Event tips for toy experts
December 2025
Donate toys for Operation Toy Train
November 1 – December 14, 2025 (across USA)
Operation Toy Train will once again be traveling across the United States during the upcoming holiday season. Each year, the trains collect more than 40,000 donated toys for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation and other civic organizations. At every stop, donations are accepted, and visitors have the opportunity to meet Santa Claus as well as representatives of the Marine Corps. The fundraising campaign exemplifies the spirit of social responsibility and encourages support for disadvantaged regions, ensuring that children there can also experience the joy of receiving gifts at Christmas.
Organizer: TOYX, Inc.
EBC 25 - The European Bioplastics Conference 2025
December 2-3, 2025 (Berlin, Germany or online)
The European Bioplastics Conference 2025 (EBC25) will take place on 2 and 3 December 2025 in Berlin as well as online. The event brings together industry leaders, innovators and policymakers to discuss the latest developments in the field of bio-based and biodegradable plastics. The focus will be on innovations, sustainable solutions and opportunities for the circular economy. The programme will be complemented by presentations on current trends, applications and processing technologies related to bioplastics.
Organizer: European Bioplastics e.V.
2025 Hall of Fame Induction & Global Rising Stars Awards
December 3, 2025 (New York, USA)
Licensing International has announced the Hall of Fame inductees for 2025. The Hall of Fame and Rising Star Awards honour the legacy, achievements and contributions of leading figures to the global brand licensing industry. This year’s honourees include Allison Ames (Beanstalk), Susan Brandt (Dr. Seuss Enterprises), Steven Ekstract (entertainmentxtracks), the Hallmark brand, music icon Dolly Parton, as well as director and actor Kevin Smith. The festive awards ceremony will take place on 3 December as part of a lunch event, which traditionally also hosts the Licensing International Foundation.
Organizer: Licensing International
Kultur in Schachteln - 40 Jahre Deutsches Spielearchiv
Until December 21, 2025 (Nürnberg, Germany)
The German Games Archive Nürnberg is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025. To mark the occasion, the archive is presenting the special exhibition “Kultur in Schachteln - 40 Jahre Deutsches Spielearchiv” until 21 December. Dr Bernward Thole, media scholar and games critic, founded the archive in Marburg in 1985. In 2010, the collection moved to Nürnberg with the support of Spielwarenmesse eG. Since then, the Games Archive has been part of the Museums of the City of Nürnberg. The exhibition showcases a selection of games collected over the past four decades and highlights the development of rule-based games: from their beginnings, through their economic and social significance, to their use as teaching tools and instruments of communication. Visitors can look forward to an exciting insight into the history and cultural significance of games in Germany and their global impact.
Organizer: Deutsches Spielearchiv Nürnberg