Nominations Now Open for 2026 Toy & Game Innovation Excellence Awards

CHICAGO, IL | June 1, 2026 - Nominations are now open for the 2026 Toy & Game Innovation Excellence (TAGIE®) Awards, presented by the People of Play™, a division of The Toy Association. Taking place on November 6, 2026 as part of POP Week, this year's event marks the TAGIEs' 19th year honoring the best and brightest innovators, designers, retailers, suppliers, PR professionals, and marketers who drive creativity and success across the global toy and game industry.

Anyone in the industry may submit a nomination by July 31, 2026. There is no fee to nominate a candidate for consideration. This year's categories include:

• Toy Innovator of the Year - Ages 0 - 13
• Toy Innovator of the Year - Ages 13+
• Game Innovator of the Year - Ages 0 - 13
• Game Innovator of the Year - Ages 13+
• Licensed Product Innovator of the Year
• Young Innovator of the Year
• Most Innovative Designer of the Year - Art & Visuals
• Most Innovative PR & Marketing Team of the Year
• Sales Innovator of the Year
• Toy Industry Game Changer
• Most Innovative Partner of the Year

"The TAGIE Awards are where the toy and game community comes together to celebrate the ideas that make people stop and say, 'I wish I had thought of that,'" said Mary Couzin, senior vice president and founder of People of Play at The Toy Association. "We can't wait to recognize the incredible talent and innovation driving play experiences around the world!"

Finalists will be announced in early September, at which time voting will open to the general public, media, and industry. The Game Changer and Lifetime Achievement Awards are selected exclusively by the TAGIE Awards Committee and the Lifetime Achievement Committee.

The TAGIEs ceremony is one of several events that takes place during People of Play's annual POP Week (November 5 to 8 in Rosemont, IL), including the Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, Young Inventor Challenge, and Chicago Toy & Game Fair.

Click here for more information about the TAGIE Awards and follow for updates on social media using #chitag, #chitag2026, & #peopleofplay. Photos from the 2025 TAGIE Awards are available here.

About the TAGIE Awards chitag.com/2026-tagie-awards
Founded in 2008, the Toy & Game International Excellence Awards (TAGIEs) celebrate the outstanding achievements of toy and game industry leaders from around the world, by honoring masters of innovation. The annual event also pays homage to industry professionals who differentiate themselves with their spirit for fun, philanthropy, inventor advocacy, creativity, and humanitarianism. Inventors, designers, manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, media, public relations and marketing professionals, and the general public come together for this prestigious annual gala event. The TAGIEs are hosted annually in the fall in conjunction with the Toy & Game Inventor Pitch and Innovation Conference, Chicago Toy & Game Fair, and the Young Inventor Challenge.

About People of Play™ peopleofplay.com
People of Play (POP), a division of The Toy Association™, leads the global toy and game industry in promoting innovation, creativity, and connectivity. A one-stop source of community for industry professionals, aspiring inventors, and people of all ages who love to play, People of Play hosts a play platform packed with resources, the largest toy and game directory in the industry, and a wide range of events, including the Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair, the Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIEs) Awards, the Young Inventor Challenge®, the Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, and more.

###