Hasbro opens 2026 Women Innovators of Play design challenge
13th October 2026, 11:21 CEST
Hasbro’s Women Innovators of Play Design Challenge returns on 15 October, inviting original toy and game ideas from eligible women and women-led teams. The fourth annual competition closes on 20 November 2026, with three winners each receiving $10,000 and a visit to the company’s headquarters.
Created By Adam Davis Fernsby
A route from an idea to industry feedback
In its 12 October announcement, Hasbro says the challenge is open to creators with different levels of experience. It is looking for concepts suitable for a broad consumer audience, with judging covering originality, commercial potential, how enjoyable the idea is to use, its appearance and whether it can be manufactured.
The wider programme is also moving beyond its annual online events. Hasbro is working with Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment on in-person gatherings across the year. Recent events included a July meeting at Wizards of the Coast and an October gathering in London during Brand Licensing Europe. The new challenge brings that industry programme back to the practical question of what participants can invent.
Who can enter?
The 2026 official rules set an age threshold of at least 18, or the applicable age of majority. An individual entrant must identify as a woman; a team can have up to five people and must have a woman as its leader.
Eligible locations include the United States and specified US territories, Canada excluding Quebec, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Israel, Japan and Hong Kong.
Submissions must be in English. The entry package requires a concept description and a presentation video of up to four minutes, with a maximum of two submissions per person. The official deadline is 20 November at 23:59:59 Eastern Time.
What the winners receive
Alongside the cash award and headquarters experience, Hasbro’s announcement describes mentorship and a year’s complimentary membership of Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment. Hasbro says the public winners announcement is expected in early February 2027; the rules place potential-winner notification around 29 January.
For anyone developing a game, familiar designs such as Guess Who show how a short explanation can support a complete play experience. Entrants still need to submit their own original concept rather than adapt somebody else’s game.
Before entering, read the full conditions linked from the challenge website. The rules say submissions are not confidential, and winning does not itself guarantee a licensing agreement or a finished product on shop shelves.