HONG KONG—The world of collectible trading cards converged on Hong Kong starting today for the largest event of its kind ever held in the region, the Grade10 Festival, running for two days at the Hopewell Hotel in Wan Chai. This year’s immense scale has attracted over 120 exhibitors from across the globe, including the United States, Japan, South Korea, mainland China, and Southeast Asia, with organizers anticipating more than 23,000 attendees seeking rare finds and groundbreaking displays. The event underscores Hong Kong’s growing influence as a critical nexus in the booming international trading card market.
Global Attention Drawn to Van Gogh Pikachu Display
A major centerpiece of the festival is the global debut of a colossal “Van Gogh Pikachu” card wall, a visually stunning installation comprising over 400 graded PSA 10 “Gray Felt Hat Pikachu” cards. Valued at nearly HK$5 million (approximately US$640,000), this exhibit highlights the staggering value now attached to these collectibles. The card itself, released in 2023 as a promotional tie-in between Pokémon and the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, famously depicts Pikachu mimicking Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with a Gray Felt Hat, immediately becoming a modern classic in the hobby.
The festival’s magnetic draw was exemplified by the attendance of internationally renowned collector Nick Uliano, who traveled specifically from the United States to participate. His presence affirms Hong Kong’s rise as a vital destination for high-end card enthusiasts and investors.
“This specially included global premiere of the ‘Van Gogh Pikachu’ card wall is precisely to show the world that Hong Kong is not only a hub for numerous collectors but also a center where rare cards converge,” said Chan Chin-ching, CEO of MemeStrategy (2440.HK), one of the event’s key partners. He articulated strong confidence in Hong Kong’s potential to become the preeminent trading card exchange center in Asia, citing the city’s sophisticated infrastructure, deep pool of wealthy collectors, high transaction volumes, and card diversity as competitive advantages.
An Intersection of Tech and Pop Culture
Beyond the high-value cards, the Grade10 Festival incorporates technology and celebrity cachet. The event features the world’s first “Threads Dynamic Wall,” a cooperative venture with Meta’s social media platform, designed to facilitate real-time sharing and interaction among participants.
The opening ceremony drew notable figures from finance, culture, and sports, including Bernard Chan, Chairman of the Our Hong Kong Foundation; Chan Ka-kin, Managing Director of Grade10; and entertainment figure Alex Fong (Stephan Fung), underscoring the broad appeal of the hobby. Other supporting partners involved in the opening included the co-founder of CASETiFY and founding members of the American anime streaming service Crunchyroll.
Collector Benefits and Future Outlook
To engage attendees, organizers are offering opportunities to win highly sought-after prizes, including four “Gray Felt Hat Pikachu” cards, two of which are certified PSA 10 gem mint condition. Participants can enter by excelling in trivia or winning games in the designated activity zone.
As a renowned international wealth management hub, Hong Kong possesses a substantial number of affluent collectors capable of driving prices and establishing benchmark value in the market. The success and scale of the Grade10 Festival signals a turning point, suggesting the city is rapidly transitioning from a regional market to a dominant global force in high-stakes collectible trading. The event serves as a concrete indicator of the hobby’s maturity and its integration into the broader investment landscape in Asia.
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