The University Presbyterian Church Sports Card Show returns to Tempe on Saturday, September 5, 2026, with around 90 tables of sports cards and collectibles and free admission — making it one of the largest free card shows anywhere in the Phoenix metro. This long-running church-hall show has been a fixture of the East Valley hobby calendar for years, and its Labor Day weekend edition traditionally draws one of the biggest crowds of the season.
With 90 tables, the selection runs deep. Baseball dominates, from tobacco-era and post-war vintage through modern MLB rookies, autographs, and low-numbered parallels, but football and basketball are heavily represented, with NFL and NBA rookie cards, graded slabs, and inserts across every price point. Hockey, UFC, boxing, and soccer cards surface regularly, and the show's size means strong depth in graded cards from PSA, SGC, and CGC, sealed wax from multiple eras, complete sets, and enormous bargain sections — dollar boxes, quarter boxes, and binder after binder of set fillers. Pokémon and other TCGs appear at a growing number of tables, alongside memorabilia, autographs, and vintage publications.
The show runs Saturday morning into the early afternoon, with doors typically opening around 8:00 AM and closing around 2:00 PM — check the listing to confirm exact times before traveling. Admission is free with no VIP tier, and families with kids are very much part of the show's culture; it is one of the most welcoming rooms in Arizona for young collectors.
University Presbyterian Church is located near downtown Tempe and the Arizona State University campus, a few minutes from Loop 202 and Mill Avenue. Free parking is available in the church lot, with overflow street parking nearby. The fellowship-hall setting keeps things comfortable and air-conditioned, and downtown Tempe's restaurants are minutes away for lunch afterward.
Everyone from first-timers to full-time dealers gets value here. Families can spend a morning digging through affordable boxes without spending a dime at the door. Set builders will find the deepest commons and star inventory in the Valley. Serious collectors should work the display cases early — with 90 tables, fresh collections surface at this show constantly, and underpriced vintage does not last past mid-morning.
Tips for the day: arrive at open, since the Labor Day weekend edition draws heavy early traffic and the best material moves fast. Bring cash — it remains king at church-hall shows — plus a want list and a price guide app for on-the-spot comps. Wear comfortable shoes and budget at least two hours to see all 90 tables properly. If you are selling, bring your collection organized; multiple dealers here buy actively, and you can gather competing offers in a single lap of the room.
For confirmation of dates and details, see the show's listing on cardshowdirectory.com, which tracks each edition. The show repeats through the fall with October 3 and December 5, 2026 dates already on the calendar, so a strong first visit can easily turn into a monthly habit.