Toy Fair 2023 to Host First-Ever Exhibit Design Awards

November 17, 2022 | As retailers, media, and other play professionals walk the aisles at Toy Fair 2023 to discover the latest toys and games, another group will be attending the show: judges for the Exhibit Reimagination Design Awards.

Toy Fair will feature the inaugural exhibit awards next fall at the show, taking place September 30 to October 3. To provide engagement requested by the buying community and to leverage media attending, a new visual merchandising initiative will require exhibitors to make product visible in at least 20% of their aisle-facing exhibit space. The Reimagination Awards will reward these companies for incorporating this concept into their booth design in a creative and inviting way.

“The Reimagination Awards are built around recognizing the exhibitors that have embraced the new Toy Fair experience through their booth space,” said Kimberly Carcone, executive vice president of global market events at The Toy Association. "This will provide a more welcoming experience for attendees, and we can't wait to see what exhibitors have in store for 2023!"

Exhibit booths will be judged by a panel of media, trade show experts, and toy professionals who will walk the show floor as attendees on Saturday, September 30. They will evaluate exhibit booths based on creativity, effectiveness, presentation, and overall structure. The judges will award five companies — based on booth size — in each of the four categories:

• Connection Award: An exhibit space whose entire atmosphere is united in design with the core product(s).
• Out-of-the-Box Award: A creative, imaginative exhibit space that is innovative and outside the limits of conventional thinking.
• Powerfully Playful Award: An exhibit space that conveys fun and liveliness to the attendee with interactive elements.
• Warm Welcome Award: A visually hospitable exhibit that invites the attendee in.

Winners will be announced at the show on Sunday, October 1, 2023 and presented with special booth signage for display during Toy Fair and in their post-show marketing. Winners will also receive recognition on-site in the Press Center, on the Toy Fair mobile app, in Toy Fair LinkedIn posts, a spotlight article in the Toy News Tuesday newsletter, and recognition on the Toy Fair website for one year.

Toy Fair will take place September 30 to October 3 in New York City. Attendee registration will open spring 2023. Visit ToyFairNY.com to learn more.