Largest Toy Show in Western Hemisphere
Welcomed Play Professionals from Nearly 100 Countries
NEW
YORK, March 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Toy
Association's 119th Toy Fair® brought the global
play community to New York City's
Javits Center to place orders, build business connections, and
explore the latest trends and innovations in toys across the
equivalent of nearly eight football fields of exhibition space. The
global marketplace, which took place March 1
to 4, was alive with discovery — where retailers sought out
the hottest new products, media uncovered future bestsellers, and
exhibitors formed crucial partnerships that will be essential to
their business' future. The global event delivered an engaging
lineup of educational programming that empowered attendees with
insights into the future of play, while networking and business
opportunities reinforced the industry's collaborative spirit.
"From the moment we cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony, Toy
Fair ignited with an energy that carried through every aisle,
stage, and networking event," said Greg
Ahearn, president & CEO of The Toy Association™,
producer of Toy Fair. "It was a powerhouse show filled with
momentum as industry leaders, retailers, inventors, designers, and
more came together to participate in the most efficient and
valuable four days of the toy planning year. Deals were made,
creativity flourished, and new opportunities emerged, reinforcing
Toy Fair's role as a cornerstone event of the global toy industry.
This year's show proved once again that when we unite, the
possibilities are endless."
Toy Fair attracted thousands of buyers from mass, mid-sized, and
specialty retail outlets spanning all 50 states and 79 countries
and territories to preview 2025 holiday toy collections, and for
some, spring 2026 products (In all, nearly 100 countries were
represented by all categories of Toy Fair attendees). From Amazon
and Barnes & Noble, to Five Below, Macy's, Target, and Walmart,
21 of the top 25 toy sellers were in attendance as tens of
thousands of products were on display by nearly 850 exhibiting
companies, from billion-dollar global brands to nearly 250 emerging
toy companies exhibiting at Toy Fair for the very first time.
For first-time toy buyer Erin
Schmidt, category manager at Kroger Inc. (Fred Meyer), Toy Fair was an immersive
introduction to the world of toys, offering firsthand insight into
the industry's latest products, trends, and innovations: "I would
have to say, this show was amazing! It was incredibly educational
to me, being new to toys, to not only see the items that I carry
now, but also what is in the queue for fall. It was quite the
experience to walk into the Javits Center on Saturday to music, a
parade, and seeing characters throughout the day. [It was] truly an
energetic, fun, and exciting show and I was thrilled to be part of
it!"
Additional buyer feedback was positive with Kimberly
Coelho, senior manager at Cineplex Entertainment,
stating, "My experience at the show was uplifting and inspiring.
You could feel the energy, innovation, and passion in the room, and
I left feeling more excited about the future of toys. It was a
fantastic opportunity to network, discover new trends, and hear
inspiring speakers. I look forward to further building out the new
and reenergized connections."
Added Anna Greusel, divisional
merchandise director at SSA GROUP, which supports zoos, museums,
and other cultural attractions: "Attending Toy Fair 2025 was an
invaluable experience. It not only allowed me to explore the latest
trends and innovations in the toy industry, but also gave me the
opportunity to connect with our existing vendors, build new
relationships, and discover unique products that align perfectly
with the needs of my business."
Nearly 1,000 global print, digital, and broadcast journalists,
plus an array of top-tier social media influencers and digital
content creators, participated in Toy Fair to scoop the toy stories
of the year and report on The Toy Association's top toy trends of
2025. Media outlets at Toy Fair included The Wall Street
Journal, Fox Business, The Today Show, Good Morning America,
CBS Mornings, The New York
Times, BBC, Bloomberg, Reuters, Forbes, The Street,
Cheddar, ABC News, The Daily Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Tonight Show, Shark
Tank, and many more. Top-tier influencers included We Wear Cute,
Toy Testing Sisters, PCS Girls Official, Twindollicious, Play Live
Repeat, and more. Hundreds of social media posts have rolled in
from these major creators, totaling 10 million impressions at the
time of this writing.
Toy Fair exhibitors showcased an array of toys designed for kids
(and kids at heart), including "Newstalgic" toys with a modern
twist, personalized play experiences that reflect kids' "vibes,"
the hottest new collectibles, toys inspired by popular
entertainment, and everything in between. Toy Fair also served as a
hub for exchanging ideas on the most critical issues and topics
impacting the play industry, with the Toy Fair University stage
presenting sessions that delved into toy safety and compliance,
generative AI, toy trends, marketing in today's landscape, tools
for inventors, and much more.
Additional programming included Toy Fair Student Congress, which
connected almost 500 university-level students with toymakers at
the show, and Creative Factor Inventor Day, which closed out Toy
Fair by providing select up-and-coming inventors with the
opportunity to pitch their ideas to top toy professionals and
manufacturing partners. Attendees also had a chance to check out
the new dedicated Student Showcase Gallery, which displayed the
talents of toy design students from the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) and
Otis College of Art and Design, while
the spirit of innovation and celebrating the inventor community
continued at People of Play's (POP) 25th Anniversary Toy
Fair POP Pub Party.
"It was a really fantastic show for us," said Mark Carson, president & co-founder of Fat
Brain Toys. "There was a lot of great foot traffic, and [Toy Fair
is] really in the center of the toy universe when it comes to
specialty, mass, and everybody who wants to see what's new in the
industry."
"We have had a fantastic Toy Fair," said Ryan Hamilton, CEO of Plus-Plus USA. "This is our 15th year
exhibiting here in New York, and
it's been a very busy show every day. We've had our appointment
book full and lots of walk-by traffic as well, so we're really
happy with the show. We're glad it's back!"
Hundreds of toy professionals and companies also generously
donated nearly $1.3 million worth of
products and financial contributions to The Toy Foundation's Toy
Chest initiative, the philanthropic arm of The Toy Association,
which delivers the power of play to children when they need it
most. The donations will directly impact 35,000 children and
families and are currently being distributed to non-profit
organizations, schools, and children's hospitals nationwide.
Ahearn added: "We closed the show with an inspiring reminder of
our industry's generosity through The Toy Foundation's toy
collection. Toys do more than entertain — they are a critical
ingredient to a child's physical, mental, and emotional
development. Toys spark imagination, create lasting memories, and
bring people together across generations, especially for kids who
need the comfort of toys and play the most. Toy Fair is where the
magic of play begins, and the impact from this year's charitable
giving will have a positive impact on many families this year
through the holiday season."
The global toy industry will come together once again for
the 120th Toy Fair®, taking place February 14 to 17, 2026 at the Javits Center in
New York City.
Make sure to check out the Toy Fair Online Press
Room for Toy Fair stats, exhibitor press releases, high-res
images from the show floor, broadcast quality b-roll, and more.
Follow our post-show coverage on
Instagram and
LinkedIn (#toyfairlife).
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.
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SOURCE The Toy Association
