Licensing Expo Unites Global Leaders as Industry Surges with $13 Billion Annual Growth

Licensing Expo addressed tariffs, category diversification, uncovered new IP and brought together global decision makers.

LAS VEGAS, NV / ACCESS Newswire / May 22, 2025 / Licensing Expo, the leading event dedicated to licensing, IP extension and brand collaborations, organized by Informa Markets' Global Licensing Group and sponsored by Licensing International, gathered over 12,000 registered professionals, including leading retailers, licensees and manufacturers to connect with brand owners and agents to discuss new deals driving licensed consumer products and brand collaborations of the next two to five years. Recently announced in the Licensing International 2025 Global Licensing Industry Study, worldwide sales of licensed products and services totaled $369.6 billion plus last year, up from $356.5 billion in 2023.

With a record of over 10,000 accepted meeting invites, developing purposeful relationships remains the core focus of Licensing Expo. Hosting 381 exhibiting companies, with 142 new to show exhibitors like Calm, emoji, FC Barcelona, Roblox and UFC, more than 5,000 established and upcoming brands were represented from entertainment, sports, fashion, food and beverage, toys and art and design. Brand owners, licensing agents, licensees and service providers powering the biggest names like Airstream, Coca-Cola, Crayola, Nintendo, NASCAR and LEGO as well as major studios Warner Bros. Discovery, Paramount, Disney, Hasbro, NBCUniversal, Mattel and Netflix, connected to negotiate, earn and plan new IP partnership deals throughout the showcase including two days of media upfronts and three days of exhibition. Celebrity guest appearances ranged from Mike Tyson, Vanessa Hudgens, Young Dirty Bastard (YDB) and Lil Mr. E of Foo's Gone Wild.

Foto: Accesswire

International attendees represented nearly 30% of the expo audience with global buyers keen to gain first access to new releases unveiled at the industry's global meeting place. Exhibitors spanned 30 countries, with emerging opportunities across South Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin American markets. Increased major retailer presence from companies such as Amazon, Dick's Sporting Goods, H&M, Inditex, Miniso, Pop Mart, Primark, Target and Walmart were among 2,000 e-commerce, specialty shops and big box stores, reaching sought-after brands to add to store shelves in the coming seasons.

Foto: Accesswire

A riveting panel addressed top-of-mind concerns and challenges on navigating the global tariff environment with actionable insights reviewing strategies from legal solutions and implementing specific protective clauses as well as balanced approaches to shipping and warehousing considerations. Experts Steven Heller (The Brand Liaison), Jed Ferdinand (Meister Seelig & Fein), Sam Hafif (Concept One Accessories) and Jay Foreman (Basic Fun!) commented on the importance of face-to-face connection at Licensing Expo to negotiate key deals, stay on top of fast changing decision needs and maintain bottom line.