The East Bay Card Show's TCG NOW event lands at the Santa Clara Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday, May 9–10, 2026 for one of the largest dedicated trading card weekends on the San Francisco Bay Area calendar. The TCG NOW branding signals a heavier emphasis on modern trading card games and Pokémon than the operator's traditional sports-leaning shows, and it sits a comfortable drive south of San Francisco at 5001 Great America Parkway in Santa Clara — easy to reach for collectors driving down from the city, the Peninsula, the East Bay, and the South Bay.
The vendor floor brings the broad cross-section that has made the East Bay Card Show a cornerstone of Bay Area collecting. Pokémon dealers run especially deep at TCG NOW shows, with vintage WOTC Base Set, Jungle, Fossil, Team Rocket, Neo Genesis, and Skyridge inventory alongside EX-era and Diamond & Pearl-era nostalgia, modern Scarlet & Violet hits, Japanese exclusives, promos, jumbo cards, trophy cards, alt-arts, and graded slabs from PSA, BGS, CGC, and SGC. Beyond Pokémon, the show packs One Piece TCG, Magic: The Gathering Commander and Standard, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Disney Lorcana, Dragon Ball Z Fusion World, Digimon, Star Wars Unlimited, Flesh and Blood, and Union Arena dealers. Sports card tables — though a smaller share than at the operator's classic East Bay Card Shows — still bring deep MLB, NBA, NFL, and NHL inventory across vintage and modern, with strong San Francisco Giants, 49ers, Golden State Warriors, San Jose Sharks, Oakland Athletics, Stanford, and Cal product. Locked cases display PSA, BGS, SGC, and CGC graded slabs, and additional tables stock autographed memorabilia, vintage comics, Funko Pops, plushies, anime figures, and hobby supplies.
Saturday hours run 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM PDT and Sunday runs 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM PDT. General admission is sold through the East Bay Card Show website and at the door, with VIP early-access bundles available for collectors who want first pick before the public hour each day. Kids 12 and under enter free with a paying adult. Door prizes and pack giveaways are distributed throughout the weekend while supplies last.
The Santa Clara Convention Center is located at 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA 95054, just off US-101 and adjacent to Levi's Stadium and the California's Great America theme park. The venue is climate-controlled, ADA-accessible, and laid out on a single level with wide aisles. Paid parking is plentiful on-site, and a wide range of restaurants, hotels, and attractions sit within walking distance — making this a natural destination for a family weekend trip from San Francisco.
This show is a must-attend for Bay Area Pokémon and TCG collectors. Serious buyers use VIP early-entry to cherry-pick vintage Japanese exclusives, sealed wax, and graded slabs before the public floods in. Competitive Pokémon, One Piece, and Lorcana players scout singles for upcoming Regional Championships and Store Championships. Flippers and breakers restock binders, swap case-break hits, and live-stream from the floor. Families love the kid-friendly environment, free child admission, and broad inventory mix.
For the best experience, buy VIP early-entry, arrive right at 9:30 AM Saturday, bring cash plus Venmo and Zelle backups, and carry a detailed want list sorted by TCG title. Pack penny sleeves, top loaders, and a sturdy carrying box. Plan a real lunch break so the middle hours don't drain you. Follow @eastbaycardshow on Instagram and the eastbaycardshow.com website for vendor previews, ticket links, and 2026 schedule updates.