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The Toy Foundation announced 122 finalists for the 2027 Toy of the Year Awards at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair in Rosemont, Illinois. Winners are scheduled to be announced at a February 19 gala in New York City, with public voting available for the People’s Choice Award.
The Toy Foundation has named 122 finalists across 17 categories for the 2027 Toy of the Year Awards, setting up a competition spanning toys, games, collectibles and other products from across the industry. The finalists were announced Saturday at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair in Rosemont, Illinois; winners are scheduled to be revealed at a February 19 gala in New York City.
The categories range from Action Figure of the Year and Game of the Year to Infant/Toddler Toy, Outdoor Toy, Tech Toy and Vehicle of the Year. The foundation’s announcement includes products from companies such as Mattel, Hasbro, Spin Master and The LEGO Group, alongside entries from smaller and specialist toy businesses.
Among the action-figure finalists are Mattel’s Disney and Pixar Toy Story 5 Ultimate Action Figures, Hasbro’s Power-Charge Spider-Man and Playmates Toys’ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x G.I. Joe Action Figures. The game category includes CATAN — On the Road by Asmodee, Rubik’s Rush by Spin Master and Sanibel by Hasbro. The full announced list also spans creative products, dolls, educational toys, construction sets and licensed brands.
The 2027 awards gala is scheduled for February 19 in New York City and is open exclusively to toy industry professionals, according to the source report. It is set to kick off Toy Fair 2027, which is scheduled to run February 20-23. The event will also include inductions into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame.
A broad snapshot of the toy market
The finalist list offers a view of the products and brands competing for industry recognition in the coming awards cycle. Its 17 categories cover different kinds of play, from infant and preschool products to collectibles and toys aimed at adult fans, giving retailers, manufacturers and consumers a way to track a wide range of releases.
The awards also connect the industry event with charitable work. The Toy Foundation says the awards raise funds to bring play to children who need it. Executive director Pamela Mastrota described the finalists as reflecting creativity across the industry and said the awards support that mission. The announcement does not specify how much money this year’s awards are expected to raise.
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From finalist announcement to awards night
The finalists were revealed at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair, a public-facing toy and game event held in Rosemont, Illinois. The next stated milestone is the New York gala, which coincides with the start of the trade-focused Toy Fair 2027. The source report says the awards ceremony is reserved for industry professionals, while voting for the People’s Choice Award is available through the awards website.
The categories include both individual products and licensed properties. For example, License of the Year finalists include Bluey, Pokémon, Spider-Man and Toy Story, while product categories recognize particular toys and games. These are distinct parts of the program: a brand’s nomination in the license category does not by itself identify a winner in a product category.
““Behind every great toy is the opportunity to spark joy, inspire imagination, and make a child’s day brighter.””
— Pamela Mastrota, executive director of The Toy Foundation
Voting details and winners remain open
The foundation’s announcement identifies the finalists and gives the scheduled gala date, but it does not name winners. The outcomes across the 17 categories will not be known until they are announced at the ceremony. The source also does not provide a voting deadline, vote totals, judging criteria or a breakdown of how finalists were selected.
The provided finalist list is incomplete at its end: it stops partway through the Playset of the Year entries, after beginning a listing for Little Tikes. The source report refers readers to the awards website for the full list. Details about the remaining entries, as well as the total funds the event may raise, are not established in the material provided.
Public voting and February gala
Readers can visit toyawards.org to explore the finalists and vote for the People’s Choice Award, according to the announcement. The source does not state when public voting closes, so voters should check the official awards site for current dates and rules.
The next major event is the February 19, 2027 gala in New York City, when the winners are scheduled to be announced and Toy Industry Hall of Fame inductees recognized. Toy Fair 2027 is then scheduled to run February 20-23. The awards results and any additional details on the ceremony remain pending.
Key Questions
How many finalists are in the 2027 Toy of the Year Awards?
The Toy Foundation announced 122 finalists across 17 categories.
When and where will the 2027 winners be announced?
The winners are scheduled to be announced at a gala in New York City on February 19, 2027. The source report says the event is open exclusively to toy industry professionals.
Can the public vote on the finalists?
Yes. The announcement directs readers to toyawards.org to vote for the People’s Choice Award. It does not state the voting deadline.
What kinds of toys are represented?
The categories include action figures, collectibles, construction toys, creative toys, dolls, games, infant and toddler toys, outdoor toys, plush, tech toys and more. The source names finalists from companies including Mattel, Hasbro, Spin Master and The LEGO Group.
Source: toybook.com
