The Grimaldi Forum will host Monaco’s first-ever trading card fair on Saturday, September 13, with organisers aiming to put the Principality on the global map of collectible events. The Monaco Card Show, presented by Voggt, will gather enthusiasts of sports and pop culture cards for a day of trading, exhibitions and appraisals.
The event is the creation of childhood friends and lifelong collectors Dominique Gastaldi and Nicolas Bermond, who want Monaco to take its place alongside major international fairs already established in London, Paris and the United States. Their ambition is to attract both seasoned collectors and newcomers to a booming market that has grown rapidly in recent years.
The appeal of collectible cards lies in their rarity, condition and, in the case of premium versions, embedded details such as autographs or pieces of jerseys. Cards featuring athletes often fluctuate in value depending on sporting performance, with some surging overnight after a decisive game or plunging in the wake of scandals. Examples range from Victor Wembanyama’s rookie card, which sparked extraordinary demand in the basketball world, to footballer Mason Greenwood’s collection, which plummeted during legal troubles.
While some rare cards have reached staggering sums, such as Mickey Mantle’s 1952 baseball card, sold for $12.6 million, most collectors participate at a more modest level. The Monaco Card Show will allow fans to buy, sell, trade and have items graded, with global leaders Panini America and Topps represented. Among the highlights will be the first public release of Antoine Griezmann’s personal card collection, as well as the appearance of AS Monaco legend Jean-Luc Ettori, who will sign specially designed cards available to attendees.
The market for trading cards shows no sign of slowing down. Pokémon cards alone account for more than $150 billion in revenue since their creation, while the global sports card sector is projected to exceed $10 billion. With such momentum, the Monaco Card Show aims to establish itself as a new meeting point for collectors in southern Europe and a permanent fixture in the international calendar.
