2026 ITRA Prize for Outstanding Toy Research
Call for Nominations
The ITRA Prize has been established with generous support from the British Toy and Hobby Association (BTHA). The first prizes were awarded in July 2008 during the 5th ITRA World Conference in Nafplion, Greece.
At each ITRA World Conference two prizes are awarded. The junior prize of 700 USD is awarded for the best student research on toys. The senior prize of 1,400 USD is awarded to a senior scholar or practitioner on the uses, design and effects of toys.
Prize recipients are expected to present their award-winning work at the 2026 ITRA World Conference in Augsburg, Germany 5-7 August 2026. Conference registration fees are waived for prize recipients. The Junior Prize recipient may also receive a travel reimbursement stipend of up to 700 USD toward the costs of attending the 2026 ITRA World Conference.
Purpose:
The purpose of the ITRA Prize is to recognize outstanding research in the field of toy research.
Eligibility:
To qualify for the Prize, the work must have been completed or published between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2025. Nominations may be submitted by the researcher or by a member of ITRA.
Papers, either published or unpublished, in any area of toy research, are eligible. Thesis, dissertations, book chapters, monographs or books authored by one or more individuals are also eligible. In the case of multi-authored works, the prize award is split equally between authors. Edited volumes are not eligible.
Submissions must be in English (original or translation). Research on the uses, design, meanings and effects of toys in child development, education, social and human sciences, and medicine will be considered for the awards. Submissions of theoretical and historical texts will also be considered as long as these are linked to potential research. Book nominations should be accompanied by a summary of 2500-3000 words with complete copies (either hard copy or electronic) should be provided to each prize committee member upon request.
Submissions:
ITRA Prize nominations are to be submitted directly to the prize committee chair, Greta Pennell (gpennell@uindy.edu) as a PDF attachment by 31 December 2025.
Awards Committee:
The Awards Committee consists of Greta Pennell, Chair (USA), Gilles Brougère (France), Mathieu Gielen (Netherlands), Suzanne Seriff (USA), and Jeremy Saucier (USA).
Evaluation:
The Awards Committee of ITRA will evaluate applications on the basis of originality, the significance of the work, creativity, methodology, clarity of presentation, and importance.
The 2026 ITRA prizes will be awarded at the 10th ITRA World Conference in Augsburg, Germany 5-7 August 2026.
Past Awardees
2014 ITRA – BTHA Prize winners
