Collectors and sports fans of all ages will descend upon Midtown Manhattan next week for one of the signature events on the hobby's calendar.
Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 will be held Friday through Sunday at the Javits Center, featuring one of the world's gatherings of sports memorabilia and merchandise.
The cllct team will be on the ground at the event all three days, and we've got everything you need to know if you plan to attend:
When and where is Fanatics Fest NYC?
Fanatics Fest NYC 2025 takes place June 20-22 at the Javits Center. Tickets for adults cost $60 per day or $150 for the three-day event. Tickets for kids cost $30 per day or $65 for three days.
You can buy tickets to Fanatics Fest NYC here.
What is Fanatics Fest NYC?
Launched first in 2024, Fanatics Fest is billed as a comic-con for sports fans. The first event featured a large card show, autographs, panels, podcasts and activities hosted by the major professional leagues.
Cllct’s review of the first Fanatics Fest praised the event’s activities but noted the collectibles and memorabilia experience could be improved.
What is there to do at Fanatics Fest?
The major draw of Fanatics Fest NYC for casual fans has been the number of league-related activities.
In 2024, the NHL allowed fans to shoot hockey pucks, the NFL hosted 40-yard dash races and the WWE, possibly the bigger winner of the entire event, offered fans the chance to recreate superstar entrances.
Fanatics Fest also hosted a number of panels and podcasts with celebrities and star athletes. Already a major part of 2024’s events, the collectibles and memorabilia space is expected to be larger in 2025. Dozens of athletes will sign autographs and take photographs.
The Fanatics Games will debut in 2025 and are expected to be the event’s biggest draw.
What are Fanatics Games?
The Fanatics Games are a series of competitions in which 50 star athletes will face off against fans for $2 million in cash and prizes.
According to Fanatics, the events will include:
- QB skills (football)
- Around the world (basketball)
- Goal-scoring (soccer)
- Pitching accuracy (baseball)
- Washer-dryer puck shooting (hockey)
- Superstar entrance (WWE)
- Striking challenge (UFC)
- Closest to the pin (golf)
The total prize pool includes $ 1 million in cash for the first-place winner, a Ferrari 812 GTS for second place and a 2003-04 Topps Chrome LeBron James Gold Refractor, which recently sold for $250,000, for third place.
If no fan finishes in the top three, the highest-scoring fan will receive $100,000.
What collectibles and memorabilia will be there?
Fanatics Fest NYC will feature a large sports and trading card show, but says it isn’t attempting to replicate the National Sports Collectors Convention.
The entire event will take place around a live-breaking arena, and card dealers will be spread throughout the show floor.
Topps plans to release three products exclusively available in-person at Fanatics Fest. The releases include a special 2025 Topps Series 2 Baseball set, a 2025 Topps Formula 1 set and a new 2025 Topps Chrome Baseball Cactus Jack set in collaboration with musician Travis Scott.
Fanatics also plans to host a massive $200 million memorabilia display called the Museum of Greatness.
Who will be signing autographs at Fanatics Fest?
Dozens of athletes are scheduled to sign autographs and take photographs across all three days at Fanatics Fest NYC 2025.
Friday is highlighted by Peyton and Eli Manning, Dwyane Wade, Reggie Jackson and Phil Simms. Saturday will host Albert Pujols, Becky Lynch, Cal Ripken Jr., Dan Marino, Joe Montana and The Undertaker.
Sunday will feature Allen Iverson, John Elway, Marshawn Lynch, Rhea Ripley and Trish Stratus.
Everything needed for autographs, photographs and prices can be found in cllct’s guide.
What is the Museum of Greatness?
Following feedback from 2024, Fanatics is expanding its memorabilia display to feature more than $200 million in collectibles at the Museum of Greatness.
Among the items to be displayed are Michael Jordan's 1998 NBA Finals “Last Dance” jersey, Shohei Ohtani’s 2024 All-Star Game uniform and a number of ultra high-end sports cards.
What panels will be hosted at the event?
There are currently 23 panels scheduled across the three-day event.
Of those announced so far, notable panels include Friday’s “Only in New York” and “The QB Playbook” on Saturday.
LeBron James is scheduled to host his podcast, “The Shop,” as a live panel on Saturday.
What other shows and podcasts will be hosted?
Podcasts scheduled to be hosted at Fanatics Fest include ESPN’s “First Take” with Stephen A. Smith on Friday, “4th and 1” with Cam Newton on Saturday and “Sports Are Fun!” on Sunday.
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture. He was previously the Collectibles Editor at Sports Illustrated. You can follow him on X and Instagram @benmburrows.