Calling all toy inventors, designers, and creative types! The Toy Association™ is accepting applications through Friday, October 31 for its pitch event during the Creative Factor Inventor Day program at Toy Fair® 2026.

As the holiday season approaches, TTF is calling on toy companies to donate product to the Toy Chest and create a magical season for as many children as possible.

Exhibiting at the upcoming Toy Fair®, taking place February 14 to 17, 2026 at the Javits Center in New York City, is a powerful opportunity for toy and entertainment companies to elevate their brands, connect with key players in the industry, and unlock new business potential.

This year, The Toy Foundation™ Play Fund distributed $405,000 to 23 children’s hospitals to support a variety of play-focused projects that will benefit more than 245,000 children in need.

Toy Fair® exhibitors are encouraged to sign up for the upcoming Exhibitor Academy session, “Your Toy Fair Online Profile,” taking place Tuesday, September 30 at 2 p.m. (Eastern).

The toy community raised nearly half a million dollars to benefit children in need at The Toy Foundation’s Golf & Give FUNdraiser September 9. Held during The Toy Association’s LA Fall Preview Market Weeks, the event welcomed toy professionals for an evening of networking, friendly competition, and giving back at Topgolf in El Segundo.

Have a game-changing idea or the next big thing in play? Toy inventors and designers are now invited to apply for a chance to pitch their ideas to top toy and youth entertainment professionals and manufacturing partners at Toy Fair® this February. The Creative Factor Inventor Day program is now accepting submissions through Friday, October 31.

An upcoming Toy Association webinar will explore how to unlock a customer review strategy to drive sales, strengthen retail partnerships, and maximize marketing ROI.

Tee up with industry friends for an evening of friendly competition, casual networking, and giving back at The Toy Foundation’s Golf & Give FUNdraiser, taking place Tuesday, September 9 at Topgolf El Segundo during The Toy Association’s LA Fall Preview® Market Weeks.

Toy Fair® 2026 exhibitors are encouraged to sign up for the upcoming Toy Fair Exhibitor Academy session, “Visual Merchandising Initiative & Reimagination Awards,” taking place Thursday, August 28 at 2 p.m. (Eastern).

Industry thought leaders have until this Friday, August 22 to submit presentation applications for Toy Fair® University, taking place throughout Toy Fair from February 14 to 17, 2026 at the Javits Center in New York City.

The Toy Foundation’s Golf & Give FUNdraiser at Topgolf El Segundo is just around the corner, taking place Tuesday, September 9 during The Toy Association’s LA Fall Preview® Market Weeks.

Potential exhibitors can apply to secure booth space, private meeting suite space, and lock in promotional opportunities for the show, taking place February 14 to 17 at the Javits Center in New York City.

The Toy Foundation™ (TTF) is accepting product donations to the Toy Chest for the 2025 back-to-school season.

The deadline is approaching for the toy community to submit their nominations for the 2026 Toy Industry Hall of Fame, the highest honor bestowed upon individuals in the industry. Nominations may be submitted online through Friday, August 8.

The Toy Foundation’s Golf & Give FUNdraiser, taking place Tuesday, September 9 at Topgolf El Segundo during The Toy Association’s LA Fall Preview® Market Weeks, will raise critical funds to bring comfort, play, and healing to children impacted by crisis.

Nominations are officially open for the 26th Toy of the Year® (TOTY®) Awards, taking place February 13, 2026 at Pier Sixty in New York City. Toy companies, inventors, and other industry representatives are invited to submit their top products and entertainment brands by August 27, 2025 for consideration across 16 categories.

Toy professionals are encouraged to take advantage of the ongoing rollout of Toy Fair® University educational sessions this summer. The sessions, recorded at Toy Fair 2025, are being released online through August on ToyFairNY.com. The virtual learning sessions offer a convenient and flexible way to explore topics shaping the toy industry.

The Toy Association™ is reminding thought leaders from across the global toy and play community to apply to present at Toy Fair® University, taking place throughout Toy Fair from February 14 to 17, 2026 at the Javits Center in New York City. Experts are invited to submit their application for a chance to share their research, case studies, innovative ideas, and best practices with a highly engaged, global audience.

The toy community is invited to submit nominees for induction into the 2026 Toy Industry Hall of Fame.

As the countdown to Toy Fair® begins, The Toy Association™ has announced that general exhibitor applications are now open for the iconic event, taking place February 14 to 17, 2026 at the Javits Center in New York City. Potential exhibitors can apply for booth space or private meeting suite space.

The Toy Foundation™ invites toy professionals to swing into LA fall previews with a night of networking, friendly competition, and giving back at its Golf & Give FUNdraiser, taking place Tuesday, September 9 at 6 p.m. at Topgolf El Segundo.

Toy Fair® 2026 exhibitors are encouraged to mark their calendars for several upcoming Exhibitor Academy sessions, which will provide valuable insights and practical tips for a successful show.

Toy companies and play professionals interested in participating in the next Toy Fair®, taking place February 14 to 17, 2026 at the Javits Center in New York City, are encouraged to take note of the important announcements and reminders outlined as follows.

With applications now open for Toy Fair® University speaker presentations, Toy News Tuesday editors caught up with Jackie Retzer, director of event management at The Toy Association™, to pull back the curtain on what it takes to land a spot on the Toy Fair University stage.