The basketball card market is entering a major transition, and Panini is right in the middle of it.

With the loss of the official NBA licence, Panini is now moving into a new phase—producing unlicensed basketball cards—and their upcoming 2025–26 releases will be some of the first to reflect this shift.

The Big Change: Licensed → Unlicensed

For years, Panini dominated the NBA card space. Now, with licensing moving to Fanatics / Topps:

  • Panini can no longer use NBA logos or team branding
  • New releases will feature players without official uniforms or logos
  • The focus shifts heavily toward design, autographs, and memorabilia

We’re already starting to see this transition in their 2025–26 product lineup.

Key Upcoming Panini Releases 👀

Premium Tier – High-End Collecting

High-end release loaded with on-card autos and premium memorabilia.

Noir continues to be one of Panini’s most premium basketball products—but now in an unlicensed format.

  • 5 on-card autographs per box
  • 1 memorabilia card
  • Signature dark, cinematic design
  • Rookie Patch Autos remain a major chase

This is a product built for serious collectors chasing big hits, and despite being unlicensed, the focus on autos keeps it highly desirable.

Autograph-Focused Product

Autograph-heavy product focused purely on signatures and player content.

Signature Series is expected to lean fully into what Panini still does best:

  • Strong focus on autographs
  • Clean designs without heavy reliance on team branding
  • Likely appeal to player collectors and auto collectors

In an unlicensed world, this kind of product actually becomes more important.

Entry-Level / Staple Release

Classic flagship-style set with rookies, inserts, and broad checklist appeal.

Donruss remains a staple in the hobby and will likely be one of the most accessible products:

  • Large checklist with rookies, vets, and inserts
  • Popular rated rookies concept continues
  • More affordable entry point compared to premium boxes

Even without licensing, Donruss could still be a key product for collectors chasing rookies and volume.

What This Means for Collectors

This new wave of releases creates a split in the hobby:

🔥 Licensed Panini (Older)

  • Now represents the end of an era
  • Likely to hold long-term value
  • Strong demand for key rookie cards

⚡ New Unlicensed Panini (2025–26)

  • Focus shifts to autos, patches, and design
  • Less emphasis on teams, more on players
  • Could offer better value breaks and entry points

🔄 Incoming Fanatics / Topps NBA

  • Will eventually become the new licensed standard
  • Huge unknown (and opportunity)

The Opportunity Right Now

Transitions like this don’t happen often—and when they do, they create opportunities:

  • Collectors can target final licensed Panini releases
  • Early unlicensed products may become unique long-term pieces
  • First Fanatics releases will likely see massive demand

The smart move? Stay flexible and pay attention to how the market reacts.

Final Thoughts

Panini’s move into unlicensed basketball cards isn’t the end—it’s just a shift.

Products like Noir, Signature Series, and Donruss 2025–26 will define this next phase, and while they may look different, they still offer strong value—especially for collectors focused on players, autos, and rarity.

This is one of the biggest changes the basketball card hobby has seen in years.

🏀 Shop Basketball Cards at Urban Empire

We’ll be stocking upcoming releases and keeping up with all the changes in the hobby.

👉 Check out what’s available:
https://urbanempirecollectables.com/collections/basketball

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