EVENT FOCUS: NEW YORK TOY FAIR
APPLE PLAY
Well over 650 companies are expected to fill the showfloor at the Jacob K Javits Center in New York from 14-17 February when Toy Fair once again takes over the city. PPS catches up with The Toy Association’s evp of global market events, Kimberly Carcone, to find out more on the show and how the preschool category is playing its part.
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ur team is energised and deeply focused. The run-up to Toy Fair always brings a special kind of energy - it feels a bit like our own FA Cup,” says Kimberly Carcone, executive vice president of global market events at The Toy Association, when PPS asks how the team behind New York Toy Fair is feeling as the countdown to the 2026 show continues. “Across product discovery, trend insight and education, the show continues to evolve in ways that reflect what businesses need most right now to succeed in a fast-changing landscape. That makes the work both exciting and purposeful for our team,” she adds. Toy Fair returns to the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York from 14-17 February, with over 650 exhibiting companies representing every major category of toys, games
Above: Toy Fair sits at the crossroads of global business, media and creativity, says The Toy Association’s Kimberly Carcone. Below left: Kimberly Carcone, evp of global market events.
and youth entertainment. This figure includes a healthy number of newcomers, as Kimberly explains: “We’re seeing a healthy mix of first-time exhibitors, from start-ups making their Toy Fair debut to international companies looking to expand into the US market. This presence will be centred around the show’s Launch Pad zone, dedicated specifically to help buyers, media, and other toy professionals easily connect with these newcomers. “This growing presence of first timers continues to bring fresh perspective and variety to the show floor, which is something buyers consistently tell us they value.” On the attendance side, interest
from the retail community is also growing. “More than 1,300 global buying organisations have already opted in, with registration spanning 59 countries and including 19 of the top 25 toy retailers - a clear signal of how important Toy Fair remains as a global meeting point,” says Kimberly. EARNING THROUGH LEARNING Popular initiatives such as Toy Fair University will return – with the 2026 programme delving into topics including AI, sustainability, Gen Alpha behaviours, fandoms and brand protection among others. Kimberly highlights two ‘can’t miss’ sessions – the Safety session, which has been expanded for this year and will respond directly to the complex regulatory landscape that companies are working through, plus the Toy Trends Briefing, an anchor of the day one schedule which provides strategic insight into the play patterns and themes which are expected to guide product development
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05/01/2026 14:51