Submit Your Nominations Now through May 31 CHICAGO, IL | April 14, 2026 — Nominations are now open for the prestigious Lifetime Achievement honor at the 2026 Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIE) Awards, hosted annually by People of Play™ (POP). Taking place on November 6, this year’s event marks the TAGIEs’ 19th year celebrating the outstanding innovators, designers, retailers, suppliers, PR professionals, and marketers who drive creativity and success across the global toy and game industry.   “The heart of this industry has always been its people — the creators who dare to imagine something new and bring it to life,” said Mary Couzin, senior vice president and founder/leader of People of Play at The Toy Association. “The TAGIE Awards celebrate that spirit of innovation and connection, and the Lifetime Achievement honor recognizes those whose contributions have paved the way for generations of inventors and innovators.”   Anyone in the industry may submit a nomination by May 31, 2026. There is no fee to nominate a candidate for consideration. Criteria for the Lifetime Achievement Award includes:   Long experience and record of accomplishment in the play industry. Innovative product or marketing introductions. Charitable efforts benefiting children and/or children’s causes. An unimpeachable record of integrity and respect in the industry.   The TAGIEs ceremony is one of several events that takes place during People of Play’s annual POP Week, taking place 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 along on social media using #tagies, #chitag, #chitag2026, & #peopleofplay. Photos from the 2025 TAGIE Awards are available here.   Past TAGIE Lifetime Achievement honorees include:   2008 - Jeffrey Breslow 2009 - Reuben Klamer 2010 - Eddy Goldfarb 2011 - Burt Meyer 2012 - Theo and Ora Coster 2013 - Howard Morrison 2014 - Michael Kohner and The Kohner Family 2015 - Richard Maddocks 2016 - Reyn Guyer 2017 - Adi Golad 2017 - Judy Blau 2018 - Paul Rago and David Small 2019 - Ivan Moscovich 2020 - Erno Rubik 2021 - Tom Kalinske, Michelle Litzky and the Pressman Family 2022 - Leslie Scott, Kantaro Tomiyama, and Alan Hassenfeld 2023 - Jill Barad and Rouben Terzian 2024 - Mary Danby and Dan Romanelli 2025 - Mike Moody & Phil Orbanes   About the TAGIE Awards chitag.com/2026-tagie-awardsFounded 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.   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Emily AuriemmaPeople of Play PR856-723-3055emilya@carvecomms.com

Celebrate Minnesota Game and Toy Community on Friday, July 10th Kicking off the AGPI 2026 Conference!   The Association for Games and Puzzles International (AGPI), Games by James, and People of Play invite you to attend a social celebration of Minnesota Board Games & Puzzles: Past and Present. People of Play is well know for their pub events around the world and is excited to host their first in the greater Minneapolis area. Everyone in the toy and game industry is welcome to attend! Register HERE!   This event kicks of the 2026 AGPI Annual Convention. A complete schedule can be found at www.gamesandpuzzles.org.   Who is invited? Board Game & Puzzle publishers, designers, industry folk, collectors and  enthusiasts When? Friday, July 10th  5:00 – 6:00 Social Hour  6:00 – 7:00 Buffet Dinner  7:00 – 8:00 Facilitated Discussion  8:00 - ?? Open gaming and puzzling and mingling Where? DoubleTree by Hilton Minneapolis Airport, 2020 American Boulevard East  Bloomington, Minnesota 55425 Cost $75 if attend Fri./Sat. and $100 if just Fri. Register HERE!   Sponsorship Opportunities $250 We are looking for companies to sponsor our event. Sponsorship includes your name/logo on all promotional materials, including website, program and marketing flyers. To become a sponsor, please contact Nadine Sehnert at games@nadinesehnert.com.   The Association for Games & Puzzles International (AGPI) Founded in 1985 by Bruce Whitehill, is the world’s foremost organization dedicated to the collection and preservation of games and puzzles.   As an international association, the AGPI is chartered to conduct research and explore the history of games and puzzles from ancient times to the present, and to disseminate information about games and puzzles to the broadest audience possible, including the general public, the media, libraries, museums, scholars, and others. Games and puzzles offer a remarkable view of our cultural past and future!   Games by James Games by James is a family-owned specialty retailer founded in 1979, offering board games, puzzles, and hobby products. The company operates eight stores across Minnesota and Wisconsin, including three combo locations with its sister brand, Air Traffic Toys. At Mall of America, the company operates Games by James, Air Traffic, and its dedicated jigsaw puzzle store, Puzzles by James. The business traces its roots to Glenn McKee, the brand’s first franchisee, who later consolidated ownership. Today, it is fully owned and operated by his son, Logan McKee, who acquired the business in 2019.   People of Play\CHITAG  People of Play (POP), a division of The Toy Association, supports the global toy and game industry by fostering innovation, creativity, and connection. Founded by Mary Couzin in 2003 as the Chicago Toy & Game Group and rebranded as POP in 2020, the organization has grown into a leading community and resource hub for industry professionals, inventors, and play enthusiasts of all ages. Through its dynamic platform and events—including the Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair, the Toy & Game International Excellence (TAGIE) Awards, the Young Inventor Challenge, the Toy & Game Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, and POP Pub networking events held worldwide since 2018—POP connects and celebrates the people and ideas shaping the future of play.

What could be more important to a child than imaginative play? Modern toys are feature rich, no doubt – but sometimes bells and whistles can take center stage over fundamental design. Does it need to charge to be played with? Does it really need an app? There will always be a need for companies with big ideas and a grounded philosophy of fostering analog, imaginative play. Jasey’s Toy Chest brings the joy of classic, imaginative play back to households with thoughtfully designed wooden toys that are developmentally rich and joyful, while centering on educational play and fun.

  All 4 Fun Toys has partnered with bestselling children’s author Diane Alber, creator of the beloved A Little SPOT series, to launch new toys designed to help children explore emotions through play.   The products debuted in January at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair, the largest toy fair in the world, and are now available globally through online retailers including Amazon.   Inspired by Alber’s popular books, over 5MM books sold, the new toys bring the A Little SPOT characters into hands-on play experiences that support social-emotional learning (SEL). The products encourage children to identify, express, and understand emotions through creative activities and interactive play. Diane Alber’s A Little SPOT series is widely used by parents, educators, and counselors to help children visualize emotions as colorful “spots,” making them easier to understand and manage.   “I’m really excited to partner with All 4 Fun Toys to bring A Little SPOT to life in a whole new way. They truly care about supporting inventors and creating meaningful products, and that makes them the perfect partner to help kids learn about emotions through fun, hands-on play.” — Diane Alber, Author and Creator of A Little SPOT   “Launching these products at the Nuremberg Toy Fair — the largest toy fair in the world — was an incredible milestone for All 4 Fun Toys,” said Rich Mazel Chief Creative Officer at All 4 Fun Toys. “Now that they’re available to fans of the series and those new to A Little SPOT we’re excited to see kids everywhere learning about emotions through tactile play with Diane’s amazing characters.”     The expansion of this brand was facilitated through a strategic partnership led by Kayppin Media, with Karen Kilpatrick and Shane Mang driving the collaboration. Their expertise in property extension was instrumental in aligning the brand’s vision with the right partners to bring these new products to life.   '"All 4 Fun Toys has been an incredible partner to work with through this process," says Karen Kilpatrick, founder of Kayppin Media. "Their commitment to quality and their understanding of our mission ensures that these new products will have a truly meaningful impact on kids as they grow and navigate their emotions."   About All 4 Fun Toys All 4 Fun Toys was created to help inventors bring innovative ideas directly to consumers. The company provides a platform where inventors can dream big while letting consumers determine what products succeed in the marketplace.   The company is supported by a leadership team with decades of experience in the toy and e-commerce industries.   Rich Mazel, Chief Innovation Officer, has nearly two decades of experience working with inventors and global toy brands including Nerf, Paw Patrol, Star Wars and Transformers.   Jeff Wilcox, General Manager, specializes in scaling brands through e-commerce and has nearly 20 years of experience in product development and Amazon marketplace growth.   About Diane Alber   Diane Alber is the bestselling author and illustrator of the A Little SPOT series, a collection of children’s books designed to help young readers understand and manage their emotions through colorful characters and engaging storytelling.   Available for purchase: Diane's Website and Amazon     Follow Diane on Social Media!      TikTok (@dianealber): Alber has a strong presence on TikTok with over 124,000 followers and more than 510,000 total likes on her videos. Her content is a dynamic mix of announcements for new books, creative art ideas for children, and participation in viral trends, often incorporating her signature "scribble" art style. Individual videos frequently garner thousands of views, with some reaching viral status, indicating a high level of engagement and a broad reach on the platform.   Instagram (@imnotjustascribble): With over 41,000 followers, Alber's Instagram serves as a visual hub for her work. The platform showcases illustrations from her books, announcements of new releases, and personal posts that connect with her audience on a more intimate level. The engagement on her posts, including likes and comments, reflects a dedicated community of fans who actively follow her creative journey.   Facebook (@imnotjustascribble): Alber maintains an official Facebook page with the handle "imnotjustascribble," which serves as a central point for updates, event information, and sharing of user-generated content related to her books. This platform allows for direct and sustained interaction with a large community of followers.   YouTube (@ALittleSpot): Alber's YouTube channel, "A Little Spot," boasts an impressive 139,000 subscribers. The channel is a key destination for animated read-alouds of her books, songs, and other creative content that brings her characters and stories to life. Many of her videos have view counts in the hundreds of thousands, with some exceeding one million views, demonstrating the platform's significant role in her content strategy and its wide-reaching impact on her audience.