Don’t Forget: Nominations for TAGIE Awards Close August 2
July 23, 2025 | Time is running out to nominate toy industry trailblazers for the 2025 Toy & Game Innovation Excellence (TAGIE) Awards, presented by People of Play™ (POP), a division of The Toy Association™. Anyone in the industry may submit a nomination by August 2, 2025.
Taking place on November 8 at Joe’s LIVE Concert Venue as part of POP Week, this year’s event marks the TAGIEs’ 18th year honoring the best and brightest innovators, designers, retailers, suppliers, PR professionals, and marketers who drive creativity and success across the global toy and game industry.
New for 2025, this year’s TAGIEs will feature more award categories and a maximum of seven nominees per category. There is no fee to nominate a candidate for consideration. This year’s categories include:
- Preschool Toy Innovator of the Year
- Kidult Toy Innovator of the Year
- Preschool Game Innovator of the Year
- Adult/Family Game Innovator of the Year
- Tech Toy Innovator of the Year
- Tech Game Innovator of the Year
- Breakout Innovator of the Year
- Young Innovator of the Year
- Innovative Art and Visuals of the Year
- Innovative PR & Marketing Team of the Year
- Most Innovative Retailer Award
- Most Innovative Vendor & Partner
- Most Innovative Licensed Product Game Changers – Innovation Heroes
Finalists will be notified in early September, at which time voting will open to the general public, media, and industry. The Game Changer and Lifetime Achievement awards are selected exclusively by the TAGIE Awards Committee and the Lifetime Achievement Committee.
The TAGIEs are one of several events that take place during People of Play’s annual POP Week — taking place November 5 to 9 in Rosemont, IL — including the Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, Young Inventor Challenge, and Chicago Toy & Game Fair.