LEGO Officially Teases 72051 Donkey Kong Arcade Machine For August 2026
- May 21
- 3 min read
After the LEGO Group took us behind the scenes covering an upcoming LEGO Speed Champions BMW set earlier today, the Danish toy manufacturer has now also teased a brand new set for our favourite Italian plumber. In particular, the short social media tease is for the upcoming 72051 Donkey Kong Arcade Machine, which includes a total of 1,367 pieces once it releases on the 1st of August 2026 for $199.99 / €169.99 / £149.99.
72051 Donkey Kong Arcade Machine will be just the second LEGO Super Mario set of 2026, after the release of 72050 Mario Kart - Luigi & Mach 8 in April. The theme, just like LEGO Animal Crossing, has had to take a step back this year while the LEGO Group's gaming budget has been piled into the brand new LEGO Pokémon theme.
However, next year, big things are expected from the LEGO Super Mario line, as it was confirmed on Mario Day that Super Mario LEGO Minifigures would finally be coming in 2027. And now the LEGO Group seem to be expanding the Nintendo and Mario universe further with the Italian plumber's "frenemy" Donkey Kong.
Donkey Kong has already appeared as a brick-built character with his own wave of course-building sets back in 2023, but on the 1st of August 2026, the powerful and carefree Kong will be getting his own brick-built Arcade Machine. The short Instagram tease already showcases an element and play feature that will be included in the LEGO Arcade Machine, as the video shows a printed version of an iconic DK barrel rolling past.
How exactly this rolling barrel will be incorporated in the 18+ display model is currently unknown, but we're guessing a brick-built crank operation will be included in 72051. This will simulate barrels rolling down the iconic Donkey Kong red girder scaffolding, possibly including mini brick-built or printed versions of Donkey Kong, Mario and Pauline, for example.
The rest of the build will likely follow another 18+ LEGO Arcade Machine of 10323 PAC-MAN Arcade. However, 72051 Donkey Kong Arcade Machine has almost half the pieces at 1,367, suggesting a much smaller display model, removing some of the more hidden brick-built features and separate PAC-MAN and Ghost display stand.
We can still expect however an authentic and detailed recreation of the physical arcade cabinet structure with plenty of classic Donkey Kong branding, prints and hidden details. The signature sloped front, coin door mechanisms, joystick assembly, and the side art gemorety of the classic 1980s Nintendo cabinet should all be recreated in brick-built LEGO form, likely celebrating 45 years since the release of the original Donkey Kong video game.
72051 Donkey Kong Arcade Machine
Set Name - Donkey Kong Arcade Machine
Set Number - 72051
Age Range - 18+
Piece Count - 1,367
Minifigures - 0
Price - $199.99 / €169.99 / £149.99
Release Date - 1st August 2026
72051 Donkey Kong Arcade Machine releases on the 1st of August 2026, but what do you think? Are you excited to see Donkey Kong getting his own 18+ display model after his course-building wave back in 2023? Will you be picking this one up at launch or waiting to see the full reveal? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and check out all our latest LEGO Super Mario coverage.
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