Hawaii Pop Con returns to the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu on the weekend of Saturday, January 9, 2027, and it is widely regarded as the biggest card show of the year in the state. Billed as a pop-culture convention with comics, trading cards, sports cards, cosplay, and celebrity guests, Pop Con anchors a massive trading card vendor section inside a full convention floor, and it draws vendors from across the mainland alongside Hawaii's own shops and dealers. Every serious collector in the islands circles this weekend.
The card section is where Pop Con earns its reputation. Expect mainland sports card dealers with inventory that never otherwise reaches Oahu: graded rookies of current NFL, NBA, and MLB stars, vintage baseball and basketball, autographed and patch cards, and case-hit level pulls across MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL, boxing, and UFC. Pokemon is a full second pillar, with modern and vintage singles, Japanese product, and slabs from local and visiting vendors. TCG tables cover One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, Lorcana, and Dragon Ball. Grading company representatives have taken submissions at past editions, and live breakers are common. Beyond cards, the floor includes comic dealers, anime and manga vendors, toy and Funko Pop sellers, artist alley, cosplay contests, and celebrity guest panels and autograph sessions.
Pop Con has historically run as a two-day weekend convention; the organizer's site confirms the 2027 return to the Blaisdell but had not yet posted daily hours, ticket prices, or the guest list at the time of listing. Expect a Saturday and Sunday schedule with general admission and VIP tiers, and check hawaiipopcon.com for confirmed details.
The Neal S. Blaisdell Center is at 777 Ward Avenue in Honolulu, between downtown and Ala Moana. The convention uses the Exhibition Hall and adjoining spaces. Parking is available in the Blaisdell's own lots at an event rate, with additional paid parking nearby; the lots fill early on Pop Con weekend, so arrive at opening or consider rideshare. The center is air conditioned, food vendors are on site, and Ward Village and Kakaako restaurants are a short walk away.
This is the must-attend event for serious sports card and Pokemon collectors who want mainland-level inventory without a flight, for families who want a full weekend of pop-culture programming, and for cosplayers and anime fans. First-timers will find plenty to do even without buying a single card. Vendors interested in tables should apply early through hawaiipopcon.com; the floor sells out.
Tips: buy tickets in advance, arrive before doors on Saturday for the best selection, bring cash for smaller purchases, carry a want list, and pack a sturdy bag with sleeves and top loaders. Plan your route: hit the card section first, then panels and guests. Sunday afternoon is deal time as visiting dealers pack for their flights.
For tickets, hours, and guest announcements, visit hawaiipopcon.com or follow @hawaiipopcon and @hawaiicardshows on Instagram.