The Matchbox International Gathering of Friends in Albuquerque, New Mexico is one of the US’s most beloved collector events for Matchbox and diecast fans worldwide. Happening yearly in July, it’s now been running for an amazing 24 years. hobbyDB user Birkinstock attended for the first time in 2026 and wrote this fantastic piece about it which we’ve reprinted here with their permission. Thanks also to him for the great photos!
And if you’d like to attend the 25th event on July 16-18 2027, check out our event calendar for full details.
Some call it a hobby. Some call it a business. Some jokingly call it a problem. But deep down, no matter what label you put on it, we all share an undeniable passion and enthusiasm for cars and collecting.
As a collector for over five decades—spending countless hours curating a collection spanning early Lesney, Moko, Superfast and Mattel eras—what a long, strange trip it’s been. Yet, somehow, I had never made the trek to Albuquerque. This year, I finally had the opportunity to attend the 2026 Gathering for the very first time, and I quickly realized exactly what I had been missing out on for the past 24 years.
The diecast community is incredibly alive and vibrant. It was an absolute joy to finally shake hands with the many acquaintances I’ve made online over the years, and just as rewarding to meet so many new folks who share this exact same passion. Bouncing between rooms for the in-room trading, the energy was palpable and it brought me back to the analog time of collecting and trading at many Matchbox USA, Hershey and Macgungie, PA events and conventions.
If you haven’t been to the Gathering (and I highly suggest making the trip), Jim Gallegos, his wife Vicky and his team put together a genuinely well-executed event. The weekend offers a great schedule, moving from steady in-room trading and collector-led breakout sessions to a 1:1 car show in the lot, a dinner with a live auction, culminating with toy show featuring over 150 tables. While the entire weekend was a great time, the undeniable highlight of the event was the exclusive line preview—getting an early look at the 2027 releases—and the dedicated breakout time with the Matchbox Design team from Mattel.
Honestly, there has rarely been a more exciting time to be a Matchbox collector. With The Matchbox Movie hitting Apple TV this October and some of the most dynamic castings and decos we’ve seen in years dropping across the Mainline, Moving Parts, and Collectors lines, the brand is firing on all cylinders. Sure, we still have to navigate the familiar headaches of spotty distribution and stale pegs—we’ve all seen enough of the purple BMW M4 Cabriolet, Push ‘N Puller, and Fiat Topolino to last a lifetime—but the highs far outweigh the lows right now.
The exclusive Dinner and Dealer event models were absolute showstoppers this year. The stunning 1964 Porsche 911 (casting by Garry Gopinath with a brilliant Michael Heralda design) and the ’86 VW T3 Vanagon (Garry with Kevin Cao) featured incredibly vibrant liveries and meticulous detail. If you want to see gorgeous photos of these two event exclusives—along with the 21st promotional model for Everett Marshall’s annual Charities Golf Event—I highly encourage you to read David Tilley’s excellent write-up over at Wheel Collectors.
During the 2027 Line preview, there were plenty of cheers (and admittedly, a few good-natured jeers for some casting repeats). The true highlight of the presentation, however, was a well-deserved moment of recognition for Jim, Vicky, and the entire Support team. In anticipation of the monumental 25th Anniversary Gathering next year, Mattel honored Jim and this community by announcing a special 25th Anniversary deco of the Matchbox Field Car Convertible, which will be released as part of the 2027 Mainline (picture below).
For me, the ultimate highlight of the trip was simply being a collector—hunting down a few long-sought-after pieces to fill gaps and upgrade a few cherished models in my personal collection while snagging a few Hot Wheels (ahem) for my twenty-something son and collector. I did learn a very valuable lesson for my sophomore outing, though: next year, I’m bringing a bigger bag, a much larger wallet and my son!
Before I sign off, I want to send a massive thank you to Christian, Alex, and the extended hobbyDB team for creating and providing our promotional flyers. We are continuing to seek volunteers for the Matchbox Project. If you don’t know about the Project and want to get involved, please reach out to me!
See you all next year for number 25!
