An old gasoline sign in a Maricopa garage. A backyard shed packed with motorcycles. A family collection nobody has opened in years. Those are the kinds of leads the team behind History’s American Pickers wants to hear about as it plans a December 2026 filming trip through Arizona and two neighboring states.
The statewide search is real, but it is not a promise that the show will stop in Maricopa—or that every submission will get a reply. It is a casting call for private collections, and the producers will choose which people and places fit the trip.
For local collectors, the useful part is knowing what the show wants, what it will not consider and how to submit without getting pulled into a fake casting offer.
What the producers are looking for
Cineflix, the production company behind the series, says the crew is looking for large, unusual private collections and the stories behind them. A recent producer notice says filming is planned in Arizona, Southern California and Nevada in December.
The show’s official History casting page asks potential participants to send a description of the collection. The current producer notice adds the practical details: include your name, phone number, location, a description of the collection and photos.
The contact route in the notice—americanpickers@cineflix.com and 646-493-2184—matches contact information previously published by the Arizona Film Office for an earlier American Pickers search. That independent match is important because look-alike entertainment casting offers can circulate online.
What does not qualify
This is not an invitation for every antique business to ask for a television visit. The producer notice says the show does not pick stores, flea markets, malls, auction businesses, museums or public places. The focus is private collections and their owners.
That distinction matters in a city with plenty of backyard projects, garage finds and family keepsakes. A private collection with a strong story may fit. A retail inventory does not.
The notice does not publish a submission deadline. Anyone interested should contact the production team promptly, but avoid assuming that a December filming window means the crew will visit every Arizona community.
How to make a useful submission
A concise, specific note will help a casting team understand the collection faster than a generic “I have antiques” message.
Include:
Your full name and best phone number. Use the number where producers can reach you.
The collection’s location. City and state are essential; do not post a home address publicly.
What is in the collection. Mention categories, approximate quantity and any standout pieces.
Why the collection exists. Family history, a lifelong obsession or an unusual local connection can make the objects more meaningful.
Clear photos. Send broad views that show scale plus a few close-ups of representative pieces.
Ownership and access details. Be honest about whether you own the items and can authorize access to the property.
Do not send payment information, government identification or other sensitive documents just to apply. The Arizona Film Office warns actors and crew never to pay a fee to apply for work. A legitimate first contact should be about the collection and possible participation, not a demand for money.
A casting call, not a scheduled Maricopa episode
The series follows antique hunters looking for historically interesting objects and the people who saved them. That premise makes Maricopa a plausible source of leads: the city sits amid agricultural, railroad and transportation history, while decades of rapid growth have brought collections from across the country into local garages and workshops.
But plausible is not confirmed. Neither History nor Cineflix has announced a Maricopa stop, a local participant or an Arizona episode date. The only verified news today is that the production is seeking private Arizona collections for a planned December route.
Residents who want a broader look at the city’s current identity can also browse OurMaricopa’s new-resident guide, local dining guide and food-truck guide. Those guides are separate from the casting call and do not indicate any filming location.
For the collector with a barn, garage or back room full of conversation starters, however, the invitation is open: tell the production team what you have, show it clearly and let the objects’ story do the selling.
Sources
History — “Want to Be on American Pickers?” — https://www.history.com/shows/american-pickers/articles/want-to-be-on-american-pickers — accessed Oct. 25, 2026.
History — American Pickers program page — https://www.history.com/shows/american-pickers — accessed Oct. 25, 2026.
Cineflix producer notice reproduced by Safford Thrive — “American Pickers Hunting the Gila Valley for Antiques” — https://saffordthrive.com/american-pickers-hunting-the-gila-valley-for-antiques/ — published Oct. 21, 2026; accessed Oct. 25, 2026.
Arizona Commerce Authority / Arizona Film Office — Cast, Crew & Script Calls — https://azcommerce-prod.azurewebsites.net/film-media/cast-crew-script-calls/ — accessed Oct. 25, 2026.