A Season of Thanks: Celebrating the Toy Community at Toy Fair

by Kimberly Carcone, executive vice president of global market events at The Toy Association

November 25, 2024 | In the spirit of Thanksgiving and as we approach the most wonderful time of the year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the strength and unity of the toy industry — a community built on creativity, collaboration, and a shared passion for bringing joy to children and families around the world. With Toy Fair 2025 fast approaching (taking place March 1 to 4 at the Javits Center in New York City), I am deeply grateful for the incredible unwavering support of our numerous exhibitors, sponsors, partners, and attendees — all of whom make this event, and all of our gatherings large and small, possible, and contribute to the industry’s continued success. I am also especially thankful to my colleagues, all of whom are dedicated, passionate, and bring the highest level of professionalism and joy to our work and this industry each and every day.

At Toy Fair, exhibiting companies build meaningful relationships with top-tier retailers, creating exciting opportunities to grow and expand their businesses. So far, 15 of the top 25 retailers are already committed to attending, including household names like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Five Below, Macy’s, Target, and Walmart, just to name a few. In addition to these prominent names, at the time of this writing, almost 1,200 individual retail outlets have pre-registered.

International interest continues to surge, with retailer registration so far representing 53 countries, with a current total of 70 countries represented by a full array of toy and entertainment professionals that comprise the breadth of the entire play ecosystem, emphasizing the global reach and importance of Toy Fair as a key event for toy buyers from all over the world. Currently, buyers from 48 U.S. states are also represented.

We also expect to welcome hundreds of members of the global media — after all, Toy Fair is a must-attend event for press outlets covering the hottest trends and the latest in toys, games, and entertainment. Excitement generated by new product launches resonates throughout the year, creating a steady buzz that builds momentum for spring and summer releases and carries through to the critical holiday shopping season.

The toy industry has gone through tremendous growth and evolution in recent years, and Toy Fair continues to be a vital part of that journey. It’s where new ideas meet decision makers, innovation is on display, partnerships are forged, buyers and media discover new product, and so much more — all setting the stage for the upcoming year. We’re grateful for your continued support I look forward to seeing you in March, where we will continue to celebrate the creativity and collaboration that makes the toy industry so special.

Thank you for being part of our Toy Fair community — we couldn’t do it without you!

Wishing you all a very happy and healthy Thanksgiving and a prosperous and joy-filled holiday season. See you in 2025!

Toy Fair® will take place March 1 to 4, 2025 at the Javits Center in New York City. Attendee registration will open in October. Attendee registration and hotel bookings are now open. Visit ToyFairNY.com to learn more.