Toy Fair New York 2021 is postponed

An open letter from Steve Pasierb, president and ceo of The Toy Association, has confirmed that Toy Fair New York 2021 has been postponed.

The news follows the postponement of Toy Fair Dallas due to the COVID-19 pandemic – which had been due to take place from October 6-8 at the Dallas Market Center. The next Toy Fair Dallas will take place in October 2021.

In his letter, Steve stated that The Toy Association will be developing with its members a Toy Fair offering for spring 2021, while the Toy of the Year Awards and Hall of Fame induction will go virtual.

Specific dates for both spring 2021 and Toy Fair New York 2022 will be confirmed later in September.

“We know that our exhibitors rely upon these shows for the essential business, financial, and media value they provide,” commented Steve. “And simply that the toy community looks forward to Toy Fair NY each year – and this year it would have been especially meaningful for us all to come together in February and resume business as usual. But protecting our members’, exhibitors’ and attendees’ investments, health, and safety must come first.

“It is not news to say that uncertainty surrounds each of us as individuals – whether as parents, as business owners, as employees, and so on. But one thing we can say with absolute certainty is that Toy Fair New York will still happen. The market opportunity will be there.”

Since the onset of the pandemic, The Toy Association has been working hard to find new ways to serve its members and the toy community. For example:

• It has built Toy Fair Everywhere into a series of successful virtual market weeks in over 60 countries.
• It will host a special preview day in October to connect toymakers with Target buyers. Similar preview opportunities with key retailers may be in the future.
• It is addressing critical issues to the business of toys, barriers to trade and unnecessary restrictions in India, China, across Southeast Asia and in South America.
• It continues to push back on a range of new restrictions and threats to the toy community in over a dozen states around the US.

“We are beyond anxious to reconvene at trade shows in 2021 once it is safe to do so,” Steve continued. “We have no doubt that as we continue to evolve The Toy Association’s marketplace offerings and material sources of member value – whether virtual or in person – the entire toy and play community will find value in coming together and pushing forward, with the ultimate goal of bringing their creative toys to children everywhere.

“Our team brings their passion to work every day to help your businesses prosper. We are looking forward to sharing with you the roll out of new activities and resources in the weeks and months ahead as you plan for a successful 2021. Every day that we each keep pushing, positive and focused on what can be, is one day farther from the start of this pandemic and one day closer to the end.”