The BTHA is introducing new categories, a new venue, and a new judging panel to recognise and better reward campaigns, individuals and standout achievements
The BTHA is overhauling its annual celebration of toy retail excellence to better reflect the diversity of modern retail and spotlight outstanding individual achievement.
The Toy Retailer of the Year Awards 2026, which will be held at a new venue from January 2027, will focus on five core categories, some of which combine and streamline those from previous years.
The five core awards will be:
– Independent Retailer of the Year: the best independent toy retailer across in-store, online, community and social impact, and supplier relations
– Campaign of the Year: the standout campaign, display, launch, event or activation of the past 12 months, in-store, online, on social or immersive
– Partnership Award: a retailer or buying team with exceptional supplier relations, collaboration and joint results
– Retail Playmaker Award: an individual who has championed the value of play in their retail business over the past 12 months
– Overall Toy Retailer of the Year: the outstanding retailer of the year across supplier relations and every channel
Two special recognition awards will also be presented if and when there is a deserving winner. They are the Standout Achievement of the Year for an exceptional achievement that does not fit another category, and Industry Champion, spotlighting a person or business that has become a strong public voice for toys and play.
A new panel of around 15 expert judges has been assembled and will be chaired by industry stalwart Phil Ratcliffe. It will be comprised of members from the BTHA Council, well-placed independent retail judges, and media, including Toys n Playthings.
To underscore the fresh approach to next year’s awards, the event will also move venue to Juno at Olympia, which has direct access from the Toy Fair show floor. With room for up to 400 guests – more than double previous years – the party-style event will welcome a wide cross-section of the industry. Attendees can celebrate the first day of Toy Fair 2027 andnetwork with friends and colleagues, and a industry newcomers and smaller exhibitors and retailers will be given the opportunity to attend for the first time. Tickets will be subject to ticket availability once on sale.
The BTHA hopes the changes will make the awards more immediate, celebrating achievements from the past year of retail, welcoming ambitious newcomers, and spotlighting the outstanding individuals that make toy retail tick. While previous years focused on a retailer’s category – defined by arbitrary levels of scale or channel – retailers now have more opportunities to enter the awards they feel define their year and place in the industry.
Independents keep a dedicated award, now open to single and multi-store businesses together, with the option of a Highly Commended. They can also enter Campaign of the Year, the Retail Playmaker Award and both Special Recognition awards, so more than one independent can be recognised in the same year.
Toy departments, multiples, grocers and online retailers no longer have their own categories. They can instead enter Campaign of the Year, the Partnership Award, Standout Achievement and Industry Champion, and all are eligible for Overall Toy Retailer of the Year, as well as both special recognition awards. Online is written into the criteria for five of the seven awards, so a retailer trading through its own website, a marketplace or social commerce competes on equal terms.
The awards are open to all toy retailers in the UK and Ireland, and BTHA membership is not required. Retailers can ENTER HERE in as many awards as they wish, with a separate entry for each. Each entry asks for up to 600 words on why the retailer or individual should win, with up to four supporting images. There is no entry for Overall Toy Retailer of the Year.Entries close on Friday 27 November 2026.
