We are proud to announce that PIM 2026 – Phonecards International Meeting, the world’s largest event dedicated to phonecard collecting, will mark a milestone that no collector can overlook: the 50th anniversary of the first phonecard ever produced. From April 17 to 19, 2026, Parco Culturale Le Serre in Grugliasco, Turin, will host an event that celebrates five decades of collecting passion, cultural heritage and international community.
This edition of PIM 2026 is historic not only for the anniversary, but for everything it represents: the growth of a global collecting movement, the recognition of phonecards as genuine cultural artefacts, and the role of the Worldwide Phonecards Collectors Club as the international reference point for collectors on every continent.
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The First Phonecard: How a Revolution Began in 1976
Fifty years ago, in 1976, the first public phonecard was introduced in Italy. Designed for use in SIP public telephone booths, this small, card-shaped piece of technology changed the way people made calls away from home – and, in doing so, gave birth to an entirely new category of collecting.
Before phonecards, making a public call required coins. The phonecard eliminated that friction. It was simple, practical and scalable, and it spread rapidly: within a decade, phonecard systems had been adopted across Europe, Asia, North America and beyond. Hundreds of millions of cards were produced, featuring an extraordinary variety of designs – commemorative editions, regional series, corporate campaigns, artistic collections, promotional issues and official government releases.
For collectors, each card is a small piece of cultural and social history. The artwork, the text, the issuing authority, the print run, the rarity: every detail tells a story about a specific time and place. That is why phonecard collecting has grown into a recognised international hobby, with dedicated communities, specialised catalogues, pricing guides and events on every continent.
The phonecard 50th anniversary in 2026 is therefore not simply a calendar milestone. It is a moment to reflect on half a century of collecting culture, to celebrate the artefacts that document it, and to look forward to the future of a hobby that continues to attract new enthusiasts worldwide.
The Worldwide Phonecards Collectors Club was founded precisely to honour and support this community. And PIM 2026 is the club’s most ambitious celebration of the hobby to date.
PIM 2026: Three Days at the World’s Largest Phonecard Event
The PIM – Phonecards International Meeting is the world’s largest gathering dedicated to phonecard collecting. Organised by the Worldwide Phonecards Collectors Club, the PIM brings together collectors, historians, dealers and enthusiasts from across the globe for three full days of trading, exhibitions, face-to-face meetings and cultural exchange.
PIM 2026 takes place from April 17 to 19, 2026, at Parco Culturale Le Serre – Salone La Nave, Via Tiziano Lanza 31, Grugliasco (Turin), Italy. Admission is free and open to the public for all three days.
The PIM has grown rapidly since its inaugural edition. In 2024, the first PIM at Parco Esposizioni Novegro (Milan) brought together collectors from across Europe and beyond, establishing the event as the essential reference point for the international phonecard community. In 2025, PIM moved to Grugliasco and further consolidated its reputation, attracting exhibitors and visitors from dozens of countries across five continents.
PIM 2026 builds on this foundation with a programme designed to honour the full significance of the 50th anniversary. It is not an ordinary edition: it is a landmark event in the history of phonecard collecting, and the Worldwide Phonecards Collectors Club intends to make it unforgettable.
What to Expect: A Special Programme for the 50th Anniversary
The phonecard 50th anniversary is the central theme that will shape every aspect of PIM 2026 – from the exhibition floor to the cultural programme, from the dedicated displays to the commemorative initiatives that are being developed for this exceptional edition.
Details of the full programme will be revealed in the coming weeks. What is already clear is that this edition will be unlike any that has come before. Organisations with a direct connection to the history of the phonecard, from its earliest production to its spread around the world, will be part of the celebrations. Visitors can expect exhibitions dedicated to the origins and evolution of phonecard design, opportunities to view rare and historically significant specimens, and a programme of events that places the 50th anniversary at the centre of three extraordinary days.
Limited-edition commemorative phonecards will also be produced for PIM 2026 as part of the anniversary programme. These cards are separate from the official 2026 WPC Club Membership Card and will represent a unique collecting opportunity for everyone present. Further details on the commemorative edition will be announced as PIM 2026 approaches.
Stay connected with the Worldwide Phonecards Collectors Club through the official website and social media channels for all programme updates.
Additional cultural initiatives, panel discussions and special events are being developed for the three days. The Worldwide Phonecards Collectors Club will communicate all programme details through its official channels as PIM 2026 approaches.
Become an Exhibitor at PIM 2026
The exhibition floor is the heart of every PIM edition. It is where collectors display their collections, offer cards for sale or exchange, and establish direct connections with fellow enthusiasts from around the world.
At PIM 2026, exhibiting means being part of a historic anniversary edition in front of an international audience of serious collectors. The event regularly draws participants from dozens of countries, making it the most concentrated gathering of phonecard expertise available anywhere in the world.
To support exhibitors who travel at significant personal cost, the participation fee is set at a symbolic €85 per table. This contribution keeps admission free for all visitors and ensures the widest possible audience for every exhibitor’s display.
To exhibit at PIM 2026, participants must be members of the Worldwide Phonecards Collectors Club. Membership is open at a modest annual fee and brings benefits that extend well beyond the fair itself.
Exhibitor applications for PIM 2026 are now open. Spaces are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Do not delay in submitting your application if you wish to be part of the most significant phonecard event in fifty years.
Join the Worldwide Phonecards Collectors Club for PIM 2026
Membership of the Worldwide Phonecards Collectors Club is open to phonecard collectors from every country. Two tiers are available:
MEMBER – €20/year: includes the official numbered Membership Card, access to all exclusive member benefits, and priority purchase of the 2026 commemorative phonecards.
SUPPORTER – €12/year: supports the club’s activities and the PIM without the physical Membership Card.
Both tiers contribute directly to keeping the PIM free and accessible for all visitors – a commitment the WPC Club has upheld since the inaugural edition in 2024. The club currently brings together collectors from more than 30 countries across five continents, making it the most representative international community in the phonecard collecting world.
With PIM 2026 set to be the most significant edition in the event’s history – in scale, programme, historical context and international reach – there has never been a better moment to be part of the Worldwide Phonecards Collectors Club.
Hotel agreements with accommodation near the PIM venue are already in place for international visitors, with details to be shared in the coming weeks. Members will also receive priority purchase of the limited-edition commemorative phonecards before they become available to the general public – making membership particularly valuable for collectors who want to be first in line for these exclusive anniversary pieces.
Membership for 2026 is now open. Join today at the official WPC Club membership page, submit your exhibitor application, and prepare to be part of a celebration that the phonecard collecting world will not forget.
