351: 2026 Trend Predictions For The Indoor Play Industry (Part 1- Planning and Design)
The Profitable Play PodcastShow Notes
Every year (since 2019!), I release a trends episode for the indoor playground and play café industry — and this year, there was simply too much to cover responsibly in a single episode.
BLOG For this episode: https://www.michelecaruana.com/blog/2026-play-cafe-trends
As I reviewed what I shared in my 2025 trends video (linked below) alongside what I’ve been seeing all year in Play Maker Society, my live events, and 1:1 coaching, the trends naturally fell into two buckets: 1) planning and design decisions that are expensive to undo 2) operational choices that determine whether a business actually runs sustainably
That’s why the 2026 trends are split into two parts.
Part 1 focuses on planning: space design, revenue structure, and early decisions that quietly lock owners into years of unnecessary stress if they get them wrong.
Many of the 2025 trends from last year's episode are still very relevant — including indoor/outdoor spaces, experience-led design, and bold, playful use of color — but the cost of missing these shifts is higher than ever.
This year's list is less about what's "new" and more about what's becoming non-negotiable to have a competition and receccsion-proofed business (that YES: actually pays you).
What’s IN for 2026 (Planning & Design):
Treating cafés as a core profit driver, not a side feature Designing spaces that increase length of stay and per-visit spend Inclusion and universal design as the standard, not a bonus Intentional layouts that reduce friction for families and staff Revenue models that prioritize retained profit, not just top-line sales Designing businesses that work with family behavior, not against it
What’s OUT for 2026 (Planning & Design):
Over-relying on AI to plan your business without real-world validation Relying on hustle to fix structural problems Depending heavily on third-party vendors for food and party add-ons Skipping cafés without a clear replacement revenue strategy Treating inclusion as a marketing angle instead of a design foundation Assuming volume will make up for thin margins Building spaces that look good online but don’t function well in real life
This episode sets the foundation for Part 2, where we’ll shift from planning to execution — covering operational trends, optimization, and how owners are building businesses that run without burning them out.
RESOURCES: Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Getting Started With Your Play Cafe [YouTube Video Playlist] What's Working In The Indoor Play Industry 2025 Guide Fund Your Indoor Play Business [Free Training] Indoor Play Courses & 1:1 Consulting Waitlist Michele’s Instagram Michele’s Website Play Cafe Academy YouTube Channel ETSY Template Shop Prepare Your Indoor Playground For a Recession Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society Questions and Support: [email protected]
TOOLS & OTHER LINKS:
Play Cafe Academy & Play Makers Society: http://bit.ly/3HES7fD Questions and Support: [email protected]
TOOLS: Wellness Living POS and Branded App Software Play Space Brain (Mention This Podcast For Special Pricing!) Simplify and Scale with 50% OFF WellnessLiving Active Campaign Free Trial Free Demo of Aluvii All-In-One POS
More from The Profitable Play Podcast
Why do some indoor playgrounds and play cafés become profitable, sustainable businesses while others stay stuck, even when they have similar concepts, markets and opportunities?
After more than a decade in the indoor playground industry, I've developed a little bit of a sixth sense for decisions that look great on opening day but can become expensive, inefficient or incredibly frustrating later.
In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast, I’m sitting down with Steve and Dave from Lilliput Playhomes to talk about what really goes into designing and building play equipment for commercial spaces.
In this episode of The Profitable Play Podcast, I’m sitting down with Charlotte from Children’s Factory to talk all about designing indoor play spaces that are intentional, engaging, durable, and built for the way children actually play.
In this episode of the Profitable Play Podcast, I sit down with Karri Bowen-Poole, founder of Smart Playrooms, a design firm specializing in creating intentional play spaces for both homes and commercial facilities. We explore what makes a truly great play environment and how thoughtful design can encourage independence, spark imagination, support child development, and create a better experience for both children and their caregivers.