{
  "source": "https://baseball.cards/release-calendar/",
  "license": "Free to reproduce with a link to the source page. Dates marked confirmed come from topps.com; expected windows are from published hobby calendars and are not release days. hobbyDate, when set, is the hobby release day two published hobby checklists agree on; streetDateWave, when set, is what the later topps.com date releases (e.g. Mega).",
  "generatedAt": "2026-10-01T12:45:08.177Z",
  "feeds": {
    "ical": "https://baseball.cards/release-calendar.ics",
    "embed": "https://baseball.cards/embed/release-calendar.js"
  },
  "releases": [
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Series 1",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 2,
      "window": "Early February",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": true,
      "note": "The year's flagship set and the first look at the new rookie class — base design, inserts, and the full RC checklist.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-topps-series-1-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Heritage",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 3,
      "window": "Mid-March",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "streetDate": "2026-03-18",
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": true,
      "note": "Retro-design flagship using a vintage Topps template (the 1977 design year for 2026), beloved by set builders.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-topps-heritage-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Panini Stars & Stripes Baseball",
      "brand": "Panini",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 4,
      "window": "April",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "USA Baseball licensed — the collegiate and national-team prospects before they have a pro card, Prizm-style parallels.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-panini-stars-and-stripes-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Gypsy Queen",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 4,
      "window": "Mid-April",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Vintage-tobacco-styled set with heavy on-card autos and mini parallels.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/release-calendar/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Chrome Black",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 4,
      "window": "Late April",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Black-bordered chromium spin-off of the flagship — one autograph per box, low base counts, a parallel-driven product.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-topps-chrome-black-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Leaf Metal Baseball",
      "brand": "Leaf",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 4,
      "window": "Late April",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Unlicensed all-autograph draft-class product — the first signed cards of many high-school and college picks.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/release-calendar/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Bowman",
      "brand": "Bowman",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 5,
      "window": "Mid-May",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": true,
      "note": "The prospect flagship — 1st Bowman cards and Chrome Prospect Autos, the hobby’s primary rookie-before-the-rookie release.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-bowman-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Panini Donruss Baseball",
      "brand": "Panini",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 5,
      "window": "Late May",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Unlicensed (no MLB logos) but the Rated Rookie logo carries weight — the cheapest way into the year’s rookie class.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-panini-donruss-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Bowman Sapphire Edition",
      "brand": "Bowman",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 6,
      "window": "Early June",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Topps-direct online exclusive: the Bowman checklist on Sapphire refractor stock, sold in limited windows on topps.com.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-bowman-sapphire-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Series 2",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 6,
      "window": "Mid-June",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": true,
      "note": "The second half of the flagship base set, completing the year’s Topps base checklist.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-topps-series-2-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Tier One",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 6,
      "window": "Late June",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "High-end hit-per-pack product: on-card autos, bat-knob and jumbo relics, a handful of cards per box.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-topps-tier-one-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Panini Donruss Elite Baseball",
      "brand": "Panini",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 7,
      "window": "Early July",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": "2026-07-03",
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Donruss’ premium line — Elite Series die-cuts and numbered parallels, unlicensed.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-panini-donruss-elite-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Finest",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 7,
      "window": "Early July",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "streetDate": "2026-07-08",
      "hobbyDate": "2026-07-08",
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Premium chromium set with a low card count and high autograph/parallel density.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-topps-finest-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Panini Immaculate Baseball",
      "brand": "Panini",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 7,
      "window": "Mid-July",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": "2026-07-15",
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Panini’s top-shelf baseball box — a few cards, all autographs or premium patches, unlicensed.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-panini-immaculate-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Complete Factory Set",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 7,
      "window": "July – August",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Series 1 + Series 2 in one sealed box, with a factory-exclusive bonus pack — the set-builder’s shortcut.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/guides/hobby-vs-retail-boxes-explained/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Chrome",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 8,
      "window": "Early August",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "streetDate": "2026-08-05",
      "hobbyDate": "2026-07-22",
      "streetDateWave": "Mega",
      "flagship": true,
      "note": "Chromium version of the flagship rookies with Refractors and color parallels — Chrome RCs are official rookie cards.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-topps-chrome-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Pristine",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 8,
      "window": "Mid-August",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "streetDate": "2026-08-12",
      "hobbyDate": "2026-08-12",
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Slabbed-in-the-box premium product: every card comes encased, autographs of the year’s rookie class.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-topps-pristine-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Stadium Club",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 8,
      "window": "Late August",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Full-bleed premium photography set — the hobby’s photography showcase, on-card autos.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/release-calendar/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Chrome Sapphire Edition",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 8,
      "window": "Late August",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": "2026-08-26",
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Topps-direct online exclusive: the Chrome checklist on Sapphire stock, sold in limited windows on topps.com.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-topps-chrome-sapphire-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Panini Prizm Baseball",
      "brand": "Panini",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 9,
      "window": "Early September",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": "2026-09-04",
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Unlicensed — no MLB logos — but Prizm parallels and rookie autos drive the market.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-panini-prizm-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Museum Collection Baseball",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 11,
      "window": "October 7 or November 11",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": "2026-11-11",
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "High-end: on-card autographs, jumbo relics and framed 1/1s — the premium end of the flagship year.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-topps-museum-collection-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Allen & Ginter Baseball",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 10,
      "window": "October 7",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "streetDate": "2026-10-07",
      "hobbyDate": "2026-10-07",
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "The oddball favourite: minis, non-sport subjects and rip cards on a Victorian tobacco-card design.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-topps-allen-and-ginter-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Cosmic Chrome",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 10,
      "window": "October 5",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "streetDate": "2026-10-05",
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Space-themed chromium set — Constellation and Anti-Gravity variations, Planetary Pursuit and StarFractor inserts, sold in Hobby and Lunar boxes.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-topps-cosmic-chrome-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Bowman Chrome Sapphire Edition",
      "brand": "Bowman",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 10,
      "window": "October 7",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "streetDate": "2026-10-07",
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Topps-direct online exclusive: the Bowman Chrome prospect checklist on blue Sapphire stock, sold on topps.com.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/release-calendar/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Bowman Chrome",
      "brand": "Bowman",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 9,
      "window": "September 23",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "streetDate": "2026-09-23",
      "hobbyDate": "2026-09-09",
      "streetDateWave": "retail",
      "flagship": true,
      "note": "The chromium prospect release — Chrome Prospect Autos and Refractors, the year’s biggest 1st-Bowman-auto product.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-bowman-chrome-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Update Series",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 10,
      "window": "October 14",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "streetDate": "2026-10-14",
      "hobbyDate": "2026-10-14",
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": true,
      "note": "The traded/rookie-debut/All-Star capstone of the flagship year — home of many first flagship RCs.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-topps-update-series-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Holiday",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 10,
      "window": "October 21",
      "status": "confirmed",
      "streetDate": "2026-10-21",
      "hobbyDate": "2026-10-21",
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Seasonal set on the flagship design with a festive border — a Chrome variation run, Holiday image variations and relics, sold in Mega boxes, tins and advent calendars.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/checklists/2026-topps-holiday-baseball/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Five Star",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 9,
      "window": "Late September",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "On-card-autograph-only premium box; a few cards per box, all signed.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/release-calendar/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Panini Three & Two Baseball",
      "brand": "Panini",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 11,
      "window": "Mid-November",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": "2026-11-13",
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Panini’s newer mid-tier baseball line — Kaboom!-style inserts and rookie autos, unlicensed.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/release-calendar/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Chrome Update",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 11,
      "window": "Mid-November",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Chromium version of Update Series rookies and All-Star Game cards, retail-driven.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/release-calendar/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Gilded Collection",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 11,
      "window": "Late November",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Gold-foil premium product with on-card autos and numbered parallels — a small-checklist luxury box.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/release-calendar/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Archives",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 12,
      "window": "Mid-December",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Reprints of classic Topps designs across three vintage years, with fan-favorite retired players.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/release-calendar/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Topps Triple Threads",
      "brand": "Topps",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 12,
      "window": "Mid-December",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": false,
      "note": "Triple-relic-and-autograph premium box — the year-end hit product for patch collectors.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/release-calendar/"
    },
    {
      "name": "2026 Bowman Draft",
      "brand": "Bowman",
      "year": 2026,
      "month": 12,
      "window": "Mid-December",
      "status": "expected",
      "streetDate": null,
      "hobbyDate": null,
      "streetDateWave": null,
      "flagship": true,
      "note": "The just-drafted class in Chrome — first cards of the newest MLB draft picks, the season’s prospecting finale.",
      "url": "https://baseball.cards/roundups/best-rookie-cards-to-invest-in/"
    }
  ]
}