American Girl Doll News

Here's a peek into Raquel's journal, which will come with all Raquel dolls! "Raquel shares her passion for music and family history, reconnects with her relatives, and springs into action with her cousin Sloan for an important rescue mission." The journal is written by Angela Cervantes, who wrote Maritza: Lead With Your Heart.

Here are some tidbits from Raquel Reyes's story from American Girl's collection descriptions: "Raquel Reyes™ loves DJing, taste-testing paletas at her family’s shop in Kansas City, and spending time with her lovable rescue pup, Luzita™. For the summer, she’s heading to the East Coast for a big family reunion and wedding. Amid the fun-in-the-sun days with her cousins, she encounters a few surprises—including her great-great-grandmother’s diary." "Raquel Reyes™ totes around these accessories while visiting the East Coast, where she learns more about her family, including great-great-grandmother Samantha Parkington™." "This cool vintage-style car lets Raquel Reyes™ feel the ocean breeze as she cruises with her cousin crew during her family’s beach vacation." "Raquel Reyes™ learns how to play pickleball in Mount Bedford with the help of her relatives. Her cousin Sloan picks out this outfit for her to wear when they play." "Raquel Reyes™ tries pickleball for the first time on vacation and later DJs at a pickleball tournament." "Raquel’s rescue pup, Luzita, is the official taste-tester of the dog-friendly flavors at her family's paleta shop." "Raquel Reyes™ is excited for her cousin Harper’s wedding as she gets ready at this vintage-inspired vanity in her great-great-grandmother Samantha’s old bedroom." "At the family reunion talent show, Raquel Reyes™ wears this dress as she showcases her special talent as a DJ." "Raquel Reyes™ is ready for seaside fun in this outfit she wears to a family reunion held at a beach house." "Raquel Reyes™ can’t wait to lounge at the beach, barbecue, and bond with her cousins while on her seaside vacation." "Raquel Reyes™ introduces her East Coast cousins to paletas, a frozen Mexican treat—like the ones her family’s shop in Kansas City is famous for." "When Raquel Reyes™ travels to the East Coast for a family reunion, she hopes to see her favorite animal—dolphins! She and her cousin Sloan spot a mama and baby dolphin while on the beach." "This all-in-one gift set brings Raquel’s story to life for hours of imaginative play! Whether she’s playing with her rescue pup, taste-testing her family’s paletas  (Mexican frozen treats), or exploring East Coast beaches, it’s “shore” to be a summer to remember." "Raquel is spending her summer on the East Coast for a big family reunion and wedding. It’s bound to be a summer full of seashells, stories…and a few surprises."

It's Girl of the Year release day! Girl of the Year 2026, Raquel Reyes, is now available on American Girl's website - here's her collection! "Raquel Reyes loves DJing, taste-testing paletas at her family’s shop in Kansas City, and spending time with her lovable rescue pup, Luzita™. For the summer, she’s heading to the East Coast for a big family reunion and wedding. Amid the fun-in-the-sun days with her cousins, she encounters a few surprises—including her great-great-grandmother’s diary. Enjoy hours of play with our 2026 Girl of the Year™, Raquel, an American Girl 18-inch doll with brown eyes and dark-brown hair." The Raquel doll, book, and journal costs $135. Raquel's accessories feature a chain necklace, diary, recipe cards, tote bags, sunglasses and cell phone. They cost $34. Raquel's big ticket item is her Seaside Car, which costs $275. Raquel's Piney Point Pickleball Outfit is $42. Raquel's Pickleball Bag and Paddle Set costs $42. Raquel's dog, Luzita, is $42. Raquel's Costal Stripes Pajamas are $30. Raquel's Vintage Vanity is $135. Raquel's Beach Party Dress is $42. Raquel's Beach Outfit is $42. Raquel's Beach Chairs and Barbecue Set is $75. Raquel's Summertime Treats Set is $44. Raquel's Dolphin Duo is $32.

The new Girl of the Year is almost here! Girl of the Year 2026's launch event will be a brunch on September 20th at American Girl stores nationwide. Deducing this from the day of the week Summer and Lila's launches took place on, this means Raquel will either launch on September 17th or September 18th. I'm assuming September 18th because Summer launched on a Thursday last year, but we will have to wait and see! This is our first look at her theme! It really reminds me of Samantha - what do you all think?

American Girl’s 2026 Girl of the Year, Raquel Reyes, has officially been confirmed to be releasing on September 17, 2026!!!

The reveal for Raquel, American Girl’s 2026 Girl of the Year, will be Wednesday morning, September 17, on GMA! Who’s excited to watch?

The American Girl of the Year 2026 is coming around the corner - and we just got a sneak peek! Here it is:

An AGDN reader, @ReplayAngel on Instagram, pointed something out about our potential Girl of the Year 2026, Raquel Reyes,... At the beginning of 2024, a few pet-themed items came out for Truly Me. Now, at the end of 2024, this just came out: Could Raquel be from the Southwest?

Hey guys! With the reveal of the Girl of the Year happening tomorrow, I figured I'd let you all know when the reveal usually happens. Usually, the reveal is in the final hour of the show, so I'd suggest starting to watch at 8:30 AM EST. American Girl has also announced she will be on the site at 9 am EST. I can't wait to meet her!

Yesterday, I turned AGDN over to you all to see what theories you have about the new Girl of the Year. I loved reading all your comments - here they are! "Her theme is Samantha Parkington, just like how Lila’s theme was gymnastics and horseback riding and Lanie’s was the outdoors, nature, and gardening. I’ve wrote about a few days ago, but I think some of her interests and likes would be making peppermint ice cream, baking petit fours, and ice skating. Her favorite holiday would be Valentine’s Day, her favorite color would be pink, her favorite flower would be pink roses, and her favorite book would the Wonderful Wizard of Oz. She would like teddy bears, catching butterflies with a butterfly net, watercolor painting, going on cruise vacations, and the Nutcracker ballet. She is also on the pickleball team and carries a heart-shaped locket. I really loved her heart locket logo. Maybe that’s why we did not get to see the logo earlier this year. But that would give away the hint that Raquel is connected to Samantha." RuthieFairyFan "i'm excited for her but i'm also nervous!!😬i've gotten my hopes up in the past and been very disappointed so i don't know what to expect. i feel like her story and collection are either gonna be super fun and nostalgic or super boring with no thought or effort put in. still holding out hope that she's our first character from Texas--the dolphin shapes on one of her advertising materials could indicate that she lives near a beach or coastline, and Texas has a coastline along the Gulfof Mexico, which is home to bottlenose dolphins!! Galveston, Corpus Christi, Port Aransas, or South Padre Island would be good location choices for her. but knowing AG, they're probably just gonna stick somewhere in New York like Samantha and every third character😑 not that there's anything wrong with New York, but we've never had a Texas girly before and at this point, if Raquel's not from Texas, we'll never get one who is😔but that's my biggest theory for now and i hope it comes true! some people online have speculated that she may also live in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, or elsewhere on the east coast which would make sense too--wherever there's dolphins to be found. i'd really be fine with any state except New York or California!! we have too many characters there already!! on a side note, i'm also a bit worried about her story/journal...i feel like in recent years--starting with kavi--the GOTY stories lack excitement and any sort of meaningful lesson. the stories nowadays are always "kavi failed a test and now she can't be in the talent show oh no it's the end of the world" "lila wants to do 2 different sports and her friend doesn't (this isn't even an issue?!) what ever will she do???" "summer's shocked that her cat and dog don't get along (which is completely normal...) and she doesn't have enough money to go to animal camp, her whole life is a disaster!!!" just meaningless problems that either get solved in two minutes or less or drag out waaaaay longer that they need to just to contunue the plot. whereas in the past the GOTY stories were about girls breaking their ankles! girls facing racism and almost dying in the mountains! girls' brothers nearly being m*rdered by her bullies! girls running over other girls with a zamboni! (it was only a minor part of one book but still, it's never been done again) all kinds of interesting problems that they had to work to solve and at the end, they learned an important lesson and so did the reader! even with the characters whose problems were less extreme, the authors still found a way to make their stories intriguing, inspiring, and educational. i'm not getting that vibe from GOTY books anymore. i don't even understand how they are able to take these picture-book-level non-issues and turn them into entire chapter books and say "good enough! let's sell it for $37!" my point is, i'm worried this new pattern will continue with Raquel and they will give her a generic, forgettable storyline and we'll all be disappointed. i'm REALLY hoping that her release will turn things around for the GOTY line and bring it back to what it used to be but it doesn't seem likely." DylliGlea

Here's Maritza's bio, since she is the Doll of the Month for September 2025! Where she lives: Washington DC Her hobbies: Soccer, activism Pet: No pet What changes her life: A family she cares about has been separated due to immigration issues What she discovers: Even if you're young, you can change the world

American Girl is having a Disney sale - with the purchase of girl clothes, you get 15% off accessories.