New to Blizzard pin collecting? Bringing a collection to BlizzCon for the first time? Or just wondering why people are walking around Anaheim carrying binders full of tiny metal Arthases, Tracers, Diablos, and Murlocs? You've come to the right place.
Pin trading has become one of the great traditions of BlizzCon. For some collectors, finding a long-sought-after pin can be every bit as exciting as a game announcement. For others, the pins are almost secondary—the real fun is meeting other Blizzard fans, comparing collections, and making new friends.
The best part is that you don't need a huge collection to participate.
You can show up with five pins, make your first trade, and you're officially a pin trader.
BlizzCon 2026 takes place September 12–13, 2026 at the Anaheim Convention Center, with on-site registration beginning September 11. Blizzard has also confirmed the return of the Darkmoon Faire, including limited-edition pins and opportunities to trade with other collectors.
Whether this is your first BlizzCon or you've been collecting Blizzard pins for years, here's what you need to know before heading to Anaheim.
Where Does Pin Trading Happen at BlizzCon?
The short answer?
Almost everywhere collectors gather.
You'll see people carrying pin bags, binders, display boards, lanyards, and other collections throughout BlizzCon weekend.
But there are a few places you should know about.
The Darkmoon Faire is the main convention trading area, but trading continues outside the convention as well, particularly around the Hilton and the fountain area on Friday night.
The Darkmoon Faire
If you're interested in collecting at BlizzCon, you'll definitely want to visit the Darkmoon Faire.
Blizzard has confirmed that the Darkmoon Faire returns for BlizzCon 2026, with mystery items, limited-edition pins, plushies, and opportunities to trade with fellow collectors.
Historically, the Darkmoon Faire has been the center of Blizzard collecting at BlizzCon.
Previous versions have included dedicated open-trading areas where collectors could sit down, spread out their traders, meet other collectors, and spend entirely too much time saying:
"Okay... what about this one?"
You can easily lose an hour—or three—trading here.
For a new collector, the Faire is also one of the easiest places to learn. Walk around. Look at what people have. Ask questions. Tell people you're new.
The Blizzard collecting community is generally excited to see new people join the hobby.
A Note About Darkmoon Faire After Hours
For 2026, Blizzard is also offering a Darkmoon Faire After Hours event on Saturday night. It provides three additional hours of access to the Darkmoon Faire and BlizzCon Store and includes 20 Darkmoon Faire Tokens.
The add-on is currently sold out.
You do not need Darkmoon Faire After Hours access to visit the Darkmoon Faire during normal BlizzCon show hours.
Don't Miss the Blizzard Pin Boards
One of the most fun parts of pin collecting at previous BlizzCons has been the official Blizzard trading boards.
The basic idea is simple:
Blizzard puts out a board filled with pins, and collectors have an opportunity to exchange one of their pins for one on the board according to that year's trading rules.
These boards are worth checking more than once.
Why?
Because the inventory changes constantly.
Someone may trade an ordinary pin onto the board and take something they need. Ten minutes later, another collector may trade something you've been hunting for.
A board that wasn't interesting the first time you checked it can look completely different later.
Pay Attention to the Rules
Official board rules have varied between BlizzCons.
For example, previous Blizzard trading booths have placed restrictions on which series could be traded, how many pins could be exchanged at once, and whether gold pins could only be exchanged for other gold pins.
Don't assume the 2026 rules will be identical to previous years.
Check the posted instructions and listen to the Blizzard staff working the board.
We'll update this guide with the official BlizzCon 2026 pin-board rules once Blizzard announces them.
Keep Your Eyes Open for Hidden Pins
Here's one of the traditions newcomers often don't know about.
At previous BlizzCons, Blizzard pins and collectibles have sometimes appeared in unexpected places around the convention.
So...
Pay attention to your surroundings.
Look around booths. Watch what Blizzard staff are doing. Talk to other collectors. Keep an eye on the community chatter.
Part of the fun is not necessarily knowing where the next interesting collectible is going to appear.
If Blizzard announces an official hidden-pin activity for BlizzCon 2026, we'll update this section with the details.
Until then, consider this your warning:
Collectors notice everything.
How Do I Know What a Pin Is Worth?
This is where pin trading can get complicated.
Not every Blizzard pin has the same value.
A pin's desirability can be affected by things like:
- Rarity
- Age
- Character or franchise popularity
- Gold or special variants
- BlizzCon exclusivity
- Employee exclusivity
- Limited production
- How the pin was originally obtained
- Current collector demand
But here's something important for new collectors:
A trade doesn't have to have identical dollar values to be a good trade.
Maybe someone has a $20 pin you need and you have a $30 pin you don't care about.
If you're both happy with the trade, you made a good trade.
That doesn't mean value should be ignored. You should have a general idea of what you're trading, particularly when dealing with rarer pins.
BlizzardItems can help with that.
Use the BlizzardItems Pin Database to identify pins and view information about their series, rarity, release, and estimated market value.
Our market pricing is based primarily on historical sold listings—not simply what someone happens to be asking for a pin online.
That's an important distinction.
Anyone can list a pin for $500.
That doesn't mean someone has ever paid $500 for it.
Don't Be Afraid to Trade With the Serious Collectors
You'll recognize them.
Someone opens a binder and suddenly you're staring at years of Blizzard history.
Don't assume they won't want anything you have.
Collectors aren't always looking for the rarest pin in the room.
They may be trying to finish a particular series.
They may need the exact common pin sitting in your trade bag.
They may collect one specific character.
Or they may simply enjoy helping a new collector get started.
Ask.
The worst thing that happens is they say no.
Use Your Phone as a Trading Tool
You don't need to memorize every Blizzard pin ever released.
That's one of the reasons we built BlizzardItems.com.
If you see a pin you don't recognize at BlizzCon, search for it.
You can use BlizzardItems to:
- Identify pins
- Search by character or franchise
- See what series a pin belongs to
- Check rarity and release information
- Review estimated market values
- Track your personal collection
- Build your wishlist
- Check whether you already own a pin
- Share your collection with other collectors
Before BlizzCon, we strongly recommend getting your Collection and Wishlist up to date.
Your wishlist becomes particularly useful when someone asks the inevitable question:
"So... what are you looking for?"
Instead of trying to remember 30 pins, pull out your phone.
Friday Night: Join the BlizzardItems Pin Trading Meetup
You don't even have to wait for BlizzCon to officially begin.
We're hosting a community Blizzard Pin Trading Meetup on Friday, September 11 at 5:00 PM, before BlizzCon opens Saturday morning.
📍 Near the Hilton roundabout/fountain, under the Hilton sign
The meetup is open to everyone.
Experienced collector?
Come trade.
Have five pins?
Come trade.
Never traded a pin in your life?
Definitely come.
This is intended to be a friendly community trading event, with an emphasis on trading rather than selling.
Bring your pins, your wishlist, and whatever you're hunting for.
We'll also have plenty of experienced collectors around who can help answer questions.
Brand New? Here's Your BlizzCon Pin Trading Game Plan
If you've made it this far and are still thinking:
"Okay, but what am I actually supposed to do?"
Here's our advice.
Before BlizzCon
1. Get 5–10 pins you're willing to trade.
They don't need to be incredibly rare.
2. Create your BlizzardItems collection.
Add the pins you already own.
3. Build your wishlist.
Find a few pins, characters, or series you'd love to come home with.
4. Keep your traders separate from your personal collection.
You don't want to accidentally trade something important.
Friday
5. Come to the BlizzardItems Pin Trading Meetup.
This is probably the easiest possible introduction to the community. Tell someone you're new. Seriously.
Saturday & Sunday
6. Visit the Darkmoon Faire.
If you like collectibles, you'll probably be back more than once.
7. Check the official trading boards if they're available.
Then check them again later.
8. Talk to other collectors.
See someone carrying a pin binder? There's a pretty good chance you already have something to talk about.
9. Make a trade.
Don't obsess over making the "perfect" first trade. Find something you like. Offer something you're willing to give up. If you're both happy...
Congratulations. You're a pin trader.
One Last Piece of Advice
It's easy to get caught up in rarity, prices, gold variants, exclusives, and trying to "win" every trade.
Try not to.
Some of the best things you'll bring home from BlizzCon aren't going to be the rarest items in your collection.
They're going to be the pins where you remember who you traded with and the story behind getting them.
Pin trading gives you an excuse to walk up to another Blizzard fan you've never met and start a conversation.
"Hey... are you trading?"
That's all it takes.
You might walk away with a pin you've been hunting for.
You might walk away with a new friend.
Very often, you get both.
We'll see you in Anaheim.
Happy trading!
— BlizzardItems