In June, the ATA hosted our Sydney Mid-Year event at a brand-new venue, and we were thrilled to receive overwhelmingly positive feedback from both exhibitors and attendees. Held for the first time at Commbank Stadium, the sold-out event showcased hundreds of products to nearly 300 guests, including local, interstate, and international visitors.
The opening night featured a relaxed networking function, open to all industry colleagues, which was widely praised. Guests enjoyed great food and drinks in a comfortable setting, creating the perfect environment to connect and exchange ideas.
This year, the 51st annual meeting of the International Council of Toy Industries was also held in June. The two-and-a-half-day conference brings together Toy Associations from around the world to share updates, discuss challenges, and explore collaborative opportunities. Tariffs remained a key issue on the agenda—while there’s limited good news for now, the ongoing advocacy from The Toy Association (US) continues to be deeply valued across the global toy community.
Additional discussions focused on ICTI subcommittee initiatives such as the value of play and combatting counterfeits. A global insights presentation from Circana was also delivered and is available to ATA members by request at admin@austoy.com.au.
With the Mid-Year Fair now wrapped up, the ATA’s attention shifts to the next key events on the calendar: our Hottest Toys for Christmas media showcase, the Association’s Annual General Meeting, and preparations for the 2026 Toy Fair in Melbourne.
Preferential offers for the 2026 Toy Fair have now been sent to 2025 exhibitors, and we’ve already had an excellent response. Many exhibitors have chosen to retain their existing spaces, while others are shifting to new locations within the show.
For those planning to travel from interstate or overseas, we strongly recommend booking flights and accommodation early. The 2026 Toy Fair will be held from 1–4 March, and with major events such as the Melbourne Grand Prix taking place shortly after our event, prices are likely to rise and availability could be limited.
Our Hottest Toys for Christmas event is currently scheduled for October 7, with product submissions opening soon. The Annual General Meeting will follow on November 19, and more details will be shared with members in the coming weeks.
We sincerely appreciate the continued support and engagement from our members and the broader industry. We look forward to connecting with many of you at the upcoming events as we work together toward another successful and dynamic year.
If you’d like to discuss anything mentioned above or simply catch up, I’d be more than happy to hear from you—feel free to reach out at asanderson@austoy.com.au
This article originally appeared in Edition 17 of The Toy Universe Magazine
