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People of Play announces POP Week will return to Chicago

People of Play has announced that POP Week will return to Chicago from November 5–8, 2026, bringing together the global play community for four days of innovation, inspiration, and celebration.
POP Week is a dynamic platform for inventors, designers, manufacturers, retailers, media, educators, families, and fans of play to connect, collaborate, and celebrate creativity across all ages. Building on the strong momentum of POP Week 2025, which generated more than 1.9 billion media impressions, POP Week 2026 will once again feature the following signature events:

  • Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference
    Connect, pitch, and, learn at the largest & longest running premier inventor event!
    November 5–7 | Embassy Suites 
     
  • TAGIE Awards
    Celebrate achievement in innovation within the inventor and design community at The Toy & Game Innovation Excellence Awards.
    November 6 | Joe’s Live
     
  • Chicago Toy & Game (CHITAG) Fair
    North America's largest toy & game fair open to the public with experiential and immersive events, interactive exhibits, and activities for all ages!
    November 7–8 | Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
     
  • Young Inventor Challenge (YIC)
    A unique, educational opportunity for children ages 6 to 18 to develop and pitch their original inventions to major toy and game companies, industry professionals, and the media. 
    November 7 | Donald E. Stephens Convention Center

As event organizers and the toy industry prepare for POP Week 2026, excitement is building across the consumer space for another unforgettable experience. National broadcast, digital, and trade media are once again expected in Chicago this November to amplify stories about the power of play and the people behind it. To get a glimpse of the heart, energy, and collaborative spirit of the event check out this POP Week video feature from Steve Rad, CEO of Abacus Brands.

“We are thrilled to officially share the dates for POP Week 2026 and welcome the play community back to Chicago,” said Mary Couzin, senior vice president and founder/leader of People of Play at The Toy Association. “Each year builds on the last, and 2026 will continue our mission to champion creativity, innovation, and the joy of play on a global stage.”

Additional details, registration information, and programming updates will be announced in the coming months.

Source: Press Release The Toy Association

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