In Atlantic City, Rare Pokémon Cards, a $1,500 Tournament & Retro Toys Are Taking Over the Boardwalk for One Day Only

City Pulse South JerseyPokémon & Sports Card Collectors Take Over Atlantic City This Sunday

South Jersey collectors, traders, and nostalgia-hunters have something big to circle on the calendar. The Atlantic City TCG Show is coming to the shore on Sunday, February 22, 2026, bringing a full day dedicated to Pokémon cards, sports collectibles, tabletop gaming, and retro toy culture , all inside the Showboat Resort Event Center on the famous Atlantic City Boardwalk.

Whether you’re a longtime collector protecting a binder full of holographics or a parent whose kids just discovered Pokémon for the first time, this event is shaping up to be one of the largest hobby gatherings in the region this winter.

What You’ll Find at the Show

From the moment doors open at 10 a.m., the convention floor will be packed with vendors covering nearly every corner of the trading card hobby. Attendees can browse, buy, sell, and trade across multiple fandoms and eras.

Expect tables featuring:

• Pokémon Trading Card Game

• Magic: The Gathering

• One Piece TCG

• Vintage and modern sports cards (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL)

• Graded cards and sealed booster boxes

• Retro toys and collectibles

• Supplies like sleeves, binders, and storage cases

For many collectors, shows like this are the best place to find cards you simply can’t locate online — especially vintage holos, rare pulls, or local dealer deals that never hit eBay.

Competitive Play: $1,500 Commander Tournament

The event isn’t just for browsing. Competitive players can also jump into a 64-player cEDH (Competitive Commander) Magic tournament featuring $1,500 in total prizes. Registration is handled online prior to the event, and organizers expect it to fill quickly given the growing popularity of Commander in the regional Magic community.

Even if you don’t play, tournaments tend to draw some of the most dedicated hobbyists — meaning better trade opportunities and higher-end collections walking the floor.

Event Information

Atlantic City TCG ShowDate: Sunday, February 22, 2026Time: 10:00 AM – 5:30 PMLocation: Showboat Resort Event Center801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City, NJ 08401

The show is open to the public throughout the day, and guests can freely browse vendor tables, trade with collectors, or participate in scheduled tournaments. For updates, vendor announcements, and tournament details, organizers are posting information on their official Instagram event page.

Why It Matters

Trading cards are experiencing another major boom, fueled by nostalgia, grading companies, YouTube box breaks, and a new generation discovering Pokémon and anime franchises. Shows like this bring together three generations of collectors: adults who grew up in the 90s, competitive tabletop gamers, and kids opening their first booster packs.

For South Jersey, it’s also another sign Atlantic City is continuing to evolve beyond casinos. Between esports, conventions, and family-friendly attractions, events like the Atlantic City TCG Show are helping turn the Boardwalk into a year-round entertainment destination.

If you’ve got a binder sitting in your closet… this might be the weekend to bring it with you.

More Than a Card Show

One thing that separates this event from a traditional hotel ballroom card show is the location. The Showboat Resort has become one of Atlantic City’s biggest family entertainment complexes, so the day can easily turn into a full outing.

Your visit can include:

• A full arcade

• Indoor go-kart racing

• The Island Waterpark

• Boardwalk restaurants and shops

In other words, collectors can hunt for Charizards while the rest of the family still has plenty to do.

If you’re already planning a stay at the Showboat or thinking about taking the kids to the indoor water park, it might be worth doing a little homework first. The BryMax Brothers recently spent a full day at the resort and filmed a complete review showing what the arcade, attractions, and water park experience is actually like for families. You can check out their walkthrough and see what to expect in the video below before you go.