Collect-A-Con Charlotte takes over the Charlotte Convention Center the weekend of August 22 and 23, 2026 for what is regularly billed as the nation's largest trading card and pop-culture convention. Held at 501 South College Street in the heart of uptown Charlotte, this two-day mega-event combines a massive vendor hall, anime voice actor guests, sports memorabilia signings, athlete appearances, gaming tournaments, and influencer meet-and-greets in a way no other Southeast card show approaches. Raleigh collectors regularly make the 165-mile I-85 drive southwest because Collect-A-Con's scale — hundreds of vendors, anchor sponsors, breaker partners, and event programming — is several times the size of any single-day Triangle show. Late-August timing puts the show right at the front of NFL kickoff energy.
The vendor hall covers every corner of the hobby and pop culture. TCG dealers fill multi-booth sections with Pokémon singles and sealed product across every era — vintage WOTC Base, Jungle, Fossil, Team Rocket, Gym Heroes, and Neo through modern Scarlet & Violet, the new 2026 sets, Japanese imports, and graded slabs in PSA, BGS, CGC, and Ace Grading flips. Magic: The Gathering vendors run deep with Reserved List vintage, Modern, Legacy, Commander, and Standard staples, foils, and the latest Universes Beyond crossover sets. Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece TCG, Disney Lorcana, Dragon Ball Z Fusion World, Star Wars Unlimited, Flesh and Blood, Metazoo, and Riftbound all show up in force. Sports card dealers stock deep MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, UFC, boxing, soccer, and college football inventory — vintage through modern Panini Prizm, Donruss Optic, Select, Mosaic, Topps Chrome, Bowman Draft, and premium Topps Dynasty, National Treasures, Flawless, and Immaculate. NASCAR cards and memorabilia hit hard given Charlotte's racing heritage. Anime merch, comics, vintage toys, video games, Funko Pops, action figures, prints, and original art fill the perimeter.
Hours run Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern. Ticket tiers include single-day passes, two-day passes, VIP packages with early-entry priority and exclusive show swag, and meet-and-greet packages with featured guests. Children under a certain age typically enter free with a paid adult. Buy tickets in advance on collectaconusa.com — Saturday sells out at door, and VIP early-entry is the move for serious collectors who want first crack at fresh dealer cases.
The Charlotte Convention Center sits at 501 South College Street, Charlotte, NC 28202, in the heart of uptown a short walk from Bank of America Stadium, Spectrum Center, and the LYNX Blue Line light rail. Parking is widely available in surrounding decks — the Convention Center Garage, the EpiCentre Garage, and the 7th Street Station deck are all close. Dining options are immediate and excellent — try The King's Kitchen, 5Church, Sea Level NC, or the Soda City sandwich spots. Multiple hotels surround the convention center, including the Westin, the JW Marriott, and the Holiday Inn Uptown.
This show fits TCG players, sports card collectors, anime fans, families, casual pop-culture fans, NASCAR specialists, and serious dealers stocking shop inventory. For the best experience, buy VIP early-entry, arrive Saturday at 10:00 AM sharp, bring cash plus Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, and credit-card backups, and carry a written want list. Pack deck boxes, sleeves, and a hard-sided slab case. Follow Collect-A-Con on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok (@collectacon) and check collectaconusa.com/charlotte for guest announcements and ticketing updates.