Toy Fair® Kicks off This Weekend in NYC

Largest Toy Show in Western Hemisphere Begins Saturday, March 1

NEW YORK, NY | February 27, 2025 – Toy Fair® will unveil a world of play at the Javits Center in New York City, where creative toy companies — from startups to billion-dollar global brands — will showcase the latest toys, games, and youth entertainment products that kids and kids-at-heart will be clamoring for this year.

Produced by The Toy Association™, the four-day show will open Saturday, March 1, with a 9 a.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony and a parade of costumed characters. Immediately following the opening celebration, the show floor will welcome thousands of global play professionals from nearly 100 countries — from inventors and designers to retail buyers, licensors, and media— to explore nearly eight football fields filled with toys and games.

“New York City’s Javits Center transforms into the ultimate playground as the global industry gathers at the 119th Toy Fair this weekend! More than 840 exhibitors, including over 250 up-and-coming companies entering the market at the Launch Pad, are set to unveil hundreds of thousands of creative, innovative, and skill-building toys,” said Greg Ahearn, president & CEO of The Toy Association. “Attendees will gain insight into the latest trends and discussions shaping the toy industry and beyond through a variety of engaging seminars, expand their professional networks, and discover new opportunities to drive their businesses forward. This is where the next big hits are discovered, where industry leaders and rising talent come together, and where the future of play takes shape.”

From traditional media to online content creators, members of the global press will be the first to see the must-have products coming out throughout the year before they hit store shelves. From nostalgic toys with a modern twist and personalized play experiences that reflect kids’ “vibes,” to collectibles, toys inspired by popular entertainment, and everything else in between, there will be plenty of buzz surrounding the hottest toys, games, and youth entertainment products.

This year’s Toy Fair University educational programming will offer showgoers a robust assortment of business-building seminars that tackle the most pressing needs of the global toy industry. Session topics will cover new marketing insights, business development, the role of artificial intelligence in the toy industry, toy and play trends, global market research, product safety, subjects specific to the needs of inventors and entrepreneurs, and much more. Special after-hours networking events will also take place throughout Toy Fair week. 

Ahearn added: “As the largest and most influential toy trade show in the Western Hemisphere, Toy Fair is where creativity meets commerce. Whether you’re here to strike deals, explore licensing opportunities, or gain insight from the industry’s thought leaders, this is the place to be to tap into the $42 billion U.S. toy market.”

A sample of events is available below. The full schedule is available at ToyFairNY.com and through the free Toy Fair Mobile app available on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Toy Fair University sessions are free to all Toy Fair registrants.

TOY FAIR 2025 EDUCATIONAL SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

Toy Fair University will feature programming designed to meet the needs of all industry stakeholders, from buyers to media and creatives, marketers, and beyond. Below is a small sampling of programming:

On day one of the show, The Toy Association’s team of trends specialists will unveil the hottest toy trends of 2025 and new consumer shopping insights, supported by new data from a survey of U.S. parents, during its Toy Trends Briefing. The team will present the trends and the latest developments in play with product examples straight from the show floor. Saturday, March 1 at 1 p.m. in the General Session Theatre, Hall 1D.

Toy Fair’s Creative Factor series is tailored specifically to the needs of the toy inventor and designer community. Sessions will offer expert advice on Toy Package Design: Mass vs. Specialty Markets (March 1), IP in the Toy Industry (March 1), The Rise of AI in Toy Design (March 4), and more. On Monday, March 3, there will also be an inventor meetup with the United Inventors Association (UIA)'s Toy Hub advisory board, whose mission is to empower inventors through education, access, and advocacy. Creative Factor sessions will take place all four days in the Toy Fair University Theater (Level 3, Booth 3065).

The Toy Association’s Toy Safety & Legislative Update will provide manufacturers, retailers, toy inventors, testing labs, and others in the toy industry with news and developments related to toy safety laws and regulations in the U.S. and abroad, including an update on the Association’s ongoing advocacy against tariffs on toys. The presentation will be delivered by Toy Association staff and government officials. The session is open to all Toy Fair attendees. Monday, March 3 at 9 to 11:45 a.m. in the General Session Theatre, Hall 1D.

Through the Marketing and Advertising track, attendees will learn about the latest strategies, trends, and innovations shaping brand engagement, consumer outreach, and retail success in the toy industry. Sessions include How Toy Companies Have Transitioned from TV to Digital (March 1), The American Kid Consumer 2024 (March 2), Going Global, Staying Local: Capturing Hearts and Market Share in the Toy Industry (March 3), Beyond the Hype: Navigating New Trends in Influencer Marketing (March 3), and more. These sessions will take place in the Toy Fair University Theater (Level 3, Booth 3065).

With the rise of generative AI tools and the evolving digital landscape, the Technology education track will offer forward-looking insights into these emerging technologies and spaces. These include Beyond Chatbots: What Lies Ahead for Kids and AI (March 1), “Why” Before AI: A Success Framework for Outcome-Driven Innovation (March 2), The Power of TikTok for Toys (March 4), and more. These sessions will take place in the Toy Fair University Theater (Level 3, Booth 3065).

SPECIAL EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

The Toy Foundation™ will present the Toy of the Year® (TOTY®) Awards the night before Toy Fair opens on Friday, February 28, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. The awards gala will honor the top toys, games, and properties of the year and celebrate the inductees into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame – all while supporting the philanthropic work of The Toy Foundation to deliver toys to millions of children when they need it most.

Toy Fair’s Opening Ceremony and Ribbon Cutting will officially kick off the show at 9 a.m. on Saturday, March 1, with a lively parade of fan-favorite costumed characters followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This is a great photo opportunity.

Over the course of the four-day show, attendees can visit the Student Showcase Gallery, a dedicated area on Level 1 (Booth 5879), displaying the talents of toy design students from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and Otis College of Art and Design. The display will feature student-created projects, products, and artwork, in addition to contact information for anyone looking to get in contact with a future toy designer.

The Toy Association’s Annual General Meeting is open for all to attend. The meeting, which will include an update on the state of The Toy Association and the election of members to serve on the Board of Directors, is set for March 1 at 4 p.m. in the General Session Theater (Hall 1D).

The Toy Association’s Young Professionals Network (YPN) will host its annual Toy Fair Cocktail Party, bringing guests together at 6 p.m. in Midtown for drinks, light bites, and networking. The Canada Night at Toy Fair, hosted by the Canadian Toy Association (CTA), will also start at 6 p.m. that evening at a local bar and grill.

On Sunday, March 2, Toy Fair will serve as a meeting ground for hundreds of university students during Toy Fair’s Student Congress. The exclusive day-long event welcomes the next generation of talent to explore the show floor, participate in mentorship and recruitment sessions, and explore all the opportunities within the toy industry.

Later that evening on March 2, Women in Toys, Licensing, and Entertainment (WiT) will host a Game On: Power Up with WiT event at the Coexist Gaming Lounge beginning at 6 p.m.

On Monday, March 3, People of Play™ will host the 25th Anniversary Toy Fair POP Pub Party at Connolly's Pub. The event begins at 6 p.m. and will bring together the toy and game industry for an evening of networking, celebration, and philanthropy. In honor of the 20th anniversary of the Young Inventor Challenge®, all ticket sales will directly benefit the program that inspires and empowers young toy and game innovators.

Licensing International will also host its annual Toy Fair Party at 6 p.m. at KYMA Hudson Yards.

On the final day of Toy Fair, Tuesday, March 4, Creative Factor Inventor Day will invite approved toy manufacturers to hear product pitches from select inventors and designers. The Toy Foundation will close out the show with its annual Toy Collection, beginning at 4 p.m. Exhibitors may donate product, which will be distributed to charities in the tri-state area that benefit children in need.

Registration is mandatory for access to Toy Fair 2025; verification of media and buyer credentials is required. Those who cannot attend the show can follow along on Instagram (#ToyFairLife), LinkedIn, and X and visit the Toy Fair Online Press Room for up-to-the-minute show information.

About Toy Fair®  ToyFairNY.com
Toy Fair® is the largest and most comprehensive play-focused experience unifying the toy industry’s entire ecosystem with key players to help with business development and sourcing the latest products from across all forms and stages of play. Featuring thousands of new and unique toys, games, edutainment, entertainment-driven experiences, and more from around the world, Toy Fair offers attendees a competitive edge no other trade event can match.       

About The Toy Association™  toyassociation.org / toyfoundation.org / peopleofplay.com / thegeniusofplay.org / playsafe.org
Founded in 1916, The Toy Association™, Inc. is the business trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages. The Toy Association leads the health and growth of the U.S. toy industry, which has an annual U.S. economic impact of $157.5 billion, and its roughly 900 members drive the annual $42 billion U.S. domestic toy market. The Toy Association serves as the industry's voice on the developmental benefits of play and promotes play's positive impact on childhood development. The organization has a long history of leadership in toy safety, having helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, governments, consumers, and the industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.     

As a global leader, The Toy Association produces the world-renowned Toy Fair™ in New York City; hosts marketplace activities in Los Angeles; engages in state, federal, and international advocacy on behalf of its members; supports the inventor and design community through People of Play™ and its numerous assets and events, including the consumer-facing Chicago Toy & Game Fair; sustains the Canadian Toy Association; acts as secretariat for the International Council of Toy Industries and International Toy Industry CEO Roundtable; and chairs the committee that reviews and revises America's widely emulated ASTM F963 toy safety standard. The Toy Association's philanthropic arm is The Toy Foundation™, a 501 (c)(3) children's charity that acts as the uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry. To date, The Toy Foundation has delivered the joy of play to 33 million children in need worldwide.