The Late Late Toy Show is fast approaching, and kids all around the country are getting ready for the most toy-filled, sugar-fueled night of their year.
Taking place on Friday, 5 December, The Late Late Toy Show 2025 will air on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player at 9:35pm, with Patrick Kielty returning for his third year as host.
From where to watch and what to expect, we've listed everything you need to know ahead of the big event.
Where and when?
The Late Late Toy Show will air on Friday, 5 December, at 9:35 pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
Traditionally aired on the last Friday of November, this show was pushed forward a week in 2024 and has remained at the later date for 2025.
ISL and AD
For the first time on RTÉ, Audio Description will be available live during The Late Late Toy Show, making it more accessible than ever and ensuring that its wonder can be shared universally.
Live Irish Sign Language (ISL) interpretation will be available on the night on the RTÉ News Channel and on RTÉ Player, ensuring inclusivity for all audiences across Ireland and beyond.
The show will also be repeated on RTÉ One on Sunday, 7 December at 3:10pm with Audio Description.
Living abroad?
Not to worry, the unmissable show will be available to watch worldwide live on the RTÉ Player on both the desktop and the app. So, no matter who you are, you can watch live and on demand for free.
What's the theme?
As always, the theme of The Late Late Toy Show is the country's best-kept secret right up until the day itself.
So far, host Patrick Kielty has favoured themes inspired by hit Christmas movies, impressing crowds with his Elf show in 2023 and Home Alone in 2024. Will this year be the same or will he go in a brand new direction? We'll have to stay tuned to find out!
What we do know is that this year's trailer was truly out of this world, showing children across the globe preparing for the most magical night of the year. In the ad, Patrick Kielty and his team of astronauts are suiting up for a mission unlike any other.
With plenty of festive sparkle, their mission is clear: to make sure the Toy Show’s magic reaches every corner of the universe.
RTÉ Social Channels
Catch all the excitement from behind the scenes on the official social channels. The official hashtag is #LateLateToyShow.
Which toys will be featured?
Every year, toys are kindly sent in from retailers all across the country, and the toys showcased by children on The Late Late Toy Show are donated to charities across the country in time for Christmas. The full list of toys featured will appear on www.rte.ie/lifestyle immediately after the show airs.
Who will be there?
Famous faces are a staple of this annual show. Whether it be Dermot Bannon or Davy Fitz, it's always amazing to see a child's face light up at the sight of their favourite personality.
Ed Sheeran was a decent surprise, too.
The Toy Show Appeal
In 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the nation was inspired to donate in unprecedented numbers by Saoirse Ruane from Kiltullagh, Co. Galway, who won the hearts of the nation with her appearance on The Late Late Toy Show.
Saoirse inspired the official RTÉ Toy Show Appeal that followed, which has raised over €26 million to date. That's more than five million euros distributed every year to support more than one million children and families right across every county.
The Impact Report shows that these funds have translated into real support: specialist therapies, medical equipment, creative programmes, and opportunities that have made a tangible difference to children's lives.
Sadly, Saoirse has since passed away. To celebrate her impact, a grant award of up to €150,000 will be made in Saoirse's name in 2025 to a chosen charity. 'The Saoirse Ruane Grant' will issue as part of the 2025 appeal allocations, and can be used over two years.
To find out more, you can watch a special documentary, Unwrapped: The Toy Show Appeal, which highlights the impact of the Appeal, airs on Sunday, 20 December, at 7.30pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.
When did it all begin?
The Late Late Toy Show began in 1975 as a half-hour slot at the end of The Late Late Show as a way to give parents across Ireland some Christmas gift ideas while their children were sleeping.
Quickly, it grew into a one-night show in its own right, complete with child toy-testers and performers.
First presented by Gay Byrne (1975-1998), the mantle was handed to Pat Kenny (1999-2008), who remained in that position until Ryan Tubridy took over (2009-2022).
2023 was Patrick Kielty's first time stepping into the role, making this his third time running the show.
"Nobody owns the Toy Show," the presenter stated. "When I got the Late Late, I said I'm like the light house keeper of that show - you look after it and pass it on. That goes double for the Toy Show. The kids are in charge, and all planning goes out the window."
This is Pan Collins. Pan came up with the idea of the #LateLateToyShow when she pitched the item to Gay Byrne as a researcher in 1975. Now an annual event on @rte that Irish people around the world tune into. Let's raise a glass to Pan tonight 🥂 pic.twitter.com/qizYBSxgiG
— Alan Swan (@alanswan) November 25, 2022
Who is tuning in?
The Late Late Toy Show is routinely the most watched television programme in Ireland, reaching well over a million people with it's Christmas cheer.
In 2023, th show enjoyed a record-breaking 550,000 RTÉ Player streams from 147 countries and 26.2 million video views across Social Media for #LateLateToyShow.
Safe to say, the Toy Show is for everyone - even Russell Crowe tunes in!
Doesn't matter where you’re from, if you have a kind soul and an open heart you’ll appreciate how wonderful this tradition from Ireland is.
— Russell Crowe (@russellcrowe) August 10, 2020
The #latelatetoyshow looking for toy testers !! https://t.co/np81ibqhxb
Full of incredible characters, knockout performances, amazing surprise guests, toys, gifts (there's one for everyone in the audience), everyone is invited to be part of the most phenomenal night in Irish television.
Watch The Late Late Toy Show on Friday, 5 December at 9:35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player
