Fanatics Fest NYC 2026

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Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 transformed the Javits Center into a massive celebration of sports, entertainment and collecting, bringing together championship athletes, cultural icons, passionate fans and some of the world’s most valuable trading cards.

Across three sold-out days, attendees experienced live podcasts, headline-making panels, athlete meet-and-greets, interactive competitions, card trading, exclusive product reveals and unexpected celebrity appearances. The weekend featured LeBron James, Lionel Messi, Tom Brady, Serena Williams, Kevin Hart, Novak Djokovic, Jalen Brunson, Aaron Judge, Justin Bieber and many more.

Fans can follow @fanaticsfest on Instagram for additional highlights and announcements.

Day One Opens With LeBron James, Tom Brady and Kevin Hart

Fanatics Fest began with a packed opening day featuring programming across Fanatics Games, Center Stage and several live podcast stages.

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Getty Images for Fanatics

Getty Images for Fanatics

LeBron James and Tyrese Haliburton brought their Mind the Game show to the event, answering questions from the audience and interacting directly with fans. James stepped off the stage to greet attendees and surprised one young collector by signing a trading card during the appearance.

One of the day’s most entertaining moments occurred when Tom Brady completed a perfect throw at the Raising Cane’s target, sending former teammate Rob Gronkowski into a dunk tank filled with Raising Cane’s sauce.

Brady later joined Cody Rhodes for a live edition of What Do You Wanna Talk About?, while Gronkowski created another memorable moment by performing his signature Gronk Spike during a fan’s gender reveal, announcing that the baby was a girl.

The Roommates Show drew one of the loudest crowds of the opening day. Jalen Brunson was greeted with chants of “MVP,” while Josh Hart tossed Randy’s Donuts into the audience. New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge also joined Brunson and Hart, recounting the time Hart untied his shoe while sitting courtside at a Knicks game. Judge and Brunson agreed that there is “no place better than New York.”

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Getty Images for Fanatics

The first-ever Disney Fan Draft also debuted during the festival, celebrating a new Disney and Champion NFL collection. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Taylor Rooks were joined by athletes and celebrity presenters who selected Disney characters for NFL teams.

Tom Brady and Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza selected Darth Vader with the first overall pick. Gronkowski chose Captain Hook for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Olympic gold medalist Megan Keller announced Captain America for the New England Patriots.

Kevin Hart filmed new episodes of Cold As Balls with iShowSpeed and Gronkowski at the Outfield Stage. The appearances followed the announcement that new episodes of the series would arrive on Netflix later in the summer.

Elsewhere inside the festival, Daymond John and Brady surprised visitors at CardVault by Tom Brady, distributing trading cards and launching signed footballs into the crowd. Late-night host Seth Meyers was also spotted purchasing and trading cards.

USMNT veteran and Charlotte FC defender Tim Ream greeted supporters at the MLS booth, while NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar participated in the NASCAR Experience, competing against fans in an iRacing simulator.

Major collectibles also changed hands during the day. Kevin O’Leary reportedly spent more than $1 million on a one-of-one Shohei Ohtani Logoman autograph card at the Topps booth. Alex Rodriguez also pulled a Cooper Flagg rookie autograph card numbered to 75 at CardVault by Tom Brady.

Day Two Unites Global Sports Icons

The second day brought together an extraordinary collection of athletes and personalities from soccer, basketball, football, tennis and entertainment.

Fanatics Fest hosted FIFA World Cup Finals press conferences featuring Lionel Messi, Rodri, Tom Brady, Kevin Durant, Novak Djokovic, Rio Ferdinand and the teams’ coaches. The appearance concluded with a star-filled group selfie shared by Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin.

During the discussion, Brady asked Messi about the famous photograph showing him bathing a baby Lamine Yamal, the Spanish star Messi was preparing to face in the final. The crowd repeatedly erupted into chants of “Messi,” at one point interrupting Djokovic’s opening question for Argentina’s head coach.

Folarin Balogun and Logan Paul were among the notable guests seated in the front row.

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Getty Images for Fanatics

Rubin and Relevent Sports also hosted an exclusive luncheon inside JAY-Z’s reimagined The 40/40 Club. The gathering brought together leaders from sports, entertainment, technology and business, including Gianni Infantino, JAY-Z, LeBron James, Serena Williams, Tom Brady, Travis Scott, Adam Silver, Rob Manfred, Don Garber, Adam Mosseri, Neal Mohan, Gerard Piqué, Kaká, Rio Ferdinand and Draymond Green.

Shaquille O’Neal, Authentic Brands Group and TNT Sports’ DUNKMAN delivered another standout moment when athlete Darius Clark completed a 53-inch vertical jump. The performance set a new world record and earned Clark a $15,000 prize from O’Neal.

A staged confrontation also unfolded when Brady slapped Logan Paul during a heated on-stage exchange, prompting Karl-Anthony Towns to step between them.

At the Topps booth, Cooper Flagg unveiled his Rookie Debut Patch Autograph card in front of hundreds of collectors. Flagg admitted that he felt nervous while signing the card shortly before the presentation. One industry expert estimated that the card could eventually be worth as much as $5 million.

Getty Images for Fanatics

Getty Images for Fanatics

During Topps Trade Night in the River Pavilion, Towns completed trades with three young collectors. When one fan offered a Victor Wembanyama card, Towns told him, “This is New York—you can keep that Wemby,” receiving cheers from the crowd.

Day Two’s live programming included The Shop Live with LeBron James, Novak Djokovic, Folarin Balogun and Maverick Carter; Cold As Balls with Serena Williams and Cooper Flagg; and A Seat at the Table: The Future of Women’s Sports Ownership with Williams, Brady, Lindsey Vonn, James Harden and Candace Parker.

Other panels included Top the Game with Djokovic, Alex Morgan, Derek Jeter and Diana Taurasi, as well as Ant-Man Unleashed with Anthony Edwards.

The 40/40 Club remained one of the weekend’s most exclusive destinations. Guests included JAY-Z, James, Brady, Travis Scott, Kevin Hart, Shaquille O’Neal, DJ Khaled, Trevor Noah, James Harden, Stephen A. Smith, Teyana Taylor, Anthony Davis, Russell Wilson, Draymond Green, Candace Parker, Cooper Flagg, Puka Nacua, Fabolous, Gary Vaynerchuk and many more.

Justin Bieber Surprises Fans on Day Three

Fanatics Fest concluded with another sold-out day and one of the weekend’s biggest surprises.

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Getty Images for Fanatics

Getty Images for Fanatics

Justin Bieber made an unannounced appearance to compete in the Fanatics Games alongside Brady and Djokovic. Entering WWE-style to his hit song “YUKON,” Bieber immediately moved into first place on the competition leaderboard, followed by Brady and fan competitor JJ Mitchell.

New York basketball took center stage during the “Kings of New York” Championship Panel. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns and Mikal Bridges were greeted by a roaring crowd as they discussed the New York Knicks’ championship run.

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Getty Images for Fanatics

Getty Images for Fanatics

Brunson once again received chants of “MVP” throughout the conversation. The players later carried the Larry O’Brien Trophy through the Javits Center, giving thousands of fans an up-close opportunity to celebrate with the team.

At the Topps booth, Victor Wembanyama opened packs of Topps Star Wars cards and created several unique dual-autograph collectibles by adding his signature before handing the cards to fans. The appearance unfolded as members of the crowd chanted “Knicks in five.”

A Festival Built for Sports Fans and Collectors

Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 combined the excitement of a major sports convention with the atmosphere of a championship celebration, live entertainment festival and collectibles marketplace.

Fans were able to watch their favorite athletes participate in unscripted conversations, trade cards with professional players, compete in sports challenges and witness rare memorabilia being unveiled or purchased in real time.

From LeBron James signing a young fan’s card and Lionel Messi receiving thunderous chants to Justin Bieber unexpectedly joining the Fanatics Games, the three-day festival delivered a steady series of moments designed to bring fans closer to the biggest names in sports and entertainment.

Visit the official Fanatics Fest website for event information, tickets and future announcements.