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The Toy Foundation announced 122 finalists for the 2027 Toy of the Year Awards at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair. The awards cover 17 categories, with winners to be announced at a February 19 gala in New York City; voting is open for the People’s Choice Award.
The Toy Foundation has named 122 finalists for the 2027 Toy of the Year Awards, selecting products across 17 categories in an announcement made Saturday at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair in Rosemont, Illinois. The winners are scheduled to be announced at a February 19 gala in New York City, ahead of Toy Fair 2027.
The finalist list spans toys and games from major manufacturers and smaller brands, covering categories such as action figures, collectibles, construction toys, dolls, educational products, games, infant and toddler toys, outdoor toys, plush, and technology. Companies represented include Mattel, Hasbro, Spin Master, The LEGO Group, Just Play, Moose Toys, MGA Entertainment and Thames & Kosmos.
Among the listed finalists are Mattel’s Disney and Pixar Toy Story 5 Ultimate Action Figures in Action Figure of the Year; The LEGO Group’s One Piece The Going Merry Pirate Ship in Construction Toy of the Year; and CATAN — On the Road by Asmodee in Game of the Year. Other category finalists include Toniebox Lite in Infant/Toddler Toy of the Year and Bluey in License of the Year.
The Foundation says the awards gala will take place on February 19 in New York City and is open exclusively to toy industry professionals. The event will also include inductions into the Toy Industry Hall of Fame. Public voting is available for the People’s Choice Award through the awards website, toyawards.org.
A Broad Snapshot of Toy Releases
The finalists offer a snapshot of products competing for attention across the toy business, from licensed entertainment brands and collectible items to building sets, learning products, and games. The 17-category format gives the awards a wide reach across different kinds of play and intended audiences, rather than limiting recognition to one overall product category.
The announcement also sets up the next phase of the awards: the selection of winners and the People’s Choice result. The Foundation says the awards raise funds to bring play to children who need it. The source material does not specify how much money the event is expected to raise or how the funds will be distributed, so the charitable impact cannot yet be quantified.
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From Finalists to February Awards
The finalists were announced at the Chicago Toy & Game Fair, also known as CHITAG, in Rosemont, Illinois. The 2027 awards gala is scheduled to precede Toy Fair 2027, which the source says will run from February 20 to 23 in New York City. The gala therefore serves as both an awards event and the opening event for the industry trade fair.
The awards program has 17 categories, including Action Figure, Collectible, Construction Toy, Creative Toy, Doll, Educational Toy, Game, Infant/Toddler Toy, Kidult Toy, License, Outdoor Toy, Playset, Plush, Preschool, Specialty, Tech Toy, and Vehicle. The source report provides a long finalist list, but the supplied material ends partway through the Playset category, so it does not establish every nominee in that category or provide the full list for all remaining categories.
““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
Finalist List and Voting Details
The source material does not identify the individual winners, explain how category winners are selected, or give a deadline for People’s Choice voting. Those details remain unconfirmed in the material provided. It also does not state the number of products in each category or provide a complete finalist list for every category; the supplied list cuts off during the Playset category.
The awards gala is scheduled for February 19, but the source does not say whether the date or event arrangements could change. No final results have been announced.
Voting and the February 19 Gala
Readers can visit toyawards.org to review finalists and vote for the People’s Choice Award, according to the source report. The next major milestone is the awards gala on February 19, 2027, in New York City, where winners are expected to be announced and Toy Industry Hall of Fame inductees recognized.
Toy Fair 2027 is scheduled to follow from February 20 to 23. The Foundation or awards organizers may publish further information about voting deadlines, judging, and the full finalist roster before the gala; the source material does not provide those details.
Key Questions
How many finalists were named for the 2027 Toy of the Year Awards?
The Toy Foundation announced 122 finalists across 17 award categories.
When and where will the 2027 winners be announced?
The winners are scheduled to be announced at a gala on February 19, 2027, in New York City. The event is open exclusively to toy industry professionals, according to the source report.
Can the public vote in the awards?
The source says the public can vote for the People’s Choice Award at toyawards.org. It does not give a voting deadline.
Which kinds of toys are represented?
The awards cover 17 categories, including action figures, collectibles, construction toys, dolls, games, educational toys, infant and toddler toys, outdoor toys, and technology toys.
What remains unknown about the awards?
The supplied report does not name the winners, state the People’s Choice voting deadline, or explain the selection process for category winners. The finalist list included in the source material also cuts off during the Playset category.
Source: toybook.com
