The autumn season marks a pivotal period for the global licensing, entertainment, and publishing industries.

Between September and December, companies balance the execution of Q4 activations around Halloween and Christmas with strategic planning and pitch cycles for the upcoming year. International trade events play a core role in this calendar, serving as hubs for market analysis, trend discovery, brand launches, and direct partner networking.

Below is an overview of the key international trade shows, conferences, and industry markets scheduled across Europe, the United States, Asia, and the Middle East for Autumn 2026.

September & October: European Circuit and Los Angeles Previews

The autumn trade calendar opens with major industry events across key European cities and North America:

• The Licensing Awards (September 8 | London, UK): Organized by Max Publishing Group, celebrating excellence across retail, property, and product licensing.
• Cartoon Forum (September 14–17 | Toulouse, France): The premier pitching and co-production forum for European animated TV series.
• IAAPA Expo Europe (September 21–25 | London, UK): The reference event for Location-Based Entertainment (LBE), theme parks, and immersive experiences. Conference sessions on September 22 will feature dedicated licensing content.
• LA Toy Previews (September | Los Angeles, USA): Essential showroom previews for global toy manufacturers, licensors, and mass-market retailers.
• Young Horizons Industry (September 28–30 | Warsaw, Poland): Co-production forum focusing on Central and Eastern European kids’ content and transmedia IP development.
• Brand Licensing Europe – BLE (October 6–8 | London, UK): Europe’s flagship licensing event. The 2026 edition highlights expanded participation from Asian IP, gaming, and fashion brands. Licensing Magazine will be present on-site with live coverage, editorial initiatives, and recording new episodes for The Deep Media Pulse podcast, alongside moderating a dedicated panel on Transmedia & Licensing.
• Frankfurter Buchmesse (October 6–8 | Frankfurt, Germany): The world’s largest publishing trade fair, featuring a growing focus on Webtoon content curated by industry expert Sébastian Celimon.
• MIPJR & MIPCOM (October | Cannes, France): Major global content markets for children’s media and general audiovisual distribution. In parallel, the International Emmy Awards educational program will host a specialized course on kids’ entertainment, featuring a session on transmedia storytelling led by Licensing Magazine.

Focus on Asia & Middle East Growth Markets

Asian markets continue to drive key consumer trends, digital innovation, and publishing growth across the APAC region:

• China Licensing Expo – CLE (October 21–23 | Shanghai, China): Asia’s largest trade show for brand licensing, co-located with major regional toy fairs. Licensing Magazine will lead an international delegation of trade visitors and buyers to facilitate cross-border business opportunities between Western and Asian markets.
• Sharjah Animation & Comics Conference (October 22–25 | Sharjah, UAE): Key Middle Eastern gathering bringing together international animation executives, creators, and publishing partners.
• TIFFCOM (October 28–30 | Tokyo, Japan): The primary content marketplace for Japanese intellectual property, anime, and audiovisual rights.
• CEE Animation Forum (November 10–12 | Pilsen, Czech Republic): Leading regional market and pitching event for Central and Eastern European animation projects.
• Shanghai International Children’s Book Fair – CCBF (November 13–15 | Shanghai, China): Dedicated publishing marketplace for children’s IP, literacy, and book-based media adaptations in APAC.
• Cartoon Business (November 24–26 | Brussels, Belgium): Top-level seminar focused on the business, financing, and franchise development of animated properties.
• Asia TV Forum & Market – ATF (December 1–4 | Singapore): The closing entertainment market of the year, focusing on digital trends, co-productions, and content distribution strategies across Asia-Pacific.

Industry Networking & Editorial Coverage

Throughout the season, Licensing Magazine and The Animation Journal will provide dedicated multi-channel coverage, on-site reporting, and social media recaps across all major events.

To connect with the team, arrange meetings on-site, or inquire about international delegations and panel initiatives, contact: info@brands-media.com.