The Winners of the 2026 AdoraBuild Are…
Earlier this year, we challenged you to build your most adorable LEGO creation… something so irresistibly cute it would make us stop and say, “Awww!” (or perhaps even let out an involuntary “Squeee!”). And you didn’t disappoint. We received 75 entries filled with charm, personality, and enough smiles to brighten even the grumpiest day.
This year’s AdoraBuild featured our classic three categories: Small Scale, Sweet Scenes, and Cuddly Characters. After plenty of discussion (and more than a few difficult decisions), our BrickNerd contributors selected the winners in each category. And one builder who entered all three categories and earned the highest overall score has been crowned with the title of Master AdoraBuilder!
For a contest centered around cuteness, the judging was surprisingly fierce. Every BrickNerd contributor had an equal vote, and the results were remarkably close. Each entry was evaluated using three criteria:
Concept: Is the idea cute?
Quality: Is the creation built well?
Presentation: Does the photography and composition enhance the build’s adorableness?
Enough waiting. It’s time to unleash the cuteness!
Small Scale Honorable Mentions
Who says bigger is better? These builders squeezed an incredible amount of creativity into some seriously tiny creations. Whether it was clever part usage, visual tricks, or simply making us grin with only a dozen or so pieces, these six “smol” entries were some of our favorites in the category that left a lasting impression.
Palixa and The Bricks
ABrickDreamer
Javier Soravilla
Nolan Simpson
Kristel Whitaker
Geneva Durand
Small Scale Winner: Grant Decker aka Math Wizard
Congratulations to Grant Decker aka Math Wizard, whose “UFO Abduction” takes home the Small Scale prize! Grant will receive LEGO sets 21365 Love Birds, 31382 Cute Animals: Playful Puppy Dog & 10349 Happy Plants.
This tiny scene proves that you don’t need hundreds of pieces to tell a memorable story. In just a handful of parts, Grant captured the classic image of a UFO beaming up an unsuspecting cow over a barn using some perspective tricks. The tiny flying saucer and microscopic harvester are instantly recognizable, and every piece feels purposeful. It’s a brilliant example of making the absolute most of a very small palette, creating a build that’s clever, readable, and impossible not to smile at.
Sweet Scenes Honorable Mentions
A great Sweet Scene is a heartfelt story frozen in time. Whether it captured a quiet moment between friends, a peaceful escape, or a scene that made us smile, these six builders created worlds we’d happily step into. Congratulations to our honorable mentions for bringing to life a moment of joy and happiness.
Vladimir van Hoek
Loke Nordesjö (Byggi_l)
ABrickDreamer
Kelly Bartlett
Mattia Careddu
Sympatik Brick
Sweet Scenes Winner: Okay Yaramanoglu
But there was one MOC that melted our hearts. Congratulations to Okay Yaramanoglu, whose “Friendship on Endor” captures this year’s Sweet Scenes title! Okay will receive LEGO sets 43279 WALL-E and EVE, 77255 Lightning McQueen & 31376 Cute Hamster with a Flower.
This adorable moment between Leia and a cuddly Ewok captures the simple joy of an unexpected friendship in Chibi-scale. The storytelling is enhanced by some outstanding part usage, from the Ewok’s delightfully shaggy hands made with hair elements to Leia’s instantly recognizable braided hairstyle crafted from flexible hose. It’s a scene that rewards a closer look, balancing clever building techniques with a heartfelt moment that perfectly embodies the spirit of the Sweet Scenes category.
Cuddly Characters Honorable Mentions
If there was one category that made judging especially difficult, this was it. We were flooded with lovable creatures sporting oversized eyes, expressive faces, floppy ears, smiles galore, and enough personality to fill an entire adorable zoo. These six creations stood out for their character, creativity, and irresistible charm. Congratulations to our honorable mentions—we’d happily take every one of them home and give them a squeeze!
NikiFilik
Kristel Whitaker
Chocobrick77
ABrickDreamer
lavishlump
ozbrickcreator
Cuddly Characters Winner: Piotr
Congratulations to Piotr, whose “Pusheen the Cat” purrs away with this year’s Cuddly Characters title! Piotr will receive LEGO sets 72151 Eevee, 31165 Wild Animals: Panda Family & 60484 Rides - Gaming Race Car.
Pusheen is already one of the internet’s most lovable cats, but recreating her soft, rounded charm in LEGO is no easy feat. Piotr accomplished it with outstanding SNOT techniques, sending studs in nearly every direction to achieve the character’s smooth curves. The brick-built smile and Technic pin whiskers are well executed, while the slice of watermelon adds just the right splash of color and personality. Every angle of this build is carefully considered, resulting in a character that’s instantly recognizable, beautifully executed, and utterly huggable.
Master AdoraBuilder: Cecilie Fritzvold
Fifteen builders took on the challenge of submitting entries in all three categories this year in hopes of earning the title of Master AdoraBuilder. After the votes were tallied, one builder once again rose to the top.
Congratulations to our reigning (and now two-time winning) Master AdoraBuilder, Cecilie Fritzvold! In addition to another Golden Nerdly Trophy and BrickNerd bragging rights, Cecilie will receive 40767 Up-Scaled Baby Astronaut & 40921 Up-Scaled Blue Astronaut Minifigure.
Yes, Cecilie won the first AdoraBuild and has defended her title in spectacular fashion. All three of her builds were outstanding honorable mentions in their categories. Her “Matcha” transforms a simple teacup into a peaceful Japanese garden complete with a tiny bonsai tree and a tranquil tea house. The rounded cup creates the perfect frame for the miniature scene, while clever part usage like hot dogs forming gently waving grass adds delightful details throughout.
Her “Kurama” reimagines one of anime's most fearsome creatures as an irresistibly cuddly companion. Despite depicting the mighty nine-tailed fox from Naruto, Cecilie transforms the character into an innocent Chibi version full of curiosity and charm. The expressive eyes, oversized ears, and exaggerated tails strike the perfect balance between recognizable and adorable, while the shaping gives the model a wonderfully soft, plush-like quality
Lastly, Cecilie’s “Happy Hippos” shows a sweet scene inspired by her childhood. Based on the beloved Kinder Eggs toys from the 1990s (and, yes, the chocolate eggs are still sadly illegal in the U.S.), the scene captures two hippos on a date, making us smile seeing their unmistakable joy. Since first creating them, Cecilie has even expanded the pair into an entire series, including a hula-hooping hippo that debuted at Brickworld Chicago 2026. It’s easy to see why these characters have taken on a life of their own. They perfectly capture the playful spirit, expressive character, and heartfelt storytelling that define the AdoraBuild.
Congratulations once again to Cecilie Fritzvold, our deserving two-time Master AdoraBuilder!
Congratulations to all of our winners and honorable mentions! We laughed, smiled, and maybe even said “Awww” a few more times than we’d like to admit. Thank you to everyone who entered and filled the BrickNerd community with so much joy.
The AdoraBuild Gallery
Every AdoraBuild entry deserves its moment in the spotlight. Browse the gallery below to see all the incredible creations, organized by category. We may not have had enough prizes for everyone, but we certainly enjoyed every single build.
Thank you to everyone who entered. We loved seeing builders of all ages embrace the adorable theme and share their creativity with the BrickNerd community. And a special thank you to LEGO for generously providing this year’s category prizes. We hope these builds leave you smiling as much as they did us.
Small Scale
Sweet Scenes
Cuddly Characters
More Nerdy Contests to Come
Think your creativity is just getting warmed up? Good news, our next BrickNerd contest is right around the corner. Nerdvember 2026 is on the horizon, so start gathering those brilliant ideas and keep an eye on BrickNerd. We can’t wait to see what you build next.
Which adorable build made you smile the most? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
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