The DreamToys committee wants to avoid the release of the new Microsoft XBox console, and extend the pre-Christmas shopping period. 

DreamToys, which is organised by the Toy Retailers Association and offers the most authoritative predictive list of what will be hottest products this Christmas, has been moved from November to the October half-term. The event will now take place on Wednesday 28th October.

The Toy Retailers Association’s DreamToys selection committee made the decision to avoid a clash with the release of the new Microsoft Xbox on 10th November. The earlier date will also help extend the Christmas shopping period ahead of possible Covid-19 lockdowns and limited delivery slots from couriers.

It was announced in August that the annual event, which usually takes place at St Mary’s Church in Marylebone, is this year transitioning to an online-only show. The embargoed long list and top 12 toys press releases will be sent to media platforms the day before DreamToys takes place. For 2020, more advertising will also be spent on targeting parents on social media.

As usual, all toys used for promotional purposes will be distributed to charities across the UK.