While browsing the Brothers Brick website, you may have noticed a banner proclaiming our status as Recognized LEGO Fan Media (RLFM). This means that LEGO recognizes our contribution to the community, making us part of the LEGO Ambassador Network (LAN). This is LEGO’s official outreach programme – or it was, until the launch of a new platform a couple of weeks ago called the LEGO Fan CoLab. This is a case of same-same, but different – and the Brothers Brick remains a part of it, officially recognized by LEGO as a Recognized LEGO Fan Creator.
So what does it mean for TBB? In short: nothing! The Brothers Brick will still bring you the best creations, stories, news and reviews from across the LEGO community! But if you’d like a bit more information background, read on below…
What is – or was – the LAN?
LEGO has had an outreach programme in some form for nearly 20 years. The LAN was a significant evolution of that programme, established about 10 years ago. The Ambassadors on said network encompassed a wide range of community members: content creators, magazines, forums, LUGs, videographers – and blogs, like us!
The exact purpose of the LAN has changed over the years, but in short, it was a direct line between LEGO and the communities they recognised. That allowed for things like early access review sets, advance notice of news and press releases, and support for events and contests, among many other things.
So how is Fan CoLab different?
Since the LAN was founded, the media landscape has changed dramatically. The increasing ubiquity of social media has given brands and businesses a new avenue to get their products out there, while the public at large has all manner of new ways of consuming content. Within the LEGO community, this has manifested itself in all sorts of ways. Building challenges, video content, news items, rumours and leaks discussions, MOC showcases and event promotion can all be found on social channels. We’ve experienced that change first-hand, having been founded in the early days of the blogosphere.
The Fan CoLab’s missions remains the same as the LAN: providing a channel for LEGO to communicate and collaborate with the various communities out there. The name’s similarity to ‘collab’ – i.e. collaboration – is no accident! Nevertheless, there have been some tweaks to better reflect the way the LEGO community consumes its content.
Previously, there were (broadly speaking) three categories on the LAN: AFOL Networking Events (ANEs), which included events like BrickCon or Skaerbaek Fan Weekend; LEGO User Groups (LUGs), which came to include Recognized LEGO Online Communities (RLOCs) alongside geographical location-specific groups; and Recognized LEGO Fan Media (RLFM), which was – basically – everyone else, including the Brothers Brick. These have now been re-named to, respectively, Recognized LEGO Fan Events, Recognized LEGO Fan Communities, and Recognized LEGO Fan Creators.
Does that change who gets to be a part of it?
In theory, no. As part of the transition, every former member of the LAN created a new application to be part of the CoLab platform. The requirements are a little different depending on which category you apply for – you can read them on the CoLab website. The Brothers Brick is now a Recognized LEGO Fan Creator, as you can see from our snazzy Brick of Recognition! (That’s what the coloured tiles above are called.)
While there are many familiar faces on the CoLab now, not everyone made the cut. In particular, some forums – such as Eurobricks, previously an RLOC – have reported not having been taken forwards to the CoLab platform. The platform is in its infancy, so just because a certain community isn’t listed on Fan CoLab now doesn’t mean they won’t be in future. However, it is also true that some may choose to forgo formal ties to LEGO as a result.
And where does that leave the Brothers Brick?
Ironically, changing from RLFM to Fan Creator is arguably a less accurate description of what we do here at the Brothers Brick! But while the name may change, it won’t change how we operate at TBB. We will continue to bring you all the best news, reviews, MOCs, and stories from the LEGO community. And as the CoLab platform continues to grow, we will continue to champion fans of LEGO around the world. Who knows, we may even meet some new friends on the way!
Now, we should probably get that banner updated…
Finally, if you would like to read LEGO’s press release about this new platform, dispersed two weeks ago, you can read it here:
BILLUND, DENMARK, 12 August 2026: The LEGO® Group Launches LEGO Fan CoLab, A New Chapter in Collaboration with LEGO Fans
Today, the LEGO Group officially launched LEGO Fan CoLab, marking a new chapter in how the LEGO Group collaborates with recognized LEGO fan communities, creators, and events around the world.
The launch event celebrated more than 20 years of collaboration with LEGO fans. From the early Ambassador Program to the LEGO Ambassador Network, this relationship has grown alongside the global LEGO fan community, with fans building communities, organizing events, creating content, developing projects, and inspiring others through their creativity.
The LEGO Fan CoLab is the next step of that journey.
While the name is changing, the purpose remains centered on collaboration, shared learning, and mutual inspiration between the LEGO Group and the global LEGO fan community.
At the same time, LEGO Fan CoLab reflects how the LEGO fandom has evolved. Today’s LEGO fan ecosystem includes communities, creators, event organizers, media, developers, artists, builders, and many others who contribute to the LEGO fan experience in different and meaningful ways.
The “CoLab” in LEGO Fan CoLab represents a commitment to experimentation, collaboration, learning, and continued evolution. The program is designed to create opportunities for recognized participants to connect with teams across the LEGO Group, share knowledge, build community, share in the LEGO love with likeminded people, and bring new ideas and experiences to life.
As part of the launch, the LEGO Group also introduced the new Fan CoLab platform, a digital home for recognized participants. The platform provides dedicated spaces for communication, knowledge sharing, opportunities, and collaboration, with further features and improvements planned as the program develops.
The LEGO Fan CoLab brings together a range of opportunities designed to encourage creativity, collaboration, discovery, and meaningful experiences. The LEGO Group will continue to explore new initiatives and ways of partnering with recognized participants as the program develops.
The launch marks the beginning of this next chapter, rather than the destination. As the LEGO Fan CoLab develops, feedback and ideas from recognized participants will help shape how the program and platform continue to evolve.
The LEGO Group would like to thank the communities, creators, event organizers, volunteers, and fans who have contributed to more than two decades of collaboration and helped shape the LEGO fan ecosystem we know today.
LEGO Fan CoLab now begins its next chapter, with a continued focus on creativity, collaboration, and the many ways LEGO fans inspire others around the world.
The post LEGO launches Fan CoLab: the Brothers Brick is now a Recognized LEGO Fan Creator! [News] appeared first on The Brothers Brick.
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