Chicago, IL | People of Play™ (POP), a division of The Toy Association™, will host its 26th annual Toy Fair® POP Pub Party on Monday, February 16, at Connolly’s Pub (121 W 45th St.) beginning at 6 p.m., bringing together the toy and game industry for an evening of networking, celebration, and philanthropy.

This year’s POP Pub Party proudly merges with “Inventor Night NY,” a longtime Toy Fair tradition that brings together the industry’s creative community, all in support of POP’s Young Inventor Challenge® (YIC). Every $20 ticket sold directly benefits the YIC, helping nurture the ideas, confidence, and creativity of young inventors around the world. The evening is sponsored by Eastar Game Manufacturing.

“The POP Pub Party has always been where the toy and game community comes together to connect, celebrate, and spark ideas,” said Mary Couzin, senior vice president and founder/leader of People of Play at The Toy Association™. “In 2026, we’re proud to turn that collective energy into meaningful support for young inventors so the next generation of creators has the encouragement and opportunity to bring their ideas to life.”

Tickets are available for $20 each. Those unable to attend POP Pub during Toy Fair can still support the Young Inventor Challenge by making a donation and helping ensure more kids have the opportunity to develop their toy and game projects and gain valuable industry experience.

The Young Inventor Challenge, held annually in November as part of POP Week, provides kids ages 6 to 18 with a platform to help develop and pitch their original toy and game ideas to industry professionals. Through mentorship and feedback, the program nurtures creativity, confidence, and real-world product development skills.

For more than 50 years, Inventor Night NY — founded by Mark Setteducati and co-hosted with Mark Mitton and Robert and Alex Fuhrer — has brought together inventors, puzzlers, artists, and magicians during Toy Fair week. This year, that tradition finds a new home with the POP Pub Party, adding to the creative energy of the evening while maintaining POP Pub as the industry’s central Monday night destination.

All industry professionals are invited to join the POP community for a memorable night of connection and celebration at the POP Pub event. Click here for more information, to secure your ticket, or to donate.

About People of Play™  peopleofplay.com
People of Play (POP), a division of The Toy Association™, supports the global toy and game industry in promoting innovation, creativity, and connectivity. A one-stop source of community for industry professionals, aspiring inventors and people of all ages who love to play, People of Play hosts a play platform packed with resources and connection points as well as a wide range of events including the Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair, the Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIE) Awards, the Young Inventor Challenge, the Toy & Game Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference, and more.

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 $155.7 billion, and its roughly 800+ members drive the annual $45.6 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.

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