Spielwarenmesse 2026: Commotion Returns to the International Toy Fair
The Commotion team were delighted to return to Spielwarenmesse for the 2026 International Toy Fair at the end of January. Building on the success of last year, when we significantly expanded and redesigned our stand space, we felt that positive momentum continue. Our presence reflected the ongoing growth of our catalogue, showcasing an even broader range of thoughtfully designed educational resources created to support learning through play.
Footfall was noticeably higher this year, with more than 300 new and existing customers visiting us across the week. It was encouraging to see such strong engagement from buyers and distributors, and to have the opportunity for meaningful conversations with partners from around the world. The energy on the stand set a confident tone for the year ahead.
Our open-plan stand design allowed us to present a wide selection of themed, solution-led product displays, demonstrate illuminated resources within our immersive dark den, and create a welcoming environment where visitors could pause and explore the tickit range in depth. Feedback from buyers, educators and partners was overwhelmingly positive, providing a strong foundation as we look ahead to 2026.
Throughout the week, visitors were drawn to the clean, confident feel of the space. Carefully curated podiums and shelving units highlighted not only individual products but complete learning environments, illustrating how tickit resources work seamlessly together to support open-ended play and early years development across nurseries, schools and other educational settings.
Among the most talked-about displays was our farm-themed counter, featuring the tickit Woodland Trail Treehouse, Farm Discovery Dividers, Wooden Farm Set, Woodland Trail Set, Domestic Animal Blocks, SiliSoft Mushrooms and SiliSoft Wobble Rainbow. Although these products vary in material and function, together they created a cohesive and engaging playscape that invited children - and adults - to imagine, build and explore. The way these elements combined demonstrated how versatile resources can be layered to create rich, adaptable learning environments.
Our front counter showcased three additional themed set-ups: Jurassic Discovery World, Lighthouse Island and a seasonal Safari scene. Each incorporated flagship tickit products alongside complementary resources to bring the themes to life and show how easily they can be recreated in real settings. These displays provided practical inspiration for retailers and educators alike, offering clear ideas for merchandising and classroom integration. You can explore our stand in more detail via our Matterport tour.
At Commotion, we listen closely to parents, educators and caregivers to identify gaps in the market and develop products that genuinely meet the needs of learning environments. By making resources such as light panels and illuminated tables accessible to a wide range of settings, we aim to ensure that more children can benefit from enriching play experiences that support development across multiple areas of learning.
A central feature of the stand was our dark den, where Humphrey - the much-loved tickit mascot - adorned the walls and encouraged passers-by to step inside. Offering a calm contrast to the brightness of the wider fair, the space demonstrated how softly lit, carefully considered environments can enhance concentration, support emotional regulation and inspire imaginative language. The den provided a practical example of how light and shadow can be used intentionally within early years provision to create focused, sensory-rich experiences.
We always encourage visitors to handle and explore our products first-hand. This is not only so the quality and tactile appeal can be experienced directly, but because we believe educational resources should resonate with adults as well as children. When educators and buyers feel a genuine connection to a product, when they can picture how it will be used and the impact it may have, that enthusiasm naturally carries into the environments they create.
Our continued presence at Spielwarenmesse reflects our commitment to purposeful learning products and to supporting our global network of partners. The fair provides an invaluable platform for buyers and distributors to visualise how tickit resources can be integrated into real-world learning spaces, balancing child-led exploration with structured educational goals.
The diversity of visitors to the stand underlined the international reach of both the fair and the tickit brand. We welcomed buyers, distributors and partners from across Europe, the UK, the USA and beyond, strengthening existing relationships while forming new ones. Interactive elements on the stand encouraged further engagement, creating additional opportunities for conversation and collaboration.
One highlight of the week was welcoming Spielwarenmesse TV presenter Rob to the stand for an interview about our brand and latest product developments. He spent time with the team exploring the range and was particularly taken with our Lighthouse Island and Sensory Steel Mystery Mosaic Balls. The interview provided a valuable opportunity to share more about our company history, including how our Chairman, Tim, first attended the fair aged 13 alongside his parents. That early introduction to the toy industry ultimately inspired him to establish Commotion Ltd in 1983, and which has now exhibited at Spielwarenmesse for more than 20 years. It was a pleasure to share that story and to connect with the Spielwarenmesse team.
“There was a real sense of energy around the fair this year, and Hall 12 genuinely felt like the place to be. The footfall was exceptional: at times it was noticeably busier than other halls, which created a fantastic atmosphere throughout the week. For the whole Commotion team, it was an incredibly positive experience. We had meaningful conversations with partners old and new, saw genuine excitement around the tickit range, and left feeling inspired and confident about the year ahead.” - Honor Davidson, Head of Marketing
Spielwarenmesse 2026 offered a valuable opportunity to reconnect with long-standing partners, meet new contacts and continue demonstrating how learning through play remains at the heart of everything we do. We are grateful to everyone who visited the stand and contributed to such a productive and enjoyable week. We look forward to building on these conversations in the months ahead and to another exciting year for tickit and Commotion.