Toy Fair has once again been canceled due to the continuing Coronavirus pandemic.
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Toy Fair is an annual event held in February where toy manufacturers gather to show off their upcoming products for the year. The event is closed to the public and is specifically for buyers and the press to attend. 2021 marked the first time in over 100 years that the event had been canceled, and the trend will continue in 2022 it seems.
Up until Jan. 5, the Toy Association had guaranteed the show would go on, but rumors started to circulate that there might be issues. Issues began to surface on Jan. 6 when companies such as MGA – makers of L.O.L. Surprise – began dropping out of the show.
On Jan. 11, the Toy Association finally announced the show would not go on. “Key to our efforts these past two weeks has been the balance of some 700 remaining committed toy manufacturers saying they need and want Toy Fair 2022 to build their businesses, weighing that against those departing and seriously on the fence, and needing to provide a sufficient quantity and quality across the retail buying community necessary to deliver a positive experience,” said Steve Pasierb, President & CEO of The Toy Association. “As that balance has shifted, we are obligated to make the best decision in everyone’s interest no matter how heartbreaking for so many and potentially damaging some business’ future prospects. The wide range of other events that occur across New York City during Toy Fair week are now also impacted.”
Toy companies will need to pivot to virtual meetings in the coming weeks and months to show off their latest releases. The Nerdy has already begun reaching out to companies to bring you those announcements as they are made. You can check out our coverage from Toy Fair 2019 and Toy Fair 2020 for a sense of what the show is like.
