Pokémon TCG: Everything We Know About the 30th Anniversary Expansion
Release date: September 16, 2026 — worldwide, simultaneously.
Thirty years after the birth of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, The Pokémon Company International is marking the occasion with a special expansion simply titled 30th Anniversary. The standout fact: this is the very first time a TCG expansion will be available at the same moment across all participating markets, with no regional delay. A historic first, clearly designed to unite the global community around a shared launch.
All That Glitters Is Rare — Here, Without Exception
One of the most striking decisions of this expansion is that every single card is holofoil. No exceptions. Even the basic Energy cards, usually the plainest in the game. Each booster will contain 5 holographic cards, 1 shiny Energy, and 1 code for the Pokémon TCG Live app. Every card also features the official 30th anniversary logo of the franchise.
A New Rarity Debuts: “Futuristic Rare” Cards
The expansion introduces a brand-new card type to the TCG: “Futuristic Rare” cards. Entrusted to Japanese artist YOSHIROTTEN, known for his graphic visuals with intense colors, these cards depict Pokémon in a resolutely abstract and forward-looking style. The first revealed illustrations feature Mew and Mewtwo, two iconic figures from the first generation.
30 Pikachus, 30 Artists
Another highlight of this expansion: each booster guarantees one of 30 exclusive Pikachu cards, each signed by a different artist. The first three revealed versions are the work of OKACHEKE, Yuu Nishida, and Atsuko Nishida. A real challenge for collectors aiming to complete the full set.
The Return of the Classics
The expansion doesn’t only look to the future. It also includes 30 cards from the history of the TCG, reimagined with an all-new holofoil treatment. These reprints span several decades of the game and speak directly to long-time fans nostalgic for their first holo cards. Note that these classic cards will not be legal in Standard Tournament format; they will remain restricted to older formats.
A Set Designed for Everyone
Players, collectors, nostalgics, or fans of stunning artwork: the 30th Anniversary expansion seems to want to reach a broad audience. It will also feature cards depicting Pokémon from different regions and generations, as well as scenes set both day and night.
What to Expect in Terms of Availability?
The lessons of previous anniversary editions (notably the 25th anniversary in 2021) have clearly been taken on board. The Pokémon Company printed a record volume of cards during the 2025–2026 fiscal year — approximately 10 billion cards produced in that fiscal year alone. The stated goal is to make this expansion accessible to as many people as possible, avoiding the massive stock shortages that made headlines a few years ago.
Additional products tied to this expansion are also planned throughout the year, though the full calendar has not yet been announced.
Sources: pokemon.com, pokegraph.com