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One of the region’s biggest trading card events is back this summer! Taking over the Grand Ballroom of the Hopewell Hotel for three full days, the Grade10 Fest Summer 2026 is returning from June 19 to 21 for its fifth edition, packing the venue with over 120 local and international exhibitors, including China’s leading card platform PokeColor, renowned US auction house Goldin, grading authority CGC Cards, and Japanese card trading platform Clove.
This summer edition is also pulling a double shift as a celebration for Pokémon’s 30th anniversary. To mark three decades of the franchise, the venue will feature a dedicated Pokémon Dojo showcasing 10 rare vintage cards spanning from 1996 to 2024, with a combined value stretching into tens of millions of dollars. Among the ultra-rare treasures on display is the 1998 ‘Pikachu Illustrator’ card, widely regarded as one of the most valuable Pokémon cards on the planet; a 1996 first-edition Charizard card hand-signed by the original illustrator Mitsuhiro Arita; and an Umbreon Gold Star card that fetched a staggering US$48,500 (approx HK$378,300) at auction last year.
If staring at cards inside glass cases isn't enough, there’ll also be an immersive exhibition titled ‘A Journey Through Time’. Fans can wander through recreations of iconic eras, tracking the franchise’s evolution from the original 1996 home setups and chunky Game Boys to the animated television series of 2006, the mobile-led Pokémon Go madness of 2016, and straight into the present day. For the first time, organisers are also encouraging attendees to show up in full cosplay, with iconic animated characters Nurse Joy and Officer Jenny making special appearances to mingle with the crowd.
Beyond the pocket monsters, the festival is hosting the Hong Kong debut card launch of the popular Taiwanese sports cheerleading squad, Peach Girls. Six members of the group will be flying in to perform live and host autograph sessions for fans. Lucky collectors who manage to pull a rare Peach Girls card from the packs on sale at the event will even land a chance to meet their favourite members face-to-face.
Tickets are now available for purchase via Experience 11 and Popticket. A standard single-day ticket will set you back $80 and comes with one collectable pack of cards (no rare variants), while tickets for kids aged four to 11 are $40 each (free admission for children under four). Serious enthusiasts can opt for the three-day VIP pass for $588, which grants access for the entire weekend and includes three premium card packs containing exclusive rare variants to add to their collection.
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