The 2025 Topps Industry Conference wrapped up with a flurry of announcements that offer a clear glimpse into the company’s roadmap for the coming year.
Held annually, the event brings together a broad spectrum of sports card stakeholders — from card shop owners and breakers to influencers and industry insiders.
While the panels and speakers (including a dry appearance by Gary Vee) may have lacked sizzle, the product news certainly didn’t disappoint. Here are the key takeaways from this year’s conference.
Perhaps the biggest headline-grabber: Topps will officially launch its NBA-licensed products starting October 1, 2025. Expect to see a frenzy of releases as soon as the ink dries, including Topps Basketball 2025-26, which appears to mirror the design aesthetic of 2025 Topps Baseball (think bordered, striped cards).
Names like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama, and rising star Cooper Flagg are expected to headline the autograph lineup — a first for some players who haven’t had licensed autos in years. Announced sets include:
Many of these are brand-new or revived lines, signaling a fresh start for Topps in basketball.
While collectors will need to wait until March/April 2026 for officially licensed NFL cards, Topps teased a suite of football releases. In the interim, we may see a run of unlicensed products — or a stockpile until the license activates. Expected products include:
The announcement suggests Topps plans to ramp up production once the NFL window opens.
Topps is expanding beyond sports into pop culture with licensed properties that include:
The non-sport portfolio signals Topps’ commitment to broadening its appeal beyond traditional collectors.
Topps will continue their hold on Premier League products, with a summer 2025 push that includes:
The June 1 launch window suggests Topps plans to take full advantage of the European football offseason.
One of the most innovative announcements was the Red Rookie Shield program. These special rookie cards, distinguished only by a red rookie logo, offer collectors long-term rewards.
They can be redeemed for Fanatics FanCash based on the player’s career achievements:
| Achievement | FanCash Value |
|---|---|
| MVP or Cy Young | $100 |
| 2x MVP or Cy Young | $500 |
| 3x MVP or Cy Young | $700 |
| Hall of Fame Induction | $1,000 |
This initiative aims to blend collecting with “investing” in an athlete’s career trajectory. While the rewards may take years to materialize (especially for Hall of Fame status), it’s a clever way to encourage card retention.
Topps continues its aggressive pursuit of exclusivity, signing multiple projected 2025 NFL rookies to autograph deals — a clear move to outmaneuver Panini. Names mentioned include:
Collectors may see licensed rookie autos for these players as early as March 2025.
Tired of guessing whether “Zebra Disco Lava Hyper Pulsar” is to /15 or /199? So is Topps. Moving forward, parallels will be standardized across all products.
That means, for example, a red parallel will be numbered to the same count no matter the set. This change is a much-needed simplification, especially as the refractor landscape has grown unwieldy in recent years.
Continuing the momentum from debut patches, Topps will roll out:
These inserts will likely debut in Transcendent Baseball and similar high-end lines.
The 2025 Topps Industry Conference outlined an ambitious and multi-pronged approach to the future of trading cards. With NBA and NFL licenses on deck, a growing non-sport catalog, and fan-driven innovations like Red Rookie Shields, Topps is clearly positioning itself for a post-Panini era.
Whether these moves reshape the hobby long-term remains to be seen — but in the short term, collectors have plenty to be excited about.
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