MLB All-Star Week 2026 Card Market Preview: The Derby Spike, Topps NOW, and the Philadelphia Exclusives
The Home Run Derby hits July 13 and the 96th All-Star Game follows July 14 at Citizens Bank Park. Here is how the card market historically moves during All-Star Week and what Topps has planned for Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Hosts the Midsummer Classic
All-Star Week arrives at Citizens Bank Park next week: the Home Run Derby on Monday, July 13, and the 96th All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 14. For collectors, this is the most reliable mid-season market catalyst baseball has — and 2026 adds the extra layer of Topps celebrating its 75th anniversary all year.
The 48-Hour Derby Window
The pattern is well documented: Home Run Derby inserts historically surge roughly 40 percent within 48 hours of the event before settling back down. Whoever wins Monday night will see their cards spike immediately — and just as reliably cool off within a week or two. If you are holding Derby-relevant cards, the Tuesday-Wednesday window after the event is historically the sell spot. If you are buying, patience has almost always been rewarded.
What Topps Is Dropping
Expect the usual All-Star wave, concentrated around event week:
- Topps NOW print-to-order cards for Derby and All-Star Game moments, live for 24 hours after each highlight
- Commemorative factory sets with Philadelphia-themed borders and serial-numbered parallels covering the full All-Star rosters
- All-Star Week retail exclusives that hit shelves during event week and rarely get restocked
The 75th-anniversary angle also runs through this year's gift redemptions, which have included tickets to the Derby and the All-Star Game itself — a signal of how heavily Topps is leaning into the event.
Players to Watch Before Prices Move
First-time All-Stars are the classic All-Star Week play. Selection alone puts a rookie or second-year player in front of a national audience, and a strong Derby performance compounds it. This year the names to watch are the rookies already carrying the 2026 market — Roman Anthony and Jac Caglianone foremost — plus any surprise Derby entrant whose flagship rookies are still cheap. History says the market moves fast on Derby night and corrects by the weekend, so know your exit before you enter.
All-Star Week is also one of the best weekends of the year to visit a card shop — many run their own Derby-night promotions. Find one near you in our directory.