People of Play™, a division of The Toy Association™, has announced that registration is now open for the 2026 annual Young Inventor Challenge (YIC) International Championship.
Kids and teens aged 6 to 18 can secure their spot through October 25 to submit their original toy or game inventions for a chance to win prizes and publish their creations.
All Young Inventor Challenge entries are submitted online, making the competition accessible to participants worldwide. All participants are invited to attend the International Championship on November 7, 2026, during the Chicago Toy & Game Fair, North America’s largest consumer toy and game event. Winners will be announced during a live awards ceremony, though attendance is not required to win.
Award categories
One junior and one senior invention will be awarded across the following categories:
- Best Pitch
- Most Innovative
- Most Engaging
- Most Original
- Most Marketable
- Best Potential
Past participants include young inventors from the U.S., Canada, Germany, Guyana, Mexico, Spain, the UK, and beyond. Several winning entries have gone on to be manufactured and distributed in local toy stores as well as major retailers like Target.
Industry engagement and regional toolkits
Ahren Hoffman, Director of the YIC, said:
“The Young Inventor Challenge gives kids the chance to see their ideas through the eyes of the toy industry while building confidence, creativity, and presentation skills along the way. Every year, we’re amazed by the originality and imagination these young inventors bring to the competition. We can’t wait to see what this year’s participants dream up.”
To help inventors prepare, regional events hosted by retailers, camps, clubs, libraries, and schools provide a jumpstart on their ideas. Organizations looking to get involved can host their own local event using the official planning toolkit, available here.
Sponsorship and POP Week
The 2026 YIC is supported by industry partners including Crazy Aaron’s, Eastar Board Game Manufacturing, Revenew Sales, Hasbro, Mattel, Toys “R” Us, Disney, and individual contributors.
The YIC is part of People of Play’s annual POP Week (November 5 to 8 in Rosemont, IL), which also features the Global Inventor Pitch & Innovation Conference, the TAGIE Awards, and the Chicago Toy & Game Fair.
For resources, rules, and further details, visit the official YIC portal.
