Three areas that LEGO Art needs to nail in 2026's World Map replacement

LEGO Art is rumoured to release a set that would match the most expensive set ever in the theme in 2026 – but what does it need to succeed?

The latest rumours reported by jjpsleaksite via reddit claim that a set known only by the set number 31220 is expected to come out sometime next year with a price of $249.99. While such rumoured details should be taken with a pinch of salt, such a release would make it equal in price to 31203 World Map, the now retired set that is the most expensive LEGO Art set ever.

31203 came out back in 2021 and LEGO Art has evolved a lot since then. With that in mind, we've been thinking about what a possible LEGO Art set would need to do to succeed and take the place as the most expensive set in the theme.

1 – Diversity

While 31203 World Map looks remarkable on display (as noted in our original review back in 2021), there's no shying away from the fact that it's a repetitive build. While we acknowledged that the process is 'something strangely addictive', it's still quite the endeavour.

"This set is on such a large scale that it probably wasn’t intended to be attempted in one go," Brick Fanatics' Dimitri. "It’s perhaps more enjoyable to dip in and out, rather like a large jigsaw puzzle, as opposed to a conventional LEGO set that’s tackled in one or two sittings."

We've learned from 31212 Milky Way Galaxy that you can still have a framed, colourful LEGO Art set without merely repeating similar shape and size tiles over and over again, with the space-themed build leaning into a wider variety of elements. That offers a more varied build experience than the 'paint-by-numbers' approach in 31203 World Map, something that LEGO Art has largely been moving away from in recent years anyway.

2 – Depth

Indeed, LEGO Art doesn't stay constrained to the 2D look that 31203 World Map does in many of its sets. Making something LEGO-fied often results in it standing out in relief from its base or frame, as most clearly seen in 21333 Vincent van Gogh - The Starry Night, but also in less dramatic versions like 31208 Hokusai The Great Wave.

A more expensive set doesn't necessarily need to be the dramatic size of 31203 World Map, the frame of which measures 65cm high and 104cm wide, but could lean into greater depth for a richer, more eye-catching display. That once again contributes to a more engaging build experience, where you're able to create different sections of a greater art piece, rather than simply layering tiny tiles on top of one another.

3 – Design

At its core, the LEGO Art theme is all about aesthetics. It should go without saying that design needs to be hit on the head, but sets like 31209 The Amazing Spider-Man arguably don't always manage to balance the line between eye-catching and bone-chilling. Here, Spider-Man appears to be crawling out of the frame with a blank stare that, while perhaps technically accurate, isn't something everyone wants to display, as evidenced in fan reactions upon its release.

For a higher price tag, LEGO Art fans will be expecting something that brings together every lesson that the LEGO Group has learned from each of the theme's releases over the years. It's the striking look of 31203 World Map that makes it well worth the lengthy build time investment, so any price-based successor needs to deliver an impressive final product.

Every LEGO Art set rumoured for 2026

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