The Toy Association is shaking things up in 2023. As Toy Fair returns to an in-person format, it’s swapping its longstanding winter timing for new dates in early fall to better align with current buying cycles.
The pivotal market that traditionally attracts more than 1,000 toy manufacturers will take place from September 30 to October 3 next year, taking up residence once again in Manhattan’s Javits Convention Center. The comeback follows two years of pandemic-related cancellations.
Toy Fair’s new dates should help Toy Association member companies deal with shifting production and buying cycles, said the nonprofit org’s president and CEO Steve Pasierb on a media call today, explaining that pandemic interruptions and supply chain issues have caused manufacturing timelines to move from November/December to summer.
During its two-year hiatus from live events, the Toy Association launched digital marketplace Toy Fair Everywhere, which has evolved into a year-round destination where toycos can display their products.