Toy Fair® 2025: Shaping the Future of the Toy Industry
Toy Fair® 2025, set for March 1-4 in New York City, is more than just a premier networking and business event for the global toy industry. It also serves as a key example of how The Toy Association, producer of Toy Fair, is creating vital gateways for nurturing the next generation of toy professionals through dynamic programming.
Cultivating the Next Generation of Toy Professionals
On day two of the show, Toy Fair’s Student Congress program will welcome hundreds of university-level students eager to break into the industry. These future designers, brand managers, and licensing specialists will engage in networking sessions, receive expert career guidance, and tour exhibitor booths during an exclusive “Open House.” This initiative provides companies with a chance to connect with emerging talent and shape the industry’s next generation of leaders.
“Many of us entered the toy industry by chance, but Student Congress is changing that by creating a direct pipeline for young professionals,” said Kimberly Carcone, executive vice president of global market events at The Toy Association™. “Toy Fair continues to be an incubator for fresh talent, ensuring the industry’s creative future.”
For both emerging brands and established players hoping to break into the $42 billion U.S. toy market, Toy Fair provides a launchpad for innovation and opportunity. This year, 234 first-time exhibitors (out of 800+ total exhibitors) will showcase their products, many of them featured in the show’s dedicated “Launch Pad” zone. This space, which has been expanded as a result of growing interest, offers attendees the chance to discover never-before-seen toys and new products poised to shape the future of play.
Where Creativity and Licensing Opportunities Converge
Toy Fair’s Creative Factor program, returning on the final day of the show, is a must-attend for inventors and designers looking to bring their ideas to life through strategic deals with manufacturers. The initiative offers invaluable opportunities for creators to pitch directly to toy industry executives and potential partners. Last Toy Fair, Travis Schattle secured a licensing deal with Crayola for his Spiral Tops invention after participating in Creative Factor.
“Creative Factor was an unbelievable opportunity for me to showcase my toy, introduce myself to manufacturers, and have in-depth conversations about my product and lay the path forward toward a licensing deal.”
Exclusive Showcases of Creativity
Industry professionals can explore dedicated product showcases that provide insights into market trends and consumer demand. Collaboration with industry partners continue to further enhance the event experience. A joint lounge will showcase toy design programs from the Fashion Institute of Technology and OTIS College of Art and Design, while gallery exhibits will honor Toy Industry Hall of Fame inductees and highlight the 2024 Toy Hall of Fame winners in partnership with the Strong Museum of Play. Product showcases such as Freshman Connect (featuring first-time exhibitors), Hot for Holiday (highlighting 2025 holiday must-haves), and the 2025 Toy of the Year Award Winners Showcase will offer attendees a curated look at trending, original, and award-winning products respectively.
Beyond Toy Fair
The momentum for nurturing future talent and helping brands expand continues year-round for The Toy Association. The Toy Association’s “New Toy Building” in El Segundo offers a premier, year-round showroom solution in the heart of LA’s toy district, providing a vital space for manufacturers to conduct preview meetings and secure partnerships. Likewise, People of Play’s Chicago Toy & Game Fair, Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, and Young Inventor Challenge® serve as dynamic platforms for discovering fresh ideas and connecting with the next generation of industry talent, now bolstered by The Toy Association’s additional resources.
These initiatives create ongoing opportunities for collaboration, ensuring that the creativity that defines the toy and entertainment ecosystem continues to thrive globally.
