East Bay Card Show 2026: Complete Attendee Guide

The East Bay Card Show is the dominant Bay Area regional card show, running multiple weekend editions throughout 2026 across rotating venues. It's known for strong dealer turnout, dedicated TCG editions (TCG NOW), and Santa Clara-based events that draw collectors from San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and the Peninsula. Here's the complete attendee guide.

2026 Schedule

Multiple weekend editions throughout the year:

May 9–10, 2026: TCG NOW edition (Pokémon, MTG, Yu-Gi-Oh focused)
June 20–21, 2026: East Bay Card Show (sports + TCG mix)
July 4–5, 2026: TCG NOW edition
July 25–26, 2026: East Bay Card Show — Santa Clara
August 29–30, 2026: East Bay Card Show — Santa Clara
Additional dates throughout fall and winter

Confirm current dates and ticketing at eastbaycardshow.com.

Locations

The show rotates between Bay Area venues. Most 2026 editions run at:

Santa Clara Convention Center: Larger weekend editions, easy access from US-101.
Other East Bay venues: Smaller TCG NOW editions sometimes at smaller convention spaces.

Check the show's website for the specific venue address before each edition.

What Makes East Bay Different

East Bay differentiates from the typical regional card show in three ways:

TCG NOW dedicated editions. Some weekends are TCG-only — Pokémon, MTG, Yu-Gi-Oh, Lorcana, One Piece. If you collect TCG primarily, the TCG NOW dates are more relevant than the general editions.

Santa Clara location proximity. The convention center sits in the heart of Silicon Valley, drawing tech-industry collectors with disposable income. Pricing tends to skew higher than at more distant regionals.

Bay Area dealer concentration. Dozens of Bay Area card shops have dealer tables — many of which you can also visit at their physical locations during the rest of the year.

Tickets and Entry

Two-day weekend passes and single-day tickets sold via Eventbrite or at the door. VIP early-entry tickets often available for the larger weekend editions. Standard ticket runs $10–$25 depending on edition.

Children under 12 frequently enter free with paid adult. Active military typically receive discounts.

Where to Stay

Santa Clara has plentiful hotel options near the convention center:

Walking distance: Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, Hilton Santa Clara, Marriott Santa Clara. Premium pricing during show weekends.

San Jose nearby: Multiple mid-tier options 10–15 minutes south.

Sunnyvale / Mountain View: Quieter, slightly cheaper, easy 101/237 commute.

Avoid booking downtown San Francisco — the commute via 101 during show hours is brutal.

Bay Area Card Shops Worth Combining

Make the show weekend into a Bay Area shop tour:

San Mateo: What's on Second Sports Cards (a top-rated San Mateo shop). See our listing.
San Francisco: Multiple SF card shops worth visiting; browse our SF directory.
San Jose / South Bay: Numerous shops within 20 minutes of Santa Clara venue.

Floor Strategy

East Bay's main weekend editions have ~150–250 dealer tables — large enough to take 4–6 hours to walk, small enough to do thoroughly in a single day if you arrive early.

Saturday morning: Best inventory selection. Higher prices but most complete dealer tables.

Saturday afternoon: Peak crowds. Hard to negotiate.

Sunday morning: Lighter crowd, better deal flow.

Sunday final 90 minutes: Sharp price drops as dealers offload inventory.

TCG NOW Editions: What to Know

TCG NOW weekends are a different experience. Almost no sports cards, very heavy on Pokémon singles, MTG singles, and modern Pokémon sealed product. Lorcana, One Piece, and Yu-Gi-Oh have growing presence.

Most TCG NOW dealers are local Bay Area card shops bringing their TCG inventory. Pricing is competitive with TCGplayer market, sometimes 5–15% better in person.

Cash and Negotiation

Cash is preferred. Most dealers accept Venmo and Zelle; fewer take credit (with 3% surcharge). ATMs on-site available but charge fees.

Bay Area dealers tend to be price-aware — most have eBay sold listings on their phones. Dealers will negotiate but not as deeply as in cheaper regions. Expect 5–15% negotiation room on raw cards, less on graded.

Food and Breaks

Santa Clara Convention Center has on-site food vendors, plus surrounding restaurants in walking distance. Strongly recommend stepping out for a real meal between sessions — the convention food is mediocre and overpriced.

Parking

Convention center parking is available, typically $15–20 per day. Surrounding hotels often offer cheaper or free parking with validation. Rideshare from anywhere in the Bay Area is straightforward.

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