Toy Fair began in February 1903. The first event featured less than ten toy companies with Lionel trains among the featured products.[2] As the event expanded, more space was needed which led to toy companies occupying 200 Fifth Avenue, a former hotel site, in 1910. By 1925, it was renamed the International Toy Center.[3]
The 117th annual Toy Fair, held February 22–25, 2020 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, attracted tens of thousands of play innovators (manufacturers, distributors, importers, sales agents, inventors, entrepreneurs, licensors, retail buyers) to preview toys and games across 445,817 net square feet of exhibit space. Nearly 1,000 members of the press attended to report on the top toy trends. Overall, approximately 100 countries were represented at the show.[4]
The 2021 Toy Fair was cancelled to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the show planned to return in 2022, the event was cancelled due to COVID-19 for a second year in a row in January 2022, after multiple major exhibitors announced that they would not participate due to concerns over the Omicron variant. The Toy Association CEO Steve Pasierb stated that they were obligated to "make the best decision in everyone's interest no matter how heartbreaking for so many and potentially damaging some business’ future prospects."[5]