It’s déjà vu for the toy industry as Toy Fair Dallas 2021 has been canceled.

The Toy Association made the decision to pull the plug on this year’s show, originally slated to take place October 5-7 due to concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 delta variant. While this year was the last show contracted for the Dallas Market Center, the Toy Association says that it anticipates new dates will be secured for next year.

“While our exhibitors and hundreds of retail buyers were looking forward to coming back together in person this fall, the health and safety of the greater toy community remain The Toy Association’s number one priority,” says Steve Pasierb, president & CEO of The Toy Association. “In the interim, we remain committed to the ‘possible’ and continue to focus our efforts on providing retail buyers and toymakers with effective ways to connect and do business.”

Due to last year’s cancellation, The Toy Industry pivoted to offering its expanded Toy Fair Everywhere 24/7 digital marketplace and an exclusive series of retailer virtual product preview events connecting toymakers with top-tier buyers.

Related: The Cost of Shipping Fun: Toymakers React to the Global Shipping Crisis

While the industry will not be gathering in Dallas this fall, plans for Toy Fair New York 2022 continue.

The epic event is being plotted to take place Saturday, Saturday, February 19 through Tuesday, February 22 in the newly expanded Javits Center.

As always, the show will be kicked off with the annual Toy of The Year Awards gala held on Friday evening, February 18, at the Marriott Marquis.

According to the Association, health and safety protocols will be in place for all events, including proof that all in-person attendees are vaccinated against COVID-19. Any additional directives from New York City will be observed.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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