Card Party San Diego (Partner Event) — May 29, 2027

The buying, selling and trading happens across three expo halls, where vendors share the floor with artists and other attendees. The rest of the weekend is programming. Stage shows run through the event, with rare box breaks held live on stage, and creators and streamers are on hand for meet-and-greets. Pack battles and TCG tournaments fill out the schedule, and trade tables give attendees room to swap cards.

Two evenings are built around trading. A Friday trade night and a Saturday trade night each have their own sponsor. Attendees can also work through the Card Party Card Hunt, an activity that earns limited-edition cards made for the event. Other interactive activities and prize giveaways run through the weekend, and the event is fun for all ages.

Dates and format

San Diego is the first of three Card Party stops in 2027, followed by Orlando in August and Nashville in October. It is the show's second straight year in San Diego. A May 2026 edition has already taken place.

Tickets, vendor tables and VIP options are all sold online, and discount hotel rates for the San Diego dates have not been released yet.

Vendor tables and exhibitor rules

Vendor tables are sold in limited numbers, and the same space is shared with artists, creators and brands. The exhibitor rules are strict about two practices. Suitcasing, meaning getting into the event on an attendee or expo-only badge and then soliciting business in the aisles, in another company's booth or in other public spaces, is not tolerated. Anyone seen doing it is asked to leave immediately, and the rule extends to commercial activity run from hotel rooms or hospitality suites.

Outboarding, meaning a side event that is not sanctioned by the organizer and feeds off the crowd the show draws, is treated as unethical conduct. Sponsors, exhibitors and attendees are asked to decline invitations that conflict with official programming, and badges are rescinded for violations of either rule. Some time blocks are set aside as open time, with no official agenda, so outside gatherings can be scheduled then.

Attendee policies

Passes are not refundable. The schedule and creator lineup can change without notice, and no refunds are given for those changes. Photos and video are taken throughout the event and may be used to promote later shows.

History

Card Party is entering its fifth generation, four years in, and has run in several cities along the way. The 2027 calendar brings it back to Orlando after a three-year absence and adds a first Nashville date. San Diego's May 2027 edition follows the May 2026 event in the same city.

Getting there

The Gaylord Pacific is a resort and convention center, so lodging, dining and the show floor share one property. Attendees who prefer to stay off-site have card stores in the neighborhood. Bards and Cards, Centre City Sports Collectibles and Now Or Never Comics are each within about a third of a mile of the San Diego listing, and Chuy's Toys and Collectibles is under two miles away. Another San Diego show, San Diego TCG Con, is on the calendar for November 21, 2026.

Who it suits

Card Party San Diego fits Pokémon collectors who want a large vendor floor with a full event program around it, fans who want time with creators and streamers, and creators looking for panels and community. Vendors who want a table need to plan around the exhibitor rules and the sponsor-protected schedule.