Anniversary boost: Spielwarenmesse strengthens its global leadership
- The industry platform with international appeal
- A source of innovation and inspiration for the toy world
NUREMBERG, Germany, Feb. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The 75th Spielwarenmesse will remain a milestone for the industry: The wintriest edition in years, filled with anniversary celebrations and a special atmosphere. From 27 to 31 January in Nuremberg, 2,313 exhibitors from 68 countries presented a vast array of products – including the growing "Kidults" segment. Around 58,900 trade visitors (+2.5%) from 121 nations explored new trends, fresh formats, and networking opportunities with enthusiasm.
Despite ongoing geopolitical challenges, the industry mood was upbeat. 93% of exhibitors – 3% more than last year – rated their participation as successful. Mattel hosted several global launches, while the Simba Dickie Group praised the high quality of trade visitors. "No other fair matches the international significance of Spielwarenmesse," said Florian Sieber. Visitor numbers from the USA remained strong, with mainland China and Hong Kong posting major gains thanks to a non-overlapping Chinese New Year. Growth was also recorded from Mexico, Turkey, the UK, and France, while Germany maintained its elevated level from last year. The event's international spirit and festive mood were reflected in strong media coverage. "We were delighted by the tremendous media interest – lots of TV team, national press and content creators," said Roger Kettler of Carrera Revell Europe.
Groundbreaking impulses were provided by the two ToyTrends "AI Loves (to) Play" and "Creative Mindfulness". Through numerous product examples, they were brought to life at the Spielwarenmesse just as vividly as "Toys for Kidults". The hype surrounding adults who play has enabled iDventure to make its breakthrough – and to win one of the six coveted ToyAward prizes. "Winning has led to more positive stress for us and contributed to greater attention at our booth," says Christoph Kossendey with delight. Leonard Mieg from Tipp-Kick, one of the 14 original exhibitors, reports a higher frequency of specialist retailers from the DACH region. "Spielwarenmesse is a must-see for anyone in the toy business — a high-energy event with a diverse product selection," says Kathy Trivsonno from the US-American trade association Astra.
The Spielwarenmesse is also impressive proof of the success and relevance of the licensing business. "This is evident not only in the exhibition areas, but also in the License Lounge and our neighboring Licensing International booth, which have become the licensing industry's home base at the fair," emphasizes Petra Strobl from Licensing International Germany. Valuable toy know-how was once again shared in the Toy Business Forum. The Value of Play Conference celebrated a successful premiere here. "The event offered high-quality, well-curated content, and the practical examples and concrete market figures significantly enriched my trade fair conversations," says Polish publisher Dorota Mazurek. The Game Inventors Convention also met with great approval, with international games organizations represented for the first time. Mary Couzin from the Chicago Toy and Game Group was also present: "The atmosphere created a pull effect that benefited everyone – a great exchange for the game community."
In addition to content-driven impulses, the fair also set new standards in the increasing networking of participants. "Spielwarenmesse is the best networking opportunity for the entire toy industry," says Lucca Liv from Unique Baby in Denmark. The exclusive ToyNight united all exhibitors under the motto "Welcome to the Future," while the RedNight on Thursday created a lively atmosphere in the exhibition halls. René Bleckmann from Party Factory emphasizes: "The event is very, very important for us to get into conversation with customers and potential business partners and to celebrate with them." The illuminations of Kaiserburg and Frauentorturm underlined the festive mood in ToyCity Nuremberg, where some trade fair participants experienced snow for the first time.
The high level of exhibitor satisfaction is also reflected in the figures: 90% of companies plan to exhibit again in Nuremberg from 2 to 6 February 2027. "With this, Spielwarenmesse has once again confirmed its global leading position and underlined its role as the central meeting point for trade, industry and media, where inspiration, innovation and networking come together at the highest level," summarizes Christian Ulrich, Spokesperson of the Executive Board at Spielwarenmesse eG.
Spielwarenmesse®
The world's leading event for the sector – that's the Spielwarenmesse®. At this B2B event, key players as well as startups present their innovations and trends to retailers from all over the globe, live in Nuremberg. Alongside the extensive range of products, participants also gain a wealth of inspiration for day-to-day business together with valuable knowledge and useful guidance on the
market, at what is for them the most significant industry gathering. The event is complemented by year-round coverage of themes, analyses and insights from the multifunctional platform Spielwarenmesse Digital and the e-journal 'Spirit of Play'. Since 2013, the term Spielwarenmesse® has been a protected word mark in Germany.
Fair date: Spielwarenmesse®, Tuesday to Saturday, 2 – 6 Feb 2027
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