Releases to watch for Winter 2026

Winter 2026 is shaping up to be red-hot for sports card collectors. Even if the snow is falling outside, there will be plenty of boxes to rip! At MC Cards, we’re watching several major releases, mainly in hockey but also in baseball. Here are the products to keep an eye on and plan into your budget for January–March 2026.

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1. 2025-26 Upper Deck Allure – chrome to kick off the year

The first big hockey release of the year will be 2025-26 Upper Deck Allure, expected around January 21, 2026.

Allure is the perfect mix of “chrome” design, colourful parallels and spectacular inserts. You can expect:

Lots of numbered parallels

Shiny rookies that grade very well

Autos and flashy inserts for modern-card fans

For collectors who like a premium look but still want something relatively accessible, Allure is an excellent way to start Winter 2026.

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2. 2025-26 O-Pee-Chee – the big retro set (February 2026)

Another must-have is 2025-26 O-Pee-Chee Hockey, scheduled for February 4, 2026.

OPC is the ultimate set-builder product:

A huge checklist so you can build full sets

Retro design that brings back the feel of the 70s and 80s

Special inserts and the famous Top Rookie Puzzle Bounty, which rewards collectors who complete the rookie puzzle

If you love opening a lot of packs, trading with friends and building full sets, O-Pee-Chee will be a key product in your Winter 2026 plans.

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3. 2025-26 Upper Deck Series 2 – the Young Guns hunt continues

The rookie season doesn’t end with Series 1. 2025-26 Upper Deck Series 2, announced for March 4, 2026, brings a fresh wave of highly anticipated Young Guns.

Key points:

Continuation of the 2025-26 base set (250 new cards)

About 6 Young Guns per hobby box on average

Ongoing popular inserts (UD Canvas, Dazzlers, Portraits, etc.)

Some of the most sought-after rookies of the season often appear in Series 2. For collectors who grade with PSA/KSA or think long-term, this is a crucial release.

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4. 2025-26 SP Game-Used – for memorabilia lovers

Around mid-March 2026, a higher-end product will also arrive: 2025-26 SP Game-Used, expected on March 18, 2026.

What makes it special:

Jersey, patch, tag and stick-piece cards, often very limited

Lots of numbered and themed cards (All-Star, special events, etc.)

A great product if you like “showpiece” cards to display in your collection

It’s a riskier but spectacular product, perfect if you want a few truly unique cards.

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5. Bonus: 2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball – the start of the MLB season

Even though MC Cards is heavily focused on hockey, many of our customers also follow baseball and the Blue Jays. Winter 2026 will also feature 2026 Topps Series 1 Baseball, expected in February 2026.

Topps Series 1 is:

The official start of the MLB card season

A big base set featuring stars, rookies and Future Stars

An excellent product for set building or grading the top rookies

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How MC Cards will help you enjoy these releases

Release dates can always move a bit, but one thing is certain: Winter 2026 will be busy. At MC Cards, our goal will be to offer:

Single cards of key rookies and top parallels

Graded cards of the most promising players

Regular updates on Facebook/Instagram to keep you informed about arrivals and pre-sales

In short: if you love hockey (and a bit of baseball!), Winter 2026 will be a strategic time to strengthen your collection. Get your budgets ready, follow MC Cards for updates, and most of all… have fun chasing your favourite cards! 🏒📦✨