The OC Card Show returns to the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa on September 12 and 13, 2026, spreading across the OC Promenade and the Los Alamitos Building. This is the big one for Orange County — a two-building, two-day show on fairgrounds that give the promoter far more square footage than a hotel ballroom, and the vendor count reflects it. If you only make one Orange County show this fall, this is the one that will have the deepest inventory.
The split across two buildings tends to mean a split in emphasis, with heavy sports concentration in one hall and a larger gaming and collectibles presence in the other. Sports coverage is comprehensive: MLB, NBA, NFL and NHL, vintage through current-year product, prospect and rookie inventory, autographed memorabilia, and stacks of graded slabs across PSA, SGC, CGC and Beckett. Pokemon is the dominant TCG and shows up in force, with Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Lorcana and Dragon Ball Super also well represented. Expect break tables, supply vendors, comic and Funko dealers, and at least a few sellers working nothing but vintage raw bins.
Both Saturday and Sunday are full show days. The promoter has not published a confirmed admission price or exact door times for this date, so check the OC Card Show listing before you go — treat both admission and hours as unconfirmed. Fairgrounds shows in this venue historically open mid-morning and close late afternoon on both days, but do not plan a long drive around an assumption.
The OC Fair & Event Center is at 88 Fair Drive in Costa Mesa, off the 55 freeway near its junction with the 405 and Newport Boulevard. Parking is on the fairgrounds lots and is typically a paid per-vehicle charge rather than free — budget for it. The site is flat, paved and fully accessible, with permanent restrooms and food concessions. From Long Beach the drive runs about thirty-five minutes down the 405. Costa Mesa's food scene around the SoCo and Triangle areas is strong if you want a real meal rather than fairground concessions.
This show works for everybody. Families get a big, open, walkable venue. Casual collectors get enough tables to actually comparison-shop. Serious buyers and dealers get the vendor density that makes a trip worthwhile, and the two-building layout means you can spend a full day without repeating aisles.
Strategy for a show this size: pick your building first and commit to walking it completely before you buy, because with this many tables the first good price you see is rarely the best one. Bring cash — larger shows have more card readers than they used to, but cash still moves the needle on negotiation. Bring a physical want list, a phone charger, and a bag or small cart. Wear comfortable shoes; the walk between buildings adds up over a day. Saturday morning has the best selection, Sunday afternoon has the best prices.
Check the OC Card Show listing on Card Show Hub or the promoter's own channels for confirmed hours, admission pricing and the final vendor count before making the drive.
