games and collectible coins.
The brands have enjoyed particularly notable success in experiential partnerships, exhibitions and themed events at historical and scientific sites such as Osterley Park, Leeds Castle, Kew Gardens, the Science and Industry Museum, the British Museum and London Zoo. This success, especially during school holidays, is set to continue in 2027.
The Elf on the Shelf®, the iconic Christmas tradition from The Lumistella Company, has long had a delightful role in the festive season for families. The Santa-approved Scout Elves take note of a family’s Christmas adventures, reporting back to Santa at the North Pole each night, then magically return to their families, perching in a new spot each morning.
The tradition, which includes an adoptable Scout Elf®, arrived in book form in the US in 2005, quickly becoming a fixture around the globe, and in 2025 the company celebrated 20 years of elftastical stories.
In 2026, The Elf on the Shelf® licensor continues to develop the magic and mystery of the Santaverse® an enchanting storytelling universe that unites beloved characters from the one and only The Elf on the Shelf®;the cuddly Elf Pets® companions; Elf Mates®, who are known as Santa’s Champions of Kindness; and more.
For families and fans alike, Santaverse® brings to life the origins of Santa's North Pole, its characters and legends. Through captivating stories and epic adventures, Santaverse® immerses fans in a world that informs and enriches their Christmas traditions, providing enchantment and fun.
A strong UK presence in apparel, bedding, lighting, gifts, novelties, cards, confectionery, and, of course, party products, is well established but the brand is also proving especially successful in the fast-growing experiential category, notably through giant 15-foot The Elf on The Shelf® puppets appearing in eye-catching locations in a number of UK cities around Christmas time – when licensing and promotional activity related to The Elf on the Shelf® will once again be at its height.
Rocket is also the UK licensing agent for Legendary Entertainment and will be showcasing two key IPs from the studio’s line-up this year, led, not surprisingly, by the success of Dune in two blockbuster films as well as the Dune: Prophecy television series, which is returning for a second season, and the Dune: Awakening video game.
The first two films won numerous awards, with Dune: Part Two building on the box office success of its predecessor. Now excitement has been further ramped up with the news that Dune: Part Three will reach cinemas on 18 December 2026, boosting already strong awareness of the brand and creating continuing licensing opportunities both in the months leading up to the release of the third film and after – as fan demand and continuing interest in the Dune franchise continue to grow.
The Monsterverse franchise also continues to be a popular offering from Legendary, and, with a new film arriving in 2027, continues to build on more than a decade of success across film and television. Following the success of Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire in 2024, the next instalment, Godzilla x Kong Supernova, is slated to be released in 2027. Legendary Entertainment and Rocket Licensing are expecting interest in the UK licensing campaign to be further boosted by partnerships, fan activations and retail promotions as the Monsterverse builds toward its next major theatrical release.
Following the success of its first 52 episodes, SuperThings is a leading collectibles brand in which three feisty eleven-year-olds battle to save Kaboom City from villains trying to conquer the SuperThings world. The brand has inspired a movie and a further 52 episodes arriving soon. With strong retail partnerships in place for its toy range, Magic Box and Rocket are now developing an extensive licensing programme as consumer demand continues to build towards 2027 and beyond for this fast, funny show packed with collectible characters.
European
Space Agency
– Elevating the future of Europe in Space.
ESA is Europe’s comprehensive space agency, dedicated to the
peaceful exploration and use of space. It is also a brand that taps
into one of the most exciting narratives of our time: humanity's
return to the Moon and beyond. Rocket has already built a solid
foundation for the brand in on toys, art photos, t-shirts, books and
more and brand awareness will receive a massive boost as the Artemis
programme – a trip to the Moon culminating in a permanent base
there – captures public attention in the coming years.
Award-winning brand Kodak continues to delight fans with its stylish retro appeal more than 130 years after it first revolutionised photography. The brand has a rich design history and a wealth of assets, all of which are available for licensees’ use. A fashion-forward campaign managed by Rocket in the UK, complimenting a hugely successful global campaign, is well under way.
The treasures of the Amazon MGM archive will also be on display at A205 including classic titles like Rocky, Robocop and Stargate. The very first Rocky film celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2026 and is still packing a punch both on the screen and as a successful licenced brand.
Charlie Donaldson, Joint Managing Director of Rocket Licensing, says: “Our line-up for BLE will focus both on established hits like Miffy, Elf on the Shelf, Bing and the Horrible franchise and popular brands expanding their presence in the film publishing or TV world like Dog Man, Dune and Godzilla, or Superthings, or simply cultural phenomena making big headlines, like ESA and SpudBros. We’ve got a lot to tell visitors to BLE about these amazing properties. Come to Stand A205 to find out more!”