13 Best Gift Fairs and Trade Events for Children’s Products

The children's products market is a vibrant industry. It’s estimated at USD 4 billion in the Australian market alone, with a projected 2.73% growth rate between 2024 and 2028. 

Gift fairs and trade shows play a critical role in its growth. During these events, brands have an opportunity to capture leads, increase sales, and even reach new markets. 

Retailers and buyers also have a lot to gain by attending events showcasing toys, kidswear and gifts as they are a place to learn about the latest trends, innovative gadgets, and more. 

Whether you’re a toy buyer, gift retailer or maker of children’s products, this guide discusses 13 of the best gift fairs and trade events in Australia and the world.

1. Australian Toy Hobby and Licensing Fair

The Australian Toy Hobby and Licensing Fair (also known as the Melbourne Toy Fair) is a popular event on the Australian expo calendar. Organised by the Australian Toy Association (ATA), it brings together renowned toy brands from across the globe and is the event of choice in the southern hemisphere for unveiling new toys and other children’s products. 

Businesses exhibit their products to an audience of potential buyers and distributors, eager to land lucrative deals.  An impressive range of licensed products is also featured, giving this Fair a unique feel. 

Hobby enthusiasts are always delighted by the Hobbies section of the exhibition, with a wide range of attractive items to keep children busy and improve their creativity.  Examples include modelling materials, craft kits, model cars, railways, remote-controlled toys, and more. 

Networking with fellow exhibitors is a big benefit of attending this large-scale event. Industry personnel have an opportunity to make connections that may lead to exciting collaborations or propel a business to the next level. 

Additionally, there is the coveted ATA awards night celebrating the most innovative products, impressive talent and top-performing licenses. Judges award prizes across a range of categories, including Product Of The Year. There are some categories voted for by kids, too. 

The Australian Toy Fair is one of the trade calendar's most fun events so attendees are in for a treat. They get to view the best products in the toy market and have fun playing with them!

2.  Reed Gift Fair

Reed Gift Fair is one of the oldest trade events in Australia. For over 50 years, they’ve held major bi-annual trade exhibitions in two locations, Melbourne and Sydney. 

Both events attract established and emerging brands in one central location, with approximately 500 wholesale exhibitors and 20,000 visitors in attendance. 

That’s an excellent chance for visitors to view a broad range of products and source new lines for their businesses. For that reason, organisers usually expect millions of dollars in transactions on the trading floor alone. 

This is why Reed Gift Fairs are important events for those working with children's products. Hundreds of top brands converge at these shows each year and there are products spanning baby gifts, furniture, games, clothing, accessories and toys. 

This creates a brilliant chance for exhibitors to explore new wholesale and retail markets, whilst visitors get to sample fresh innovations.

3. Life in Style

One of the premier trade events in Australia, Life in Style, is usually held twice each year, Sydneyin February and Melbourne in August. It curates design-led brands across industries in beauty, fashion, grooming, and more. 

Brands take this opportunity to show off their creative wares to an audience of discerning buyers from niche markets, boutiques and more. Like other trade fairs mentioned in this guide, children's products are well represented at Life in Style. Exhibitors bring kids' toys, fashion, furniture, and designer accessories. 

Another benefit of exhibiting at Life in Style is the potential to network with industry stakeholders. Exhibitors can make new connections with customers and various other show visitors. Networking can create future opportunities, too. 

Perhaps one of the most unique features of this fair is the ’business couch’ – a place for brand owners and exhibitors to discuss business issues with a retail coach or industry expert. These sessions are free for anyone who registers. 

Life in Style is a fantastic event for early-stage businesses and startups involved in kids’ products.  It’s also a fabulous show for small-scale buyers to discover emerging brands and creative product lines.

4. AGHA Gift Fair

AGHA Gift Fair is the brainchild of the Australian Gift and Homewares Association. One of the major gift events in Australia, it’s held bi-annually with the Sydney Gift and Home Expo in February and the Melbourne Gift Fair in August. 

At each AGHA Gift Fair there’s a convergence of major players from a variety of industries. However, smaller brands also have an opportunity to display their goods.  This results in an exhibition encompassing many categories including fashion, jewellery, kitchenware and stationery, making each AGHA Gift Fair an engaging experience. 

The kids' products category is one of the most vibrant categories at these events. It offers plenty of kidswear and baby goods as well as games and toys for all ages. Product lines offered include push-and-pull toys, model kits, board games, novelty toys and more. 

The AGHA Gift Fair is an exciting event to learn about products from different industries, particularly from the baby and home product categories.

5. Gift and Lifestyle Fair

Gift and Lifestyle Fair is another leading exhibition in Australia that offers free entry for registered buyers. The event is usually held twice each year, in Melbourne and Sydney, and is often one of the first opportunities for buyers to shop and restock after Christmas.  It attracts many types of exhibitors from local and international markets, including some of Giftguide magazine’s Hot 100 wholesalers. 

Visitors get to see exciting products from diverse origins. Categories include home decor, wellness, gifts, novelties and fashion.  The February event also encompasses the Melbourne Jewellery Expo. 

For those interested in children's products, you’ll find some of the best in kids’ and baby merchandise. Nursery decor, baby clothes, toys, and other types of kids' gear are some of the products you can expect to see. 

Little Change Creators attended the Melbourne 2024 Fair as part of the event’s inaugural Startup Showcase.  It was an amazing opportunity for us to showcase our sustainable activity sets, acquire new stockists and test the market with a new children’s product line.  We also met renowned Australian interior designer, Shaynna Blaze, who took a shine to our Underwater Re-FUN-able™ Colouring Set.

 

6. Pregnancy Baby and Children’s Expo (PBC Expo)

The PBC Expo (Pregnancy Babies & Children's Expo) is Australia’s largest and the world’s longest-running early parenting event.  It showcases everything parents need from the bump stage through to birth and beyond. 

The PBC Expo is held throughout the year across major Australian cities – Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra and the Gold Coast.  It’s a one-stop-shop for all things parenting and offers exclusive deals, advice and education for a small attendance fee. 

Whilst geared towards retail consumers, the PBC Expo is a chance to be discovered by store owners and boutique retailers across Australia.

 

7. Australian Toy Association Mid-Year Toy Preview

The Australian Toy Association Mid-Year Toy Preview brings a unique freshness to children's toy-based businesses. This Sydney-based event is an exciting show for anyone involved in the children's hobbies and toy market because it offers a first-look at products retail buyers and store owners may stock for Christmas. 

Exhibiting at the Mid-Year Toy Preview is open to ATA members only, which gives the event an exclusive feel.  There’s a lot to see and interact with at these two-day events, such as games, educational activities, dolls, plush toys, action figures, and electronic gadgets.

8. ABC Kids Expo USA

One of the premier kids' expos in the US, All Baby and Child (ABC) has been a must-see in the industry for over 20 years. It’s an annual event held in Las Vegas, USA and is an exciting meeting point for participants in the children’s products and toy industries. 

Opportunities for local and international exhibitors and visitors are huge at this three-day expo. Kids product manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers meet under one roof to discuss product sourcing, distribution and buying. 

The products at the exhibition categorised: baby gear, toys, kids' clothes and more. Additionally, the expo attracts serious media attention from all major broadcasters and publications, making it a great marketing exercise for all participating brands.

9. Children Baby and Maternity Expo (CBME) China

The CBME is one of the world’s largest children, baby and maternity expos. Since its inception in 2001, it has brought together manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers and retailers in one location. 

Over 2000 brands meet in Shanghai to showcase their innovative products for children, babies, and expectant mothers.  Product lines include prams, baby food, baby clothes, furniture, footwear, toys, and more. 

Awards are also one of the popular features of this expo. It culminates with exhibitors in different categories winning awards for their performance and innovativeness. Due to the high level of attendants, the CBME is a great marketing opportunity for all children's product dealers.

10. Nuremberg International Toy Fair (Spielwarenmesse)

Established in 1949, the Nuremberg Toy Fair is the largest international trade fair for toys and games.  Also known as Spielwarenmesse in German, it attracts over 2800 exhibitors and more than 70,000 visitors under one roof. 

Brands from over 60 countries participate across thirteen product groups and every year about one million toys are displayed at this five-day event. Toy types include action, wooden, soft and electronic toys as well as physical and video games, hobby articles, games, books, and more.  In 2024, the event included an area dedicated to ‘kidult’ toys – toys that appeal to adults. 

Additionally, visitors can join a range of conferences and workshops with leading industry experts. These sessions are invaluable for all business owners and executives looking to gain insights and knowledge to help them expand their operations. 

With approximately 70,000 new products on show at Spielwarenmesse each year, this event is a must for toy brands that want to expand internationally as well as retail buyers who want to be ahead of the competition.

11. Toy Fair New York

Formerly known as the North American International Toy Fair, Toy Fair New York is another of the world’s best toy shows. 

Started in 1903, this event attracts a wide variety of toys across eight different product zones. Toy types include construction sets, art and craft kits, role-play toys, outdoor play equipment, games, puzzles, and radio-controlled vehicles. At recent shows, there was also an emphasis on sustainable toys. 

Toy Fair New York is held annually at the Javits Convention Centre.  It pulls in all major toy manufacturers, retailers and other professionals to show off their best in the toy world and, understandably, it attracts plenty of fanfare and media attention.  Exhibitors also have an opportunity to be awarded for stand-out booth design in the Toy Fair Exhibit Design Awards. 

Exhibiting at this massive event is a prime opportunity for toy and game inventors to show their innovations to a global audience. Like all major toy fairs, it’s also the perfect occasion for establishing industry connections and building business relations.

 12. The Toy Fair UK

The Toy Fair is the largest dedicated toy, game and hobby trade exhibition in the UK. It offers three days of trading, with more than 260 exhibiting companies ranging from large renowned brands right through to new start-up companies and one-man bands. 

In the UK, Toy Fair is the first opportunity of the year for visitors to see thousands of exciting new product launches in person across a vast range of categories including licensed toys, construction toys, board games and puzzles, tech toys, plush, arts and crafts, plus many more. 

Visitors are also privy to the hottest new trends and themes for the year ahead and the event delivers an unrivalled opportunity to forge new business and build on existing relationships.

13. New Zealand Gift Fairs

New Zealand Gift Fairs are major events on the gift industry calendar, particularly in the southern hemisphere.  These events are carefully timed to best serve the buying interests of industry retail buyers and coincide with other international gifting events. 

Held in Autumn, Winter and Spring, NZ Gift Fairs are a great opportunity for Australasian brands to get in front of thousands of genuine trade buyers.  The Autumn and Spring events are held at the Auckland Showgrounds, whereas the Winter Fair is held at Christchurch’s Airforce Museum. 

NZ Gift Fairs are a unique place to discover artisan and indigenous products with specific spaces dedicated to Maori brands and gourmet produce.  There’s also Kick.Starter – an initiative for new wholesalers to test the waters and gain invaluable feedback on their products and ideas. 

With over 200 exhibitors at each event, including many who are new to the children’s product market, NZ Gift Fairs are worth considering if you’re looking to discover unique gifts for kids.
 

Final Thoughts

Gift and trade fairs are a big deal in the children’s gift and toy markets. As mentioned, the industry is worth billions in Australia alone, and much more in many other countries. 

Therefore, if you own a children's product business, it’s time to take advantage of the potential in this industry. As an exhibitor, you get brand exposure, capture potential leads, forge partnerships and boost your business growth.  Exhibiting at any of the above major gift fairs and trade events can be a game changer for your business. 

Likewise, if you’re a retailer sourcing toys, kidswear or gifts for children, attending one of the above trade events gives you a competitive edge.  You’ll be the first to discover new releases and gain valuable insights on trending products in the children’s market.