One of the most anticipated moments of the Australian Toy Hobby & Licensing Fair each year is the presentation of the Licensed Property of the Year Awards, recognising the most successful licensed properties in Australia across the previous year.
Judged by independent industry experts, the awards celebrate creativity, commercial performance and cultural relevance across the licensing sector. The high calibre of entries in 2026 reflected the strength of the industry and the continued influence of entertainment and character brands in the Australian market.
2026 Licensing Award Winners
Infant / Pre-School Licence
Winner: Bluey – BBC Studios
Finalists:
Gabby’s Dollhouse – Universal Products & Experiences
Peppa Pig – Merchantwise
Children’s Licence
Winner: Minecraft – Merchantwise
Finalists:
Disney’s Stitch – The Walt Disney Company
Harry Potter – Warner Bros Discovery
Kidult Licence
Winner: Hello Kitty and Friends – Haven Licensing
Finalists:
Star Wars – The Walt Disney Company
SpongeBob SquarePants – Haven Licensing
Boutique Licence
Winner: Peter Rabbit – Haven Licensing
Finalists:
Strawberry Shortcake – Merchantwise
Paddington – WP Brands
Overall Licence of the Year
Winner: Bluey – BBC Studios
Finalists:
Disney’s Stitch – The Walt Disney Company
Pokémon – Haven Global
Minecraft – Merchantwise
The awards recognise the brands and licensing partners that continue to drive innovation, creativity and strong commercial performance within the Australian market.
