Expect Next Month's CollectFest 2025 To Be 'Packed With Heat'

Calling all sneakerheads, coin collectors, trading card fanatics, stamp enthusiasts and toy tinkerers – is less than a month away! The event kicks off in Melbourne this July, then heads to Brisbane and Sydney – and you can cop your tickets right here.

The ramp-up for Australia’s first-ever festival dedicated to all things collectable is on the boil, and while we’re psyched to see the trading cards, comics, toys, coins, stamps and sports memorabilia, we'll be making a beeline to the sneaker section first up! Curating the epic selection of crep vendors will be none other than Jay Mijares, co-owner of and It’s More than Just Sneakers, who’s told us to ‘expect nothing but heat’.

‘This is the first time Australia’s seen a festival like this – 100% dedicated to collectors and collectables,’ Mijares tells us. ‘CollectFest isn’t just about copping stuff, it’s about real connection. Built by collectors, for collectors.’

Passion, community, and culture are heavy focuses of CollectFest, whose mission is to bring together enthusiasts who are frequently in touch online, but lack IRL experiences. ‘Whether you’re chasing rare Pokémon cards or grail sneakers – the mindset’s the same,’ Mijares attests.

The major event comes as a welcome breath of fresh air for the collector scene, which can be rife with gatekeeping and elitism – but CollectFest promises a ‘next-level celebration of the culture and the stories behind every piece’.

The importance of bringing it all into a tangible location is a huge part of Mijares' enthusiasm. ‘Online’s cool for the access, but in-person? That’s where it really goes off,’ he says. ‘You get to feel the weight of the sneakers, hear the stories behind the pairs, and soak in the energy that hits the moment you walk in. You’re talking face-to-face with collectors and learning real game you won’t find online. When someone finds their grail or discovers something new? That spark, that raw reaction – it’s unbeatable.’

When curating the CollectFest sneaker selection, Mijares says he aimed to ‘rep the full spectrum of the culture – not just hype resellers or vintage heads’. With that in mind, you can expect everything ‘from grails and hidden gems to old-school classics and fresh new drops’. It doesn’t matter what label or sub-culture you align yourself with – from Jordan Brand and OG basketball to new-gen ASICS and New Balance – Mijares wanted ‘the sneaker side of CollectFest to feel like a walk through the best moments in sneaker culture’.

The man himself will also be bringing a few rarities from his personal stash to CollectFest, some which have barely seen the light of day – including the sought-after 2022 Evisu x ASICS colab (above). ‘We’ll also have custom Air Max on display, made with Melbourne artist Chase Shiel, which were worn by Kevin Hart [below]'. Another rare treasure on show from Mijares' stockpile will be the x x ‘Monsoon Patrol II', a super-scarce model with only 300 pairs in the world.

Mijares is also pumped to see the fest's other gems collected from outside the sneakersphere: ‘I’m keen to check out the toys, cards, comics, and everything in between,' he tells us. 'The whole place is gonna be packed with heat, and I’m ready to see what everyone’s bringing to the table.’

CollectFest is only two weeks away, set to boot open its doors in Melbourne across July 5–6. The Brisbane edition will go down during July 26–27, and Sydney will get its turn across August 23–24. Tickets are now available, so head here to cop yours.

Keep it locked to the CollectFest website and socials to stay updated on all the happenings.

PS: Use discount code SF20 for 20 per cent off all tickets to CollectFest!