The Toy Fair is the only dedicated toy, game and hobby exhibition in the UK. In 2020 The Toy Fair welcomed more than 260 exhibiting companies – ranging from the large internationals to the new start-up companies, showcasing thousands of brand-new toys, games and hobbies to the UK’s largest gathering of toy industry professionals.
The Toy Fair provides visitors with a real overview and insight into a fun, innovative and exciting industry, as well as a great opportunity to touch, feel and experiment with the products of the future. The exhibition is a showcase, a networking opportunity and an ideal event to do great business in an exciting environment.
On the first night of the show, Toy Fair plays host to the annual Toy Industry Awards ceremony. Organised by the British Toy & Hobby Association and the Toy Retailers Association, the event celebrates the achievements from both manufacturers and retailers over the past year. The 2020 event saw the top prizes of Toy of the Year and Retailer of the Year, awarded to MGA Entertainment for their L.O.L. Surprise! 2-in-1 Glamper Fashion Camper and Smyths Toys, respectively.
Following the increasingly popular role of influencers in the marketing strategies for toy companies, in 2020 the show introduced its first Influencer Day. Toy influencers were invited to attend the show to build partnerships with exhibitors, and film coverage and toy demonstrations from the show in the Content Creation Zone, a new area dedicated to influencers.
We were disappointed that we were unable to have a Toy Fair in 2021 for the first time since the show started due to restrictions surrounding Covid-19, but we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone through the doors again in 2022!