The Pop Insider, a sister publication to The Toy Book and the only outlet dedicated exclusively to officially licensed merchandise and pop culture fandom, has revealed the finalists for its inaugural Collectors’ Choice Awards. The program recognizes standout licensed products, collaborations, and experiences across a range of categories, including toys, collectibles, apparel, beauty, home goods, tabletop games, and branded activations.
Designed to spotlight innovation and fan-first thinking, the Collectors’ Choice Awards highlight the brands, creators, and companies shaping the licensed merchandise landscape. Nearly 90 finalists were selected across 16 categories following voting by a panel of more than 20 licensing industry professionals and pop culture experts. Entries were evaluated based on originality, quality, fan appeal, market impact, and overall relevance within the context of pop culture.
Finalists represent a broad range of entertainment properties and consumer product categories, with franchises including KPop Demon Hunters, Wicked, Stranger Things, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, Star Wars, and more appearing across multiple categories. Categories range from Best Collectible Line and Best Fandom Collaboration to Licensing Program of the Year, Retailer of the Year, and The Underdog Award.
Winners across all categories, along with the overall Collectors’ Choice Award recipient, will be announced March 18, 2026. The overall winner will be determined by the category with the highest number of votes.
Public voting for the Collectors’ Choice Awards opens Feb. 1 and runs through the full month. Fans can cast their votes at thepopinsider.com.
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