Pokémon Celebrates 30 Years With Wave of Reveals at Inaugural PokémonXP and 2026 World Championships

The Pokémon Company International closed out a 30th-anniversary weekend in San Francisco with the inaugural PokémonXP event and the 2026 Pokémon World Championships, crowning this year’s champions across Video Game, Trading Card Game, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE competition. Alongside the championship matches, the closing ceremonies and weekend panels carried a long list of announcements spanning the games, the trading card game, an upcoming animated movie, and a new streaming series.

“Pokémon: Wild Card” Animated Movie Coming in 2027

“Pokémon: Wild Card” was announced as the first new Pokémon movie release in years. The story follows an aspiring Pokémon Trading Card Game player and Mimikyu, the Disguise Pokémon. The film is in production with STORY inc. and CloverWorks, one of Japan’s top animation studios, and is set for release beginning in 2027.

Z Mega Evolution Debuts in Pokémon Champions on September 9

Pokémon capable of Z Mega Evolution will make their first appearance in Pokémon Champions on Sept. 9, 2026. Mega Lucario Z, Mega Garchomp Z, and Mega Absol Z join the roster alongside Baxcalibur and Rillaboom, with The Pokémon Company teasing more information on Heatran joining battles at a later date. Additional details on Pokémon Champions are available in the official press release.

“Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu” Heads to Disney+ in 2027

A behind-the-scenes panel with Aardman, the British animation studio behind “Shaun the Sheep” and “Wallace & Gromit,” previewed the new stop-motion series “Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu,” set in Pokémon’s Galar region. Disney+ was confirmed as the series’ exclusive streaming home ahead of its 2027 debut, and the panel closed with the world premiere of the show’s first official trailer.

• Director (Tom Parkinson): Leads the creative direction for the stop-motion series.
• Creative Director, IP Development (Nat McKay): Oversees how the Pokémon IP translates into Aardman’s stop-motion format.
• Model Making Creative Lead (James Young): Heads the physical model and character craft for the series.
• Pokémon Director of Original Animation (Phil Rynda): Hosted the panel alongside the Aardman creative team.

Pokémon GO Adds Mega-Evolved Pokémon to GO Battle League

Pokémon GO marked its 10th anniversary this year, a decade after the mobile game’s 2016 launch. For the first time, eligible Mega-Evolved Pokémon will gain access to a third Charged Attack, and starting next season, Trainers will be able to use Mega-Evolved Pokémon at all levels of GO Battle League. Armored Mewtwo is also set to return to Pokémon GO soon. More information is available at PokemonGO.com.

New Mega Evolution Cards and the ex★ Series Revealed for the Trading Card Game

The Pokémon Trading Card Game unveiled new cards including Mega Lucario Z ex, marking the debut of Z Mega Evolution Pokémon in the card game. More Mega attack rare cards are coming soon, including Mega Rayquaza ex, Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Greninja ex, and Mega Zygarde ex. Legendary Pokémon Raikou, Entei, and Suicune were also revealed as part of a newly announced ex★ Series, with further details to come.

Dual-Type Pokémon Coming to Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket in October

Starting October 2026, Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket players will be able to collect dual-type Pokémon cards in the app’s next card series. Further details on the series are expected closer to launch.

Morpeko, Toxtricity, Jolteon, and Flareon Join Pokémon UNITE

Morpeko, Toxtricity, Jolteon, and Flareon were announced as the next playable Pokémon coming to Pokémon UNITE. The Pokémon Company has not yet detailed their moves or roles; more information about Pokémon UNITE is available at Unite.Pokemon.com.

2026 Pokémon World Championships Results

The Pokémon Company also congratulated this year’s newest champions across every competitive division:

For more information, visit PokemonXP.com and Pokemon.com/Worlds.