The Carmel Card Show marks its two-year anniversary with a two-day blowout at the Aletto Family Sports Center on Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24, 2026 — a significant step up from the show's usual legion-hall footprint. Anniversary editions on the central Indiana circuit tend to be the biggest and best-attended events a promoter runs all year: more tables, out-of-state dealers who skip the monthlies, giveaways and door prizes, and inventory that gets held back specifically for the occasion. Two years in, this show has earned the upgrade.
Expect the widest range of material the Carmel show has offered. Sports card dealers bring vintage Topps, Bowman, Fleer and Donruss across seven decades, complete sets, high-grade star singles and organized commons for set builders. Modern coverage spans Panini Prizm, Donruss Optic, Select, Mosaic, Topps Chrome, Bowman Draft and Bowman Chrome, with premium National Treasures, Flawless and Immaculate in display cases. Colts, Pacers, Notre Dame, Indiana University and Purdue inventory runs deep, alongside MLB, NHL, UFC, boxing, soccer, racing and Indy 500 memorabilia. Graded slabs from PSA, BGS, SGC and CGC occupy multiple locked cases across every price tier. Trading card game dealers cover Pokemon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Disney Lorcana and Dragon Ball Super. Rounding it out: autographed balls, jerseys and photographs, game-used memorabilia, vintage comics, Funko Pops, custom artwork, breakers running live rips and a full slate of supply vendors.
Planned hours are Friday afternoon into the evening — listed as roughly 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM — and Saturday 9:00 AM to approximately 4:00 PM Eastern. Note that the published Friday start time appears in one aggregator as 3:00 AM, which is almost certainly a data-entry error; confirm Friday hours with the organizer before driving in. Admission is expected to be free or nominal in keeping with the show's usual model, and parking at the sports center is free.
The Aletto Family Sports Center is at 1000 3rd Avenue SW, Carmel, IN 46032, just south of the Arts and Design District and a short hop from Keystone Parkway, US 31 and the Monon Trail. The drive is about fifteen minutes from Fishers, Westfield, Zionsville or north Indianapolis. As a purpose-built sports facility it offers a level floor, high ceilings, real restrooms, ample parking and enough square footage that aisles stay walkable even when the room is full — a real improvement over the legion hall for a two-day event.
Friday is the session for serious buyers: smaller crowds, first pick and the best environment for negotiating on high-end material. Saturday is the family day, busier and more social, with giveaways and the fullest dealer roster. Sellers should bring material both days, since anniversary shows draw buyers who came specifically to spend.
Come Friday if you have a real want list. Bring cash — large purchases negotiate meaningfully better in cash — plus Venmo as backup. Carry penny sleeves, top loaders, a magnifier for centering and corners, and a rolling case. Walk the full floor and note table numbers before committing on anything significant, and save your last hour Saturday for negotiation, when dealers would rather discount than pack inventory back into the truck.