Fanatics Fest, a four‑day sports convention, will transform the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan into a playground for fans and athletes alike, running from July 16 through July 19, 2026.
A Star‑Studded Lineup
The event promises a star‑studded baseball lineup that brings together past and present legends, with New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge nominated for Best MLB Player at the ESPYs and slated to appear in person. Joining him on stage will be Yankees icon Derek Jeter, Hall of Famer David Ortiz, and a host of other marquee names such as Alex Rodriguez, CC Sabathia, Paul Skenes, and the emerging phenom Michael Ratner.
A Festival That Extends Beyond Baseball
While the Javits Center serves as the hub, the schedule spills into other New York venues, including a showcase at Lincoln Center and a preview at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, where the Knicks champions will sign autographs. The festivities also feature a live watch party for the FIFA World Cup Final, tying the celebration to global soccer’s biggest stage.
The Visionary Behind the Event
Michael Rubin, founder and CEO of Fanatics, is the driving force that has turned this vision into reality. Under his leadership, Fanatics Studios has partnered with the ESPYs, aligning the awards ceremony with the festival to create a seamless crossover of sports, entertainment, and digital content.
The digital backbone of the experience is the Fanatics App, which serves as the gateway for tickets, schedules, and real‑time announcements. Fans who cannot attend in person can still engage through Instagram and TikTok, where short clips stream live, and through the immersive online platform that mirrors the in‑venue excitement.
Gaming Meets Sports
The festival will also host an exclusive preview of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, giving attendees first‑ever access to the highly anticipated title. This crossover underscores the event’s ambition to blend gaming culture with traditional sports fandom.
With a roster that reads like a who’s‑who of contemporary athletics — from LeBron James, who will tape two days of Mind the Game, to Tyrese Haliburton, Travis Scott, and Adam Silver — the gathering promises to be a cultural touchstone for fans across the United States and beyond.