Kentucky Card Fest brings a weekend-long trading card event to the Northern Kentucky Convention Center in Covington from Friday, October 23 through Sunday, October 25, 2026. Located across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, the venue is a modern convention space, and the Fest gives collectors in the Tri-State region and beyond a multi-day show with a wide range of vendors. Louisville hobbyists willing to make the roughly one-hundred-mile drive up I-71 will find one of the larger October events in the region.
The show is built around sports cards and trading cards. Dealers typically offer raw and graded singles for baseball, basketball, football, and hockey, as well as sealed wax, team lots, and memorabilia. Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh! vendors round out the floor. Listings do not specify an exact table count, but the use of a convention center suggests a show with plenty of room for dealers and shoppers.
Show directories list a Friday evening session from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, followed by Saturday and Sunday hours of 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Admission has not been confirmed, so check with organizers before you travel. The venue sits along the riverfront in Covington, with nearby parking garages and surface lots, and the walkable area has hotels and restaurants. Many attendees combine the show with a stay in Covington or Newport and an evening dinner along the river.
Who should attend? Serious collectors will appreciate the three-day format, which gives you time to browse and revisit tables. Families can come on Sunday for a relaxed pace. Dealers who normally travel to large Midwestern shows may find the Covington location convenient. Louisville collectors can treat this as a weekend trip, perhaps pairing it with a Cincinnati sports event or a visit to nearby attractions.
To make the most of the Fest, plan your days. Friday evening is a fine time to scout and talk with dealers before the crowds. Saturday brings the largest crowds and the widest selection, while Sunday can bring bargains as dealers consider what to take home. Bring a want list, cash, and a protective carrying case, and set a budget for each day so you do not overspend. Look for dealers who offer discounts for multiple purchases, and take photos of tables so you can compare prices. If you have cards to sell, bring an organized list or a small binder and ask for offers from several vendors. Stay hydrated and wear comfortable shoes, since convention floors are large.
Covington has a lively riverfront with restaurants and bars, and the city is just across the bridge from downtown Cincinnati. The surrounding area also offers museums, parks, and sports venues, so families can easily add activities to the weekend. If you drive from Louisville, plan on about an hour and fifty minutes each way, and check traffic before returning on Sunday evening.
This is a good fit for collectors who want a bigger weekend than a local one-day show.
VERIFY: Organizer, admission price, vendor count, and exact weekend hours were not confirmed from a primary source. Treat the schedule as preliminary.