Panini Loses NBA License, Fanatics Set to Take Over in 2026
Panini's decade long NBA card license will not be renewed, with Fanatics confirmed as the new exclusive partner starting next season.
The End of an Era for Panini Basketball After more than a decade as the exclusive trading card partner of the NBA, Panini America will not have its license renewed past the current season. Fanatics has been confirmed as the new exclusive manufacturer starting in 2026, consolidating its growing hold on major sports licensing. What This Means for Collectors Existing Panini basketball products will remain fully collectible and tradeable, this change only affects future releases. Expect a wave of speculative buying on current Panini rookie cards as the final licensed sets before the transition, similar to what happened during past manufacturer changeovers in other sports. What to Watch Next Fanatics has not yet announced its first basketball product line or release calendar. Collectors should watch for an official announcement in the coming months, along with early details on print runs and autograph checklist changes.