The US Toy Association’s Jennifer Lynch shares her thoughts on the upcoming New York Toy Fair
In the blink of an eye, we will all be uniting at the largest toy show in the Western Hemisphere — Toy Fair 2025 (March 1 to 4). With it comes the can’t-miss opportunity for the international toy community to tap into the $41 billion US toy market as they explore aisles upon aisles of never-before-seen, innovative toys and games.
As the global toy event enters its 119th year, where hundreds of toy businesses of all sizes from across six continents are ready to showcase their lines to the tens of thousands of expected attendees, Toy Fair New York continues on its path of global importance while emphasising its growing role as a unifying force for all facets of the toy business.
The excitement will kick off the night before the show doors open at The Toy Foundation’s Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards, where the toy community will gather to celebrate the creativity and philanthropy of the industry. The event also serves as the premier fundraiser for the Foundation’s programs and showcases the industry’s commitment to supporting children in need.
“attendees won’t want to miss the annual Toy Trends Briefing, presented by The Toy Association’s trends team. This must-see event distils insights from hundreds of long-lead meetings with toy and kids’ entertainment companies, offering a unique lens into the forces shaping the industry”
When the ribbon is cut to open the show floor on Saturday, March 1, while buying and selling will remain at Toy Fair’s forefront, a mix of new and returning features underscore the collaborative environment of the show. Aside from the return of Toy Fair’s visual merchandising initiative, which requires 20 percent of open aisle-facing booth spaces to encourage more engagement, the show will include an expanded slate of programming, events, and collaborative spaces that encourage attendees to forge cross-industry partnerships, take in enriching education, and beyond.
For the first time, Toy Fair University’s 50+ educational seminars and panel discussions with industry experts will take place on the main show floor. The move will make it even easier for showgoers to take advantage of the business-building programming, which is designed to help professionals make more informed decisions on topics ranging from the future of toy sourcing, toy safety & regulations, social media marketing, and more.
Additionally, attendees won’t want to miss the annual Toy Trends Briefing, presented by The Toy Association’s trends team. This must-see event distils insights from hundreds of long-lead meetings with toy and kids’ entertainment companies, offering a unique lens into the forces shaping the industry. Beyond toys, the briefing explores the ripple effects of adjacent industries such as tech, gaming, social media, and other key sectors, providing a comprehensive view of the evolving marketplace. For example, last year’s prediction of anime as a trend to watch in the toy aisles is now being talked about on a much broader global scale. With exclusive new data from a US parent survey and an in-depth look at the trends set to define 2025, this session is your ultimate guide to staying ahead.
Enhanced collaboration with our industry partners will also create new meeting areas and showcases throughout the four-day event. A joint lounge will highlight the toy design programmes at the Fashion Institute of Technology and OTIS College of Art and Design. Gallery experiences will spotlight past and present Toy Industry Hall of Fame inductees and the products inducted into the 2024 Toy Hall of Fame (in partnership with the Strong Museum of Play). Additionally, product showcases like the Freshman Connect (highlighting newbies to the show), Hot for Holiday (featuring must-haves for holiday 2025), and the 2025 TOTY Winners Showcase invite attendees to shop trending, original, and award-winning products.
Attendees looking to make the most of their time in New York are encouraged to view the show’s floor plan and product zones via the free Toy Fair Mobile app – available on iTunes and Google Play, to create a game plan in advance of their visit. The pocket-sized companion will help showgoers easily navigate the show floor, make and track meetings, and make plans for all the special events and activities happening during the show and after-hours.
No matter what your role is in the play community, Toy Fair promises to be an unforgettable experience for those who live and breathe toys and want to tap into opportunities in the North American toy market. We are looking forward to gathering the industry together for this unparalleled celebration.
Stay tuned for the latest event updates at ToyFairNY.com
