Once again, the hallowed halls of the Javits Center in New York City are poised to transform into a sports fan’s Valhalla as Fanatics Fest 2025 reclaims its dominion over collectors and aficionados from June 20–22. Returning for its sophomore strut down the aisles of sporting legend, this year’s festive fiesta vows to outdo its debut, amping up the star power, rare collectibles, and wallet-tempting exclusives.
As the festival throws open its doors, expect the city to pulse with the melodic echoes of cracking bats and fans’ cheers. Baseball aficionados will have their mitts full with a panoply of signings and photo ops from some of baseball’s living legends and ambassadors. If you’ve been dreaming of a selfie with not just any hall-of-famer but a constellation of star-studded athletes, brace yourself: Derek Jeter, Mike Piazza, and Dwight “Dr. K” Gooden will be rubbing elbows with fans, joined by Reggie “Mr. October” Jackson, CC Sabathia, and Billy Wagner—all of whom share a harmonious chord with the Big Apple.
Satisfying the urge for nostalgia and current-day awe alike, the fest is set to host the glittering titans of baseball such as Albert Pujols and Manny Ramirez, while Mike Schmidt will add his name to the playbill. Meanwhile, the current crop aiming to etch their names in pinstriped lore will include the energetic Max Fried and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
But don’t think for a moment that this spectacle is confined to the diamond. It’s more like an intersports gala: Gracing the fest are names like LeBron James, the GOATs Tom Brady and Peyton Manning, court wizards Kevin Durant, wrestling phenom John Cena, hockey herald Henrik Lundqvist, and personalities from outside the sporting world, such as rapper Travis Scott, comedic dynamo Kevin Hart, and Hollywood star Kevin Costner. Truly, this feels less like a festival and more like an all-star reality.
Of course, the heart of Fanatics Fest beats with the luve for collecting, capturing stories of victory and camaraderie frozen in time on cards and memorabilia. Expect Topps to steal the show with a triad of event-only card and collectible releases that will have collectors buzzing with anticipation:
Kicking off with a bang on Friday, the exclusive “Cactus Jack” high-end boxes will debut, each tagged at $500 and stuffed with two packs of four cards apiece—sure to spark a collector’s frenzy.
On Saturday and Sunday, batting cleanup are the Fanatics Fest-exclusive Topps Series 2 boxes. Grace your collection with NYC-themed parallels; hobby boxes will come at $300, while those seeking a bargain can snag value boxes at a friendly $50.
The festival’s “merch village” is a tantalizing bazaar of treasures, a place where dozens of booths promise to satisfy collectors with an eclectic showcase wafting from tabletop to curio cabinet.
Perhaps the pièce de résistance of Fanatics Fest is the return of the mind-boggling “Museum of Greatness.” Marvel at over $200 million of historic sports memorabilia, a cornucopeia of nostalgia headlined by gems from the likes of Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, and modern marvel Shohei Ohtani. The million-dollar Paul Skenes patch, renowned for both its scarcity and story, takes center stage in the exhibit along with over 50 Topps Rookie Debut Patch cards. With merely 347 in existence, this display is a spectacular feat of collector prowess.
Adding a fresh twist this year, Fanatics Games invites attendees to partake in interactive fan challenges, mingling competitiveness and merriment. Visitors can try their hands—literally—at Pitching Accuracy and other challenges, with cash prizes sparkling at the finish line.
Panels and podcasts will unfurl throughout the weekend, throwing open the doors to engaging discourse and firsthand stories enriching the celebration of sporting culture, elevating it beyond a mere exercise in consumerism.
With 70,000 fans walking through its doors last year, Fanatics Fest is bracing for an even greater turnout. Prepare for a tidal wave of fans as they converge on the streets of New York come June.
For more information on this exhilarating, adrenaline-soaked spectacle, including ticket sales and a detailed itinerary, fans are invited to visit FanaticsFest.com. There’s no doubt that New York City’s heart will beat to the rhythm of athletic swagger and collectors’ dreams this summer.
