East Coast Collectibles Convention at Mohegan Sun 2026
East Coast Collectibles Convention at Mohegan Sun 2026 brings hundreds of dealers and thousands of cards and collectibles to the Earth Expo & Convention Center on Saturday and Sunday, September 5–6.
Better known as EC3CON, the two-day Connecticut card show has grown into a major regional gathering for sports cards, Pokémon, trading card games, memorabilia and pop-culture collectibles. More than 350 vendor tables are planned for the September convention, with collectors invited to buy, sell and trade throughout the weekend.
This isn’t limited to serious sports-card collectors hunting expensive vintage cards, either. Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Disney Lorcana, Funko Pops, wrestling, comics, anime, non-sports cards, fan art and other collectibles are represented alongside traditional baseball, football and other sports cards.
More Than 350 Tables of Cards and Collectibles
EC3CON is produced by East Coast Collectibles, the Connecticut collectibles company that also operates a card shop in Middletown.
The organization describes its Mohegan Sun conventions as quarterly events drawing vendors and collectors from throughout New England and the Northeast. The move into the larger Earth Expo Center has allowed the convention to expand its number of tables, programming and special guests.
For collectors, that means a show floor built around browsing.
Some tables specialize in sports cards. Others concentrate on Pokémon and other trading card games. Visitors can search for individual cards needed to complete a collection, unopened products, memorabilia and collectibles while also bringing their own cards to trade.
And you don’t need to arrive looking for a five-figure Mickey Mantle card.
EC3CON specifically encourages younger and beginning collectors to explore inexpensive value boxes and dollar bins, talk with dealers and learn how trading works.
Special Guests Coming to EC3CON
The September show is also bringing several guests from professional wrestling, sports and animation.
Kurt Angle is scheduled to appear. The WWE Hall of Famer won a freestyle wrestling gold medal for the United States at the 1996 Olympic Games before becoming one of professional wrestling’s most recognizable performers.
Former WWE performer Joseph Sawyer, better known to wrestling audiences as Joe Gacy, is also listed among the convention’s guests. Sawyer performed as a member of the Wyatt Sicks during his WWE career.
Football fans will have an appearance by Tyler Nubin, the New York Giants safety who played college football at Minnesota before entering the NFL.
The guest list reaches into animation as well.
Gary Littman has provided voices for characters in One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL, Pokémon and other animated productions, while David Wills has accumulated voice credits across Yu-Gi-Oh! GX, Pokémon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, One Piece and other series.
Guest appearances, schedules and autograph opportunities can change, so collectors interested in meeting a particular guest should check the convention’s current schedule before attending. EC3CON’s ticket policy specifically notes that guest appearances and autograph times are subject to change.
Bring Your Own Collection
You don’t have to come solely to shop.
EC3CON encourages attendees to bring cards to trade, making the convention useful for collectors who already have boxes or binders sitting at home.
Trading with other attendees and interacting with vendors is permitted, although the convention notes that rules governing direct sales may vary.
For someone new to collecting, that’s also part of the appeal of a large card show. Instead of scrolling through listings online, collectors can handle cards, compare condition, ask dealers questions and see dozens of different approaches to the hobby in one room.
Saturday Night Trade Night
When the convention floor closes Saturday at 6 p.m., the collecting doesn’t stop.
EC3CON will hold a Trade Night from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, September 5.
The evening is devoted to collectors meeting one another, showing what they’ve brought and making trades outside the regular show-floor hours.
Better still, Trade Night is free and open to the public.
That makes Saturday potentially a very long day for a serious collector: early-bird admission begins at 9 a.m., the regular convention runs until 6 p.m., and Trade Night continues until 10 p.m.
Get Autographs Authenticated at the Show
James Spence Authentication, better known as JSA, is scheduled to provide on-site autograph authentication.
Collectors can bring signed memorabilia to JSA for examination rather than mailing an item away and waiting for it to be returned. The event listing says authentication can be completed in a matter of hours.
That’s particularly useful at a convention where autographs and signed memorabilia are both being bought and sold.
A Family-Friendly Introduction to Collecting
EC3CON is explicitly designed as an all-ages event, and children younger than 12 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
The organizers encourage children to bring cards of their own to trade and recommend starting younger collectors with inexpensive cards rather than immediately chasing high-value pieces.
That gives the convention an interesting second audience beyond veteran collectors. A parent who collected baseball cards years ago can walk into the same room with a child interested in Pokémon, while someone else may be hunting wrestling autographs, anime collectibles or modern football cards.
They’re different hobbies… until you put 350 tables under one roof.
About EC3CON
East Coast Collectibles operates both the convention and the East Coast Collectibles Card Shop in Middletown.
The company describes EC3CON as a quarterly Mohegan Sun event serving collectors from Connecticut and throughout the Northeast. Organizers say the convention attracts thousands of attendees and vendors from around the country.
And September isn’t the final show of 2026.
Another EC3CON is scheduled at Mohegan Sun for November 28–29, followed by announced 2027 conventions in January and June.
Event Details
Event: East Coast Collectibles Convention — EC3CON
Dates: Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, 2026
Saturday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Early Bird Admission: Saturday at 9 a.m. Early Bird admission must be purchased in advance.
Saturday Trade Night: 6:30–10 p.m.; free and open to the public.
Location: Earth Expo & Convention Center at Mohegan Sun
Address: 1 Mohegan Sun Boulevard, Uncasville, CT 06382
Admission: Tickets start at $20 according to the current ticketing listing. Children under 12 are admitted free with an accompanying adult.
Parking: Parking at Mohegan Sun is free. The Winter Parking Garage or Winter Parking Lot provides the most convenient access to the Earth Expo & Convention Center.
Visitors should allow additional time to enter because Mohegan Sun conducts security screenings before events on the property.
