Card Swap #1, presented by Collectors Expo, takes over the Sheraton San Gabriel on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4, 2026 — a free-entry, TCG-focused trade show from the team behind Collectors Expo, Anime Impulse, and K-Play! Fest. Collectors Expo built its reputation on big ticketed conventions at the Anaheim Convention Center and the Fairplex; Card Swap is its new, smaller, no-admission format designed around the thing collectors actually come for: buying, selling, and trading cards across a table. The San Gabriel edition is the first of two October dates.
The floor is trading card games front to back. Pokemon anchors the room with singles, graded slabs, sealed Scarlet & Violet product, Japanese boxes and promos, and vintage WOTC holos. One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Disney Lorcana, and Magic: The Gathering fill out the dealer tables, and the Collectors Expo crowd brings a strong collectibles side too — Pop Mart and blind-box figures, Funko Pops, K-pop photocards and merch, plushies, and anime goods. Because the format is a swap, many attendees set up informal trade sessions in the open seating, and the promoter leans into that with community giveaways and prizes throughout the weekend.
Hours had not been finalized at listing time; Collectors Expo's convention days typically run from late morning through early evening, so plan on roughly 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM each day and confirm the exact times on the Card Swap event page. Admission is free both days — no tickets, no VIP tier, no early-entry fee. Kids are welcome, and the hotel-ballroom setting is comfortable for families.
The Sheraton San Gabriel sits at 303 East Valley Boulevard, at the corner of Valley and San Gabriel Boulevard, minutes from the 10 freeway. The hotel has an on-site parking structure (expect a hotel day rate) and there is metered and lot parking along Valley Boulevard. The location is ideal for the west San Gabriel Valley — San Gabriel, Alhambra, Rosemead, Monterey Park, Temple City, Arcadia, and Pasadena — and Valley Boulevard's restaurant row is right outside the door.
Who should attend? Trade-binder collectors who want to swap rather than spend; Pokemon and One Piece hunters looking for singles; anime and K-pop collectors who like the Collectors Expo mix; families looking for a free weekend activity; and anyone who found the big Anaheim convention overwhelming and wants a calmer room.
Tips: bring a well-organized trade binder — this show is built for trading, and vendors and attendees alike will flip through it. Cash gets the best deals, with Venmo and Zelle as backups. Carry a want list, a slab case, and extra sleeves for trades. Arrive at opening on Saturday for the freshest stock, and stay late Sunday for pack-down discounts.
For hours, vendor sign-ups, and giveaway announcements, visit collectorsexpo.com/cardswap and follow @collectorsexpo on Instagram.