Toy Fair NY
Feb. 16, 2026
Sarai Bustamante, a mechanical engineering student, recently visited the the Toy Fair in the Javits Center in Manhattan, New York. The fair included more than 720 exhibiting companies and more than 170 new, first-time and returning companies, showcasing thousands of products from 80 countries. "In the last two days I learned that entering the toy industry requires strong networking and persistence," said Bustamante. "From an engineering perspective, I observed that companies value hands-on problem solvers who can prototype, iterate and design for manufacturability. Many products emphasized mechanical simplicity and user interaction that help I learning and experimentation, which aligns with current STEM trends. I also noticed the growing 'kidult' market, showing that engineering design must balance durability, aesthetics and long-term engagement. So overall, the toy industry is looking for engineers who can build, test, and solve real problems."
Submitted by Sumita Amrik
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