The trading card hobby continued to grow through the first half of 2026, with rising card grading volume, sustained demand for Pokémon products, and a busy schedule of local events. The trend is visible in Austin, Texas, where eight card shows are scheduled across the metro area in June, alongside a growing number of recurring weekly gatherings. Card Groove, an online directory of local trading card shows, compiled the schedule and tracks similar activity across the markets it covers.
The scale of collector demand is reflected in recent grading figures. According to data published by GemRate, PSA graded about 2.07 million cards in May 2026, an increase of roughly 25 percent year over year, while the industry graded close to 2.95 million cards across all companies. Demand has grown to the point that PSA has temporarily paused new submissions for its four lowest-cost Value tiers, effective June 2, 2026, citing a backlog of nearly 10 million cards. Trading card games (TCGs) such as Pokémon, One Piece, and Magic: The Gathering have surged in popularity, and the rise in TCG submissions has contributed to this growth.
Demand has been especially visible in the Pokemon market, where new products have been difficult to find on store shelves. Retailers have reported selling out quickly, and collectors have formed lines ahead of store openings when restocks are expected. The shortage has pushed many collectors toward in-person card shows as an alternative source for both sealed product and single cards.
Card shows provide a setting where collectors can buy, sell, and trade in person. The following card shows are scheduled in the Austin metro area in June 2026:
-
Legacy Card Show — June 6 at the Courtyard by Marriott, Austin. Free admission.
-
Mom and Pop Card Show, South Austin — June 7 at Ants Beer Cave, Austin. Five-dollar admission.
-
Austin Card Show — June 12 to 14 at the Palmer Events Center, Austin. A three-day show with more than 400 tables; ten-dollar admission.
-
Bat City Card Show — June 13 at Kenny’s Collectibles, Austin. Free admission.
-
Mom and Pop Card Show, Cedar Park — June 14 at The Fieldhouse at The Crossover, Leander. Five-dollar admission.
-
Home Town Card Show — June 20 at Red Horn Coffee and Brewery, Leander. Free admission, with more than 20 tables.
-
Home Town Card Show — June 21 at VFW Post 8787, Austin. Free admission, with more than 50 tables.
-
ATX Card Show — June 27 and 28 at the Hilton Austin, Austin. A two-day show with more than 300 tables; ten-dollar admission.
Recurring weekly events have also expanded. Craigo’s Card Show, hosted by Lakeway Card Show, runs every Tuesday at Craigo’s Sunset Valley in South Austin and every Thursday at Craigo’s Pizza & Pastaria in Lakeway, both from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. with free admission, covering Pokémon, One Piece, and sports cards. Local card shops have added regular trade nights as well, including Card Gurus Comics and Collectibles in Pflugerville and a weekly Saturday trade night from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Card Traders of Austin on Spicewood Springs Road. These recurring sessions give collectors midweek and weekend options between the larger monthly shows.
Attendees at Austin shows typically find vintage and modern cards, singles, sealed products, and professionally graded cards, with most shows featuring dedicated Pokémon tables alongside sports card vendors.
“Interest in the hobby has grown steadily this year, and that is showing up in how many shows are running locally,” said Kevin Jones of Card Groove. “When products are hard to find in stores, shows give collectors a place to buy, sell, and trade in person.”
Media Contact
Company Name: Card Groove
Contact Person: Kevin Jones
Email: Send Email
Phone: (512) 920-3295
City: Austin
State: Texas
Country: United States
Website: https://cardgroove.com/
Press Release Distributed by ABNewswire.com
To view the original version on ABNewswire visit: Austin card shows gain popularity in June 2026 as the trading card hobby grows
