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North America's Largest Consumer Toy & Game Fair®

Kick off the Holidays on WishList Weekend Nov. 7th-8th, 2026
at the Rosemont Convention Center
Over 1.98 Billion Media Impressions in 2025.
Full Report HERE!
2025 Media Deck.jpg

*​Saturday, Nov. 7th - Opens 9-10am for scouts/trade/media/families with special needs, 10am for public, closes 6pm

Sunday, Nov. 8th - Opens 9-10am for scouts/trade/media/families with special needs, 10am for public, closes 5pm

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CHITAG® CONSUMERS CRAVE EXPERIENCES...
BACK TO CONSUMER EVENTS, EXPERIENCES, ACTIVATIONS & SAMPLING

"While the big budgets of the pre-pandemic toy industry have yet to return, consumer engagement has. Whether it’s attending public-facing shows like the Chicago Toy & Game Fair, fan events and conventions, or just low-cost sampling in key areas of dominant influence (ADIs), smart marketers know the importance of engaging with consumers. Demo your product. Get valuable feedback. And build your email database for future launches!" - Amy Friedland, EVP Carve Communications

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"At the Chicago Toy & Game Fair (CHITAG), the value of exhibiting doesn't end when the show closes—it continues to drive results long after, especially for content-driven brands. One standout example was ZipString, who shared that three of their top five best-performing Meta ads during the holiday season originated from interviews filmed at CHITAG 2024. One of those creatives proved so effective that it was scaled with more than $100,000 in ad spend—a powerful indicator of the content's long-term ROI.

That success was the primary reason ZipString returned in 2025, this time bringing two videographers to intentionally capture interviews, product reactions, and live interactions throughout the show. While on-site sales were strong, selling over 700 products, ZipString emphasized that the real win was content. Even with an eight-person team on site, they turned a profit, reinforcing CHITAG as a sales and marketing engine.

For exhibitors focused on storytelling, social reach, and high-performing ad creative, CHITAG continues to be an exceptional content asset—delivering authentic moments, influencer amplification, and marketing materials that perform long after the event ends.  -Austin Hillam and Stephen Fazio, Co-Founders, ZipString

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MEDIA and TRADE EXPOSURE & PROMOTIONAL BENEFITS

  • Trend-setting event establishing "what's hot for the holidays". 

  • Over 1.98 billion media impressions generated from our 2025 events

  • Past media coverage: Newsweek, Hallmark Channel, Today Show, Steve Harvey Show, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, WGN, Forbes, Huffington Post, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun Times, parenting magazines, global toy trade media and more!

  • Social Influencers - influential voices and product reviewers.

  • Media and trade and their families welcomed as our guests.

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CONNECTING WITH CONSUMERS
  • Sell your products directly to consumers. 
  • 30,000 attendees expected, half under 4' tall (kids!).
  • Your products in POP Holiday Gift Guide.
  • Consumers can create their wish-lists from the Gift Guides.
  • Over a third have a household income of over $100,000. Over 20% from out-of-state.

  • Capture photos, testimonials, video to use in your marketing and social media.

  • Giant focus group - learn how your consumers connect with your products and brands. 

  • Try new messaging strategies. Receive immediate feedback. 

  • Convert consumers to advocates to help spread your messages in social media.

  • 93% of consumers say live events had more influence than TV ads.

  • Millennials are looking to spend their disposable income on experiences.

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