Topps is back as the NBA and NBPA’s official exclusive trading card licensee, which makes this the first fully licensed run of NBA cards Topps has had since the 2009-10 season, starting with 2025-26 Topps Basketball. Older Panini NBA cards were made under Panini’s licence at the time, so they remain official cards of their era. Below we cover the Topps NBA licence, what changed from Panini, how to tell the eras apart and when 2026-27 Topps Flagship Basketball arrives, for collectors in Singapore and anywhere else.
Topps’ NBA licence: what was announced
On 15 October 2025, the NBA’s official release said Fanatics Collectibles, the NBA and the NBPA “today announced Topps’ return as the NBA and NBPA’s official exclusive trading card licensee”. It is a multiyear partnership, and the NBPA published the same news on the same day.
The release says Topps is bringing fully licensed NBA and NBPA cards back “for the first time since the 2009-10 season with the launch of 2025-26 Topps Basketball, which will be released on Oct. 23”. That first set, out on 23 October 2025, features “players from all 30 NBA teams, in addition to select NBA legends”.
Who is behind it? As The Athletic’s report, republished by Fanatics on 3 October 2025, notes, Topps is owned by Fanatics Collectibles.
What changed from Panini
The short version is that the licence moved. According to The Athletic, republished by Fanatics, the plan was “for the league’s license to return to the card manufacturer on Oct. 1 after years of being exclusive to Panini.” In other words, the Topps licence started on 1 October 2025, in time for the 2025-26 season.
That matters for how you read your binder. Panini NBA cards from the seasons before 2025-26 were made under Panini’s licence at the time. They are official cards of their era, and a Topps licence for new cards does not change that. Your Panini NBA cards from those seasons are still exactly what they were when they came out of the pack.
What changes is where new officially licensed NBA cards come from. From the 2025-26 season onwards, that is Topps.
We are keeping this section to what the official announcements say. Neither the NBA nor the NBPA release covers Panini’s plans, so we won’t guess at them.
How to tell the eras apart
The easiest check is the season. Look at the season printed on the box or the card back.
- 2025-26 onwards: officially licensed NBA cards are Topps, starting with 2025-26 Topps Basketball.
- Recent seasons before 2025-26: officially licensed NBA cards from those years are Panini, made under its licence at the time.
That is really all you need to sort a mixed pile. If you are picking up Topps cards for the first time and want to understand the chrome finishes and naming, our Topps Chrome beginner’s guide explains the terms.
2026-27 Topps Flagship Basketball: release date and what’s in it
The second Topps season is close. On its product pages, Topps lists a release day of 5 November 2026 for the Value Box, with the Mega Box listed for 12 November 2026, and says “Release dates are subject to change.”
Here is what Topps says about the set on its Flagship Basketball page:
- Base set: “Flagship returns with a loaded 300-card Base Set”.
- Rookies: the first official rookie cards of a new class. Topps names AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer among the rookies.
- Something new: “new for 2026-27, Clear Variations”.
- A throwback: “The iconic 1981-82 Topps Basketball design also returns”.
In Topps’ words, “Collecting the 2026-27 NBA season starts here.” We’ll stick to that, and leave anything not on the official pages alone.
What about World Cup and football cards?
The NBA move does not mean Topps now makes every major licence. For football, Panini announced on 14 December 2023 that it remains FIFA’s exclusive partner for official stickers, trading cards, trading-card games and digital collectibles, including the FIFA World Cup 26 and the FIFA World Cup 2030.
Fanatics comes in later. FIFA’s release of 7 May 2026 says the FIFA and Fanatics exclusive collectibles agreement covers FIFA tournaments and events from 2031. So current World Cup cards stay with Panini. For the full picture, see who makes football cards in 2026.
FAQs
Who makes official NBA cards in 2026?
Topps. On 15 October 2025, Fanatics Collectibles, the NBA and the NBPA announced Topps’ return as the NBA and NBPA’s official exclusive trading card licensee. The first set under the new deal was 2025-26 Topps Basketball, released on 23 October 2025, with players from all 30 NBA teams and select legends.
Are my old Panini NBA cards still official?
Yes. Panini NBA cards from earlier seasons were made under Panini’s licence at the time, so they are official cards of their era. The Topps licence covers new officially licensed NBA cards from the 2025-26 season onwards. It does not change what your older Panini cards are.
When did Topps last make licensed NBA cards?
The NBA’s official release says 2025-26 Topps Basketball brings fully licensed NBA and NBPA cards into Topps’ portfolio “for the first time since the 2009-10 season”. It does not give more detail on Topps’ earlier NBA sets, so collectors had a long gap between the two Topps eras.
When is 2026-27 Topps Flagship Basketball released?
Topps lists a release day of 5 November 2026 for the Value Box, with the Mega Box listed for 12 November 2026. Topps also says release dates are subject to change, so check the official product pages closer to the day. The set has a 300-card base set and new Clear Variations.
Does Topps make World Cup cards now?
No. Panini remains FIFA’s exclusive partner for official stickers, trading cards, trading-card games and digital collectibles, including the FIFA World Cup 26 and the FIFA World Cup 2030. The FIFA and Fanatics exclusive collectibles agreement covers FIFA tournaments and events from 2031.