It can be difficult to predict the ‘next big thing’ in collectables, particularly as the market is continually evolving — but there are some clues.
“Ultimately, the strongest collectables are usually those that combine rarity, authenticity and nostalgia,” Julian Thomson, managing director and auctioneer at Anderson & Garland, explains.
“Markets change, fashions come and go, but objects that tell compelling stories have a remarkable habit of finding new audiences. As auctioneers, we are constantly reminded that today's everyday item can become tomorrow's highly sought-after collectable.”
Ben Rogers Jones of Rogers Jones Auctioneers explains that an influx of younger buyers is also having a big impact. A huge 94% of high-net-worth Millennials and Gen Z are actively interested in the collectables market, according to the Robb Report.
“It’s important to remember that younger buyers often have a different definition of ‘antique’ than older generations,” Ben explains. “Items from the ‘90s and early ‘00s are now classed as vintage for your average 20-something.
“Think Pokémon cards, classic mobile phones and vinyl records. Vintage fashion is another area that continues to grow, particularly among Gen Z buyers, with interest spanning everything from 1930s pieces right through to 1990s styles.”
While no collectable item is guaranteed to rise in value, the continued growth of nostalgic items like Pokémon cards and vinyl records “demonstrates that scarcity, cultural significance and enduring demand can often prove more important than changing fashions when it comes to preserving value,” according to James Constantinou, owner of Prestige Pawnbroker.
The next big collectables for 2026 and beyond
We asked 5 antiques experts to reveal their insights into the future of the market and what the next big collectables categories could be.
Pop culture memorabilia
“For me, the most obvious rising trend in collectables is pop culture memorabilia,” Julian explains. “We continue to see strong demand for items associated with film, television, music and video games, particularly pieces that evoke nostalgia amongst buyers now reaching their peak earning years. Original props, costumes, vintage toys and promotional material from the 1970s through to the early 2000s are increasingly attracting international audiences.”
Sport and music are also popular categories for memorabilia, with superfans potentially willing to part with large amounts of cash in exchange for rare mementoes linked to their favourite stars.
“Beyond interiors and fashion, collectables linked to sport and music are also seeing strong demand among younger buyers,” Ben adds. “Collectors are gravitating towards more contemporary cultural figures and sporting icons. Interest in more recent players like Ronaldo and Messi is growing — their items now hold almost as much value as more historic icons like Pelé.”
Early web memorabilia
As we hurtle further into the Digital Age with technology advancing at high speed, it’s no surprise that there’s so much nostalgia surrounding the early days of the internet. “I am also increasingly interested in what might be termed ‘born-digital nostalgia’,” Julian continues, suggesting that this sense of nostalgia could translate into future collectables.
“Early internet culture, technology, social media ephemera and objects associated with the dawn of the digital age are beginning to attract attention. Much as collectors today seek early computing memorabilia, future generations may place greater value on artefacts that document the formative years of the online world.”
Vintage gold jewellery
Emma Eldridge, valuations expert at H&T Pawnbrokers, tells us that gold jewellery is experiencing “exceptional demand” at the moment, which is “driven largely by the surge in global gold prices”.
“With gold hitting an all-time high earlier this year (28th January), the value of pieces has risen sharply, especially with higher carat items,” she explains. “As of the 10th March [2026], pure gold 24ct was £123.35 per gram and 9ct was roughly £46 per gram.
“The value of gold jewellery depends on weight, carat, and design. Even simple vintage pieces are now worth significantly more than they were a year ago, making gold one of the most reliable stores of value in today’s market.”
Handwoven blankets
"If I were investing in antiques today, I'd be looking closely at textiles,” Camilla Kelly, founder and creative director of The Mint List Studio, explains. “For years, these pieces sat quietly in the background while collectors focused on furniture and fine art, but that is beginning to change. The best Welsh quilts, handwoven blankets and early samplers have everything collectors look for — rarity, craftsmanship and most importantly, heritage.
“Experts at Miller's Antiques have long suggested that textiles have been overlooked because they are harder to display and understand than furniture, but that lack of attention may be part of their appeal today.
“At the same time, interiors are increasingly embracing woven wall hangings, tapestries and richly textured textiles as an antidote to our digital world. Surrounded by screens and endlessly reproduced imagery, there is something deeply appealing about objects that are tactile, tangible and visibly made by hand.
“For a recent hotel renovation, we used beautiful reversible Welsh blankets throughout the bedrooms, bringing warmth, texture and a tangible connection to local heritage. The earliest examples (pre-1900) feature narrow loom stitching and a central seam, with often coarser wool due to the rougher fleece of the indigenous sheep in those times.
“These blankets were often given as wedding presents, meaning that if you hunt, you can still find them in perfect condition as they’ve been stowed away for years in a drawer. Good places for blanket hunting are Abergavenny and Carmarthen Antique Markets."
Camilla only urges that if you get your hands on one of these fabulous heirlooms, make sure you protect it from moths and don’t wash it — instead, take it outside and whack it with a carpet beater.
Limited-edition vinyls
While the popularity of artists can shift significantly with each generation, vinyl as a category for collectors remains popular, with 2025 UK vinyl sales growing for the 18th consecutive year, rising 13.3% to 7.6 million units according to Official Charts.
“Collectors are increasingly drawn to limited pressings, liquid-filled vinyls, coloured editions and classic albums from iconic artists,” James explains. “For many buyers, vinyl offers an experience that digital music cannot replicate. The resurgence has helped drive demand and values higher, particularly for rare records and sought-after releases.
“Vinyl records provide another example of a collectable once considered obsolete that has enjoyed a remarkable revival. For years, record collections were overlooked as CDs and digital downloads dominated the music industry. Yet as streaming has become the norm, many consumers have rediscovered the appeal of physical ownership.”
Original/retired LEGO sets
“This category has benefited from a growing adult fan base, with collectors increasingly viewing certain retired sets as long-term collectables rather than simply toys,” James explains.
“While not every set will deliver substantial returns, the strongest performers demonstrate how limited availability, brand loyalty and sustained collector demand can help physical products retain and even increase their value over time.
James continues: “Much of the demand is driven by collectors and enthusiasts seeking complete sets from popular themes such as Star Wars, Modular Buildings and licensed franchises. Once a set is retired, it can no longer be purchased directly from LEGO, creating scarcity that often leads to higher prices on the secondary market.
“Unlike many toys that lose value once opened, well-maintained LEGO sets can remain highly desirable for years. Sealed examples typically command the highest premiums, but complete used sets with original instructions and packaging can also attract strong interest from buyers.”
Pokémon cards
Milestones like the 30th anniversary of Pokémon have added to the card-collecting craze, with highly anticipated vintage sets re-released and plenty of social media hype.
Rare Pokémon cards can be sold for surprisingly high prices, with a curated collection of cards fetching $360,000 at Sotheby’s in 2025. Meanwhile, a single Pikachu Illustrator card sold for over €4.8 million at auction in 2024.
While the Pokémon collecting phenomenon is evidently already in full swing, James notes that this category shows more "resilience" than traditional collectables. “While many physical collectables have struggled to retain their value in the digital age, Pokémon cards have emerged as one of the most surprising success stories of the past decade,” James explains.
“What began as a children's trading card game in the late ‘90s has evolved into a global collectables market, and adults who collected them as kids are finding that their folders that took up space in the attic are now worth something. Rare first-edition cards, limited releases and professionally graded examples have seen dramatic value increases, with some fetching six-figure sums at auction.
“Unlike DVDs, CDs and other forms of physical media that have been made largely redundant by streaming services, Pokémon cards derive their value from scarcity, nostalgia and collector demand.
“Many of the adults who grew up opening booster packs during the franchise's early years now have higher disposable incomes and are willing to pay significant premiums to complete collections or acquire childhood favourites.
“The market has also benefited from social media exposure, celebrity endorsements and growing interest from alternative investors seeking assets outside traditional markets. While not every Pokémon card will become valuable, the category as a whole has demonstrated a resilience that many more traditional collectables have failed to achieve.”
