A letter from Toy Association president Steve Pasierb has announced that both Toy Fair Dallas and Toy Fair New York have been postponed.

An extract from the president’s letter reads as follows:

“While the trajectory of this October’s Toy Fair Dallas has long been known to our exhibitors and the buying community given ongoing pandemic developments in Texas, the postponement of that show to 2021 now meets the news that The Toy Association has elected to also postpone Toy Fair New York 2021.

Due to the current state of the pandemic and restrictive guidelines in place both in Texas and in states where our guests originate, our partners at the Dallas Market Center (DMC), site of the annual Toy Fair Dallas, have told us that they are unable to meet the unique needs of our fall marketplace, with its preview showrooms and crowds moving from floor to floor. The Association remains committed to the next Toy Fair Dallas show at the DMC in October of 2021.

Also, by closely gauging exhibitor and retail buying community feedback together with the latest facts related to the pandemic and the state of business travel, The Toy Association has made the decision to postpone Toy Fair New York.  At the same time, we are developing with our members a Toy Fair offering in the spring of 2021 and of course the always anticipated Toy Fair in the expanded Javits Center in February 2022. The Toy of The Year awards (TOTY) and Hall of Fame induction will go virtual for 2021.

We know that our exhibitors rely upon these shows for the essential business, financial, and media value they provide. 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. Stay tuned for an official announcement of specific show dates for both spring 2021 and February 2022, coming later this September.

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.

All good wishes for your continued health, safety and prosperity.

Steve Pasierb”

The full statement can be read on the Toy Association website.