NEW YORK, NY — Fanatics Fest NYC 2026 officially opened to a completely sold-out crowd, delivering an unforgettable first day filled with iconic athletes, celebrity appearances, exclusive collectibles, and immersive fan experiences. From headline conversations to surprise moments on the show floor, Opening Day proved why Fanatics Fest has become one of the premier events in sports and entertainment.
Center Stage Highlights
The day featured an all-star lineup of conversations and live experiences, including:
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Mind the Game with LeBron James and Tyrese Haliburton, where LeBron answered fan questions, stepped off stage to meet attendees, and surprised a young collector by signing a trading card live.
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The Roommates Show featuring Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Aaron Judge, highlighted by deafening "MVP!" chants for Brunson and the trio celebrating New York as the greatest sports city in the world.
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What Do You Wanna Talk About? with Cody Rhodes and Tom Brady.
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The Disney Fan Draft, hosted by Roger Goodelland Taylor Rooks, unveiling Disney's new NFL Collection with appearances from Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Megan Keller, and NFL stars.
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The St. Brown Podcast featuring Dion Dawkins.
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Cold As Balls with Kevin Hart, iShowSpeed, and Rob Gronkowski, filmed live ahead of the series' return to Netflix.
Moments That Had Everyone Talking
Opening Day was packed with viral moments across the convention floor:
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Tom Brady delivered a perfect throw at the Raising Cane's activation, sending Rob Gronkowskicrashing into a dunk tank filled with Raising Cane's sauce.
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Rob Gronkowski revealed a fan's baby's gender with his signature Gronk Spike—it's a girl!
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Daymond John joined Tom Brady at the CardVault booth, surprising fans with giveaways, trading cards, and signed footballs.
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Late-night host Seth Meyers was spotted shopping and trading cards with collectors throughout the show.
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Kevin O'Leary ("Mr. Wonderful") purchased a Shohei Ohtani 1-of-1 Logoman Autograph Cardvalued at more than $1 million.
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Alex Rodriguez pulled a Cooper Flagg Rookie Autograph /75 from Topps Chrome Basketball at the CardVault booth.
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Fresh off his Talladega victory, NASCAR Cup Series driver Carson Hocevar raced fans inside the NASCAR Experience.
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Following the FIFA World Cup, USMNT veteran Tim Ream greeted fans and posed for photos at the MLS activation.
Journalist: Vinrelo
Photographer: Kashon (Bussa) Jones
