Collect-A-Con returns to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont on Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11, 2026, taking over Hall A with more than 900 vendor tables. Collect-A-Con bills itself as the nation's largest trading card and pop culture convention, and the Chicago stop is one of its biggest rooms of the year. This is not a card show with some anime tables bolted on — it is a full convention where trading cards, anime, comics, video games and live entertainment share the same floor.
Hours are Saturday 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Children 7 and under get in free. Tickets are sold through Universe, with single-day and weekend options; buy in advance, because Collect-A-Con Chicago has a history of long walk-up lines.
The vendor floor covers an enormous range. On the trading card side: Pokemon in depth, plus Yu-Gi-Oh!, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece, Lorcana and Metazoo, spanning raw singles, graded slabs, sealed booster boxes, elite trainer boxes and Japanese product. Sports cards have a real presence too — baseball, football, basketball and hockey, vintage through modern, raw and slabbed. Beyond cards, expect Funko Pops, anime merchandise, comic books, vintage toys, video games and convention exclusives you cannot buy anywhere else. PSA and CGC both partner with the show, so on-site grading submission is typically available — bring your cards in penny sleeves and card savers if you plan to submit.
The guest lineup is a major draw in its own right. The announced roster for Chicago includes Steve Aoki, plus a deep bench of anime voice actors: Justin Briner, Johnny Yong Bosch, Brian Drummond, Monica Rial, Steve Blum, Cristina Vee, Dan Green, Eric Stuart, Clifford Chapin, David Matranga and Leah Clark, with more guests announced closer to the date. Panels, a celebrity signing schedule and live performances run across the weekend — check the official schedule the week of the show, since times shift.
The Donald E. Stephens Convention Center sits at 5555 N River Rd in Rosemont, next to O'Hare and directly served by the CTA Blue Line Rosemont station, which is genuinely the easiest way in. Driving means paid convention parking; the Blue Line avoids it entirely. The official hotel is the Hyatt Regency O'Hare at 9300 Bryn Mawr Ave, a short walk away.
Who should go: TCG collectors and players, anime and pop culture fans, and anyone who wants selection over intimacy. A 900-table room means you can compare a card across a dozen vendors. Families do well — kids 7 and under are free, cosplay is everywhere, and there is enough non-card content that a non-collector will not be bored. Sports-only collectors will find plenty, but should know the room skews TCG and pop culture.
Strategy: Saturday morning has the deepest inventory and the longest lines; Sunday afternoon has the best prices, since vendors discount rather than repack. Bring cash and a payment app, comfortable shoes, a hard case or backpack for pickups, and a want list. Vendor questions go to (214) 617-4023 or [email protected].