The US sports card show calendar has grown considerably in recent years, with genuinely major events now running in nearly every region rather than clustering around just a handful of cities.
Knowing which shows actually exist, and roughly where they fall on the calendar, makes it much easier to plan a trip around one worth the drive or flight.
This directory covers the flagship national events plus the strongest regional shows by area, based on confirmed 2026 dates and venues.
Here's a real starting point for finding a US sports card show worth attending this year.
The National, held July 29 through August 2, 2026 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, remains the largest sports card show in the country.
With 500,000 square feet of floor space and over 600 dealers, it's less a single show and more an entire week built around the hobby.
Fanatics Fest returns to the Javits Center in New York City July 16 through 19, 2026, pairing a major card show floor with athlete appearances and broader sports memorabilia programming.
Its four-day format and 250-plus dealer footprint make it one of the few US shows that rivals the National in scale, even though its focus extends beyond just cards.
The Philadelphia Sports Card Show runs quarterly at the Valley Forge Casino in King of Prussia, while the White Plains Card Show operates monthly at the Westchester County Center in New York.
The York Card Show rounds out the region as one of the largest and most established East Coast regional events outside the two flagship national shows.
Beyond the National's home turf in Rosemont, the Chicago suburbs host the Schaumburg Card Show and the Aurora Fall Card Show on a recurring basis throughout the year.
The MintX Midwest Card Expo at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake, Illinois adds roughly 500 dealer tables to the regional circuit.
The Dallas Card Show in Allen, Texas runs six major four-day events annually with over 700 tables and on-site grading services available.
Louisville's Derby City Card Show is one of the largest shows in the southern US, drawing a similarly deep dealer lineup of around 500 tables.
The Arizona State Card Show, also known as the Spring Training Spectacular, anchors the Southwest with over 450 dealer tables in Phoenix.
The West Coast Card Show runs three major annual events split between the Ontario and Anaheim Convention Centers in California.
For most collectors, one flagship national event plus whichever regional show sits closest to home covers the calendar well without becoming an expensive year-round commitment.
Checking a show's own promoter website for confirmed dates closer to the event is worth doing, since regional show schedules can shift more than national ones.
This directory covers the national landscape at a high level, but each U.S. region has its own dense calendar of recurring shows beyond the two flagship events.
Treating this post as a starting point, then drilling into a specific region's dedicated directory, gives a much fuller picture of what's realistically available near you throughout the year.
Attending both the National and Fanatics Fest in the same year is possible given their different summer windows, though it requires committing to two separate multi-day trips.
Many serious collectors pick one flagship event as their primary annual trip and treat the other as an occasional addition when budget and schedule allow.
Hotel availability near major convention centers can dry up months in advance of a flagship show, especially once a specific date is widely publicized.
Booking travel and lodging as soon as dates are confirmed, rather than waiting until closer to the event, avoids paying a premium or settling for a distant hotel.
Show dates, venues, and even organizers can change from year to year, which is why treating any national directory as a living reference rather than a permanent fact sheet matters.
Checking official show channels close to your planned travel dates is always worth the extra few minutes, even for well-established annual events.
The National Sports Collectors Convention in Rosemont, Illinois.
Yes — strong regional shows run in Texas, Arizona, California, and the Northeast.
It varies by show — some run quarterly, others multiple times a year.
Yes, always confirm current dates directly with the show's own promoter.
Whichever show you land at, bring your best pulls home in one piece. Browse EVORETRO's toploaders and sleeves collection. A properly protected card survives the trip home just as well as it survived the show floor.
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