Countdown to Toy Fair®: Top 6 Tips for a Successful Show

February 24, 2025 | The wait is almost over! The 119th Toy Fair® will kick off this weekend, taking place March 1 to 4 at the Javits Center in New York City.

Toy Fair serves as a worldwide showcase of the future of play, and is the ultimate destination to create connections, meet with strategic partners, and build business. The show will welcome more than 840 exhibitors of all sizes and 22 of the top 25 toy retailers in the nation, in addition to thousands of buyers from key markets across the globe. Play professionals from nearly 100 countries and hundreds of members of the press will walk the equivalent of eight football fields filled with top products to discover what’s trending.

Whether you’re going to be at Toy Fair as an exhibitor or an attendee, here’s what you need to know to maximize your experience:

1) Be Registration Ready
Have your registration confirmation barcode handy to scan at the North Concourse of the Javits Center and gain easy access to the show floor. Be sure to grab your badge in time to join the industry for Toy Fair’s Opening Ceremony, which kicks off on Saturday, March 1 at 8:30 a.m. with a parade of costumed characters followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. sharp in the Crystal Palace Lobby. Note: There is no registration on site; it must be completed online ahead of time.

2) Download the Toy Fair App
The Toy Fair app, powered by Connetix, is like having a personal event guide in the palm of your hand. Download the app on both the App Store and Google Play Store to navigate the show floor, see what events are going on, view exclusive show specials from exhibitors, and more.

3) Get Noticed
With hundreds of media outlets, including The New York Times, CNN, CNET, GMA3/ABC News, Forbes, Parents, and more, registered to cover Toy Fair, exhibitors are encouraged to leverage the Toy Fair ‘25 Online Press Room for exposure before, during, and after the event. Each exhibitor receives two complimentary collateral slots in the press room, regardless of their listing level, to enhance their profile with press releases, catalogs, brochures, and more. To get started, simply log in to the Exhibitor Resource Center, navigate to "Complete Your Profile," and click the blue "Collateral" heading to upload your materials.

4) Set up Appointments
The Toy Fair app also provides the convenience of scheduling appointments, allowing attendees to book meetings with who they want to see most. All registered participants can also build their schedules with Toy Fair University programming.

5) Plan Your Social Schedule
The fun is not limited to the show floor. Whether it’s a team dinner or networking event, make the most out of being in New York City! Don’t know where to start? Check out this After-Hours event schedule that features mixers, cocktail receptions, and more for attendees to expand their professional circles.

6) Share the Fun!
Did you cross paths with a costumed character, run into a colleague for the first time in months, or see the coolest product ever? Share your excitement on social media! Make sure to tag your posts with #ToyFairLife, the event’s official hashtag.

Toy Fair® will take place March 1 to 4, 2025 at the Javits Center in New York City. Attendee registration and hotel bookings are open. Visit ToyFairNY.com to learn more and follow #ToyFairLife for the latest show updates.