An Ultimate Guide to the Top 5 Best Collectors Conventions in the USA 

No doubt, part treasure hunt, part excuse for a great get-together with fellow enthusiasts, if you have a genuine love of collectibles, we can guarantee there’s probably a hobbyist expo tailored to you. Fun for the whole family and those traveling solo, the immersive worlds where fandoms, history, and collecting cultures combine always make for a fantastic vacation away.  

Whether you’re passionate about music, money, or anime, with so many events to choose from, we thought we’d give you a helping hand by curating a handpicked selection of the top five collector conventions you need to visit this year. 

Level Up at the Epic Anime Expo in Los Angeles, California 

Held every year in the heart of downtown Los Angeles during the 4th of July weekend celebrations, if you’ve yet to experience an Anime Expo, think of it like you’re about to set foot through a portal to another universe. Safe to say, you won’t have experienced anything quite like it, with towering giant mecha on display and fellow enthusiasts dressed in anime cosplay outfits straight out of your favorite series. 

Perfect for families, merch hunters, and cosplay aficionados, one minute you’ll be hunting manga collectibles in Little Tokyo, and the next you’ll be dancing away to a live J-pop music concert. The energy inside the Los Angeles Anime Convention during the four-day event is nothing short of electric, with fan panels, artist meet and greets, not to mention a string of auctions, AX dance competitions, and cosplay fashion shows to see while you’re here. 

As the largest anime convention in North America, enjoy your entire trip this year’s AX Expo being looked after when you stay at the Aiden Los Angeles Downtown Dragon Gate Inn. 

Strike Gold at the Legendary World’s Fair of Money in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 

Next on our shortlist of the top five collector conventions will be a must for anyone who enjoys being surrounded by gold, silver, and centuries-old precious coins with a trip to the World’s Fair of Money. This year marks Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s turn to host this prestigious event, which feels less like a convention and more like a treasure hunt through history, with countless displays of some of the rarest gold coins and museum-worthy collectibles available. 

Held in different cities every August across North America, if you enjoy the thrill of discovering coins that are older the United States or learning about how counterfeit detection works – there is never a shortage of experts to ask here. Packed with monetary exhibits, dealer booths, and question-and-answer seminars, if you’re a fan of numismatic wonders, then the David L. Lawrence Convention Center is the place to be. 

Cash in on the excitement of this year’s World’s Fair of Money in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and top off a memorable trip to The Steel City when you stay at the Best Western Plus Cranberry-Pittsburgh North. 

Dig Through Vinyl Heaven at WFMU Record Fair – New York, New York 

You just can’t argue with the fact that New York City’s WFMU Record Fair is a vinyl obsession at full volume – where music fans scour the stands in search of their all-time favorites and discover a few forgotten masterpieces along the way. Returning to the Metropolitan Pavilion, the WFMU Record Fair feels more like a three-day underground music festival with live DJs spinning timeless classics, as die-hard record fans look for hidden vinyl treasures. 

Boasting a huge selection of music genres, no matter what floats your boat, you can get lost for hours scanning through punk, jazz, and psychedelic curiosities to find music you didn’t know existed but now suddenly need. On top of that, the WFMU Record Fair comes with the added appeal that you’ll be surrounded by like-minded music aficionados, so you can spend hours chatting about the greatest live albums of all time, together. 

Tot up the hours digging through crates of endless record collections as you explore the greatest vinyl record fair in North America, before recharging the batteries every night at the Best Western Premier Empire State Hotel. 

Meet Sporting Legends at the National Sports Collectors Convention – Chicago, Illinois 

Next on our shortlist of the best collector conventions in the US, we head to Chicago, Illinois, for the world-famous National Sports Collectors Convention (NSCC) at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. As a global coming together for sports nostalgia enthusiasts as sports fans, you’ll get the chance to meet with and collect signed museum-worthy memorabilia from stars, including the NFL’s Joe Montana, MLB’s Cal Ripken Jr., and the NBA’s Allen Iverson, who are all in attendance. 

Outside of the endless opportunities to meet your childhood sporting heroes, you can also embark on a search to find ultra-rare rookie cards, championship artifacts, and personalized signed jerseys. Whether you’re scouting the trading floor or wandering around the sports history exhibits, the convention is the ultimate five-day festival for sporting fandom and a superb chance to hang out with some of the greatest players of all time. 

Weave in and out of the enormous convention floor at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, Illinois, and relive every unforgettable moment while staying at the Best Western Plus Hawthorne Terrace Hotel when you’re in town. 

Cast Your Favorite Spells at MagicCon in Atlanta, Georgia 

Saving the best for last, if you’re looking for a convention for Magic: The Gathering, then you need to head to the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta this November. Put simply, walking into MagicCon feels like stepping into a live version of a trading card universe, where gaming tables are packed with players testing decks, swapping cards, and jumping into spontaneous matches with perfect strangers. 

Even if you’re new to the scene or just a casual MTG fan, the highly engaging nature of MagicCon will make it impossible not to get swept up in the atmosphere of strategy and storytelling. Whether you’re going to play or you’re on a quest to search out new cards and signed collectibles, you’ll want to come back every day of the convention. 

Whether you’re chasing tournament glory or just there to soak up the atmosphere, make sure you get the most out of your trip to MagicCon in Atlanta, Georgia, by booking your stay at the Best Western Plus Atlanta Airport-East.