TL;DR
Get gifts for the two of you delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
People of Play announced the winners of the 2026 TAGIE Awards at a Nov. 6 ceremony in Rosemont, Illinois. The 19th annual awards recognized toy and game innovators across 10 categories, with Pleasant Rowland receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award and Exploding Kittens co-founders Elan Lee and Matthew Inman receiving the Industry Game Changer Award.
People of Play, a division of The Toy Association, announced winners across 10 categories at the 19th annual Toy & Game Innovation Excellence (TAGIE) Awards on Nov. 6 in Rosemont, Illinois. The awards recognize contributions by inventors, designers, suppliers, retailers, marketers and public relations teams across the toy and game industry.
Pleasant Rowland, founder of American Girl, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Elan Lee and Matthew Inman, co-founders of Exploding Kittens, were honored with the Industry Game Changer Award.
Among the category winners, Alex Wilde, Cody Hampton and Jessica Kaups received the Toy Innovator of the Year award for ages 0–13 for Disney: Batuu Adventure Buddies, Ewok. Goliath’s Clickeez Team won the ages 13+ toy award for Clickeez Series 3: Bubble Pops. The younger-age Game Innovator award went to the team behind Cross the Line, while Spin Master Games Team, inventors Don Ullman and Bob Driscoll, won the older-age game category for Murder Phone, Rubik’s Rush and Jumanji Ultimate Level Electronic Board Game.
Other winners included Kayou for KPop Demon Hunters Collectible Trading Cards in the Licensed Product Innovator category; young innovator Bryce Mikolajczak for Cell Quest; and Matthew Inman and the Exploding Kittens Team for Dead Therapist in Art & Visuals. Amanda Rubinos Luna and Ali Way won the PR & Marketing category for Disney Lorcana: Curator’s Collection, Heroines Edition. Tyler Williams and the ZB Designs Sales Team won Sales Innovator for Wigglitz, and Bang Zoom Design won Most Innovative Partner for Peekimo, Bitzee Interactive Aquarium and PAW Patrol Megasaurus Dino Vehicle.
Ten Categories Recognize Industry Work
The awards span more than product invention: they also recognize design, sales, marketing and partnerships. The results offer a snapshot of the range of work behind toy and game products, from early concepts and visual design to promotion and commercial collaboration.
Public voting by consumers and industry members determined the winners, according to People of Play’s report in The Toy Book. That voting model brings both audiences into the recognition process, although the report does not provide voting totals or explain how votes were weighted.
The awards also place established industry figures alongside newer innovators. Rowland’s lifetime honor and the recognition of Exploding Kittens’ founders sat alongside category awards for a young inventor and teams behind individual products. The mix makes the ceremony relevant to readers following both the people shaping the sector and the products receiving recognition.
Popular right now
Bose QuietComfort Earbuds (2nd Gen) – True Wireless Bluetooth Earbuds with Active Noise Cancellation
Dyson V8 Cyclone Cordless Vacuum
Vitamix VX1 Professional-Grade Blender, 64 oz, Black
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
A Ceremony During POP Week
The ceremony took place at Joe’s Live Concert Venue in Rosemont during People of Play’s POP Week. Founded in 2008, the TAGIE Awards are held annually and recognize achievement across the toy and game industry. POP Week also includes the Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, the Young Inventor Challenge and the Chicago Toy & Game Fair.
This year’s event used the theme “The Force of Play” and began celebrations connected to Star Wars’ 50th anniversary in 2027. Ashley Eckstein, the original voice of Ahsoka Tano, hosted the event, which included a video message from Lucasfilm President and Chief Creative Officer Dave Filoni. Attendees received commemorative coins bearing the Star Wars 50th anniversary emblem and TAGIE Awards logo.
The awards were sponsored by Disney, Duracell, Kickstarter, Hasbro, Mattel, University Games, Longshore Ltd., Super Impulse, KenKen, Nextoy, The Play Makers, Backdrop.com, Brown Creative, Baby Paper and Design Edge, according to the report.
“The TAGIE Awards are a celebration of the creativity, passion, and collaboration that make the toy and game industry so extraordinary.”
— Robb LaFlamme, TAGIE Awards Committee chairman and director of hardlines at Disney Parks Retail and Development
Voting Details Were Not Published
The report says winners were chosen through public voting by consumers and industry members, but does not give vote counts, the voting period, or the method used to combine or verify votes. It also does not provide further details about the judging or selection process beyond that description.
The announcement identifies the winners and their recognized products, but does not report reactions from the recipients, sales results for the products, or any subsequent plans connected to the awards. Those details are not established by the available source material.
POP Week Events Continue
The TAGIE ceremony was one part of People of Play’s POP Week, which also features the Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, Young Inventor Challenge and Chicago Toy & Game Fair. The source report does not specify the dates or outcomes of those other events.
People of Play has also begun celebrations tied to the 50th anniversary of Star Wars in 2027, according to the event account. No additional anniversary programming or future TAGIE dates were announced in the report. Readers seeking event information can consult the organization’s site at chitag.com.
Key Questions
Who received the 2026 TAGIE Lifetime Achievement Award?
Pleasant Rowland, founder of American Girl, received the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Which teams won the game innovation awards?
The ages 0–13 award went to the team behind Cross the Line. Spin Master Games Team, with inventors Don Ullman and Bob Driscoll, won the ages 13+ category for Murder Phone, Rubik’s Rush and Jumanji Ultimate Level Electronic Board Game.
How were the TAGIE winners selected?
According to the report, winners were determined through public voting by consumers and industry members. It does not publish vote totals or further details about the voting process.
Where and when was the 2026 TAGIE ceremony held?
The ceremony took place on Nov. 6 at Joe’s Live Concert Venue in Rosemont, Illinois.
What other events are part of People of Play’s POP Week?
POP Week also includes the Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, the Young Inventor Challenge and the Chicago Toy & Game Fair.
Source: toybook.com
