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-awards
Founded 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.

Contact: Emily Auriemma
People of Play PR
856-723-3055
emilya@carvecomms.com