Pokémon World Championships 2026: Everything You Need to Know About the Event of the Year in San Francisco
August 28–30, 2026 — Moscone Center & Chase Center, San Francisco, California
The Pokémon World Championships 2026 are just around the corner, and this edition is shaping up to be one of the most spectacular in franchise history. From major competitive new features to a brand-new fan convention and a grand final worthy of a professional sporting event, San Francisco will be buzzing with Trainers from around the world at the end of August.
📍 Venue and Dates
Worlds 2026 takes place August 28–30, 2026 in San Francisco, California — the second time the city has hosted the event. Preliminary rounds will be held at the Moscone Center, while the grand final on Sunday — the iconic Championship Sunday — moves to the Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors, promising a spectacle that rivals the biggest sporting events.
The opening night on August 27 is also planned at Oracle Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, featuring a Pokémon drone show and outdoor Pokémon GO activities.
🏆 Competitive Disciplines
As every year, Worlds brings together the world’s best players across several disciplines:
- Trading Card Game (TCG) — 21st World Championship
- Video Game Championship (VGC) — 16th edition
- Pokémon GO — 5th edition
- Pokémon UNITE — 5th edition
Participants are divided into three age divisions: Junior, Senior, and Masters.
🎮 The Big 2026 Newcomer: Pokémon Champions in VGC
This is the most significant change of the competitive season. VGC, which previously used the latest mainline games (such as Scarlet and Violet), officially transitions to Pokémon Champions, a new game dedicated to competitive play released on April 8, 2026 for Nintendo Switch (a mobile version is planned for later).
Players had to adapt quickly to this new title ahead of the August deadline — a historic transition marking the end of an era for VGC and the opening of a new chapter in competitive Pokémon.
🎉 PokémonXP: The Big Convention for All Fans
A brand-new addition to this edition, PokémonXP is a fan convention running alongside the tournament at the Moscone Center and Yerba Buena Gardens. Open to all fans — no competitive qualification needed — it features:
- Workshops, panels, and performances
- Meet-and-greets with special guests
- A pop-up Pokémon Center with event-exclusive merchandise
- Interactive experiences set in the Pokémon universe
Renowned partners will be on hand: LEGO, Funko, Bandai Spirits, Crocs, Build-A-Bear, Jazwares, Stern Pinball, and many more.
🎴 Exclusive Cards and Goodies
As with every Worlds, exclusive promotional cards have been revealed. The competitors’ Welcome Kit, the Paradise Resort 2026 card, official championship promos, and a PokémonXP promo card were unveiled at the North America International Championships in New Orleans. Good news for those who can’t make the trip: some cards will be available at local game stores.
🗺️ How to Qualify?
Qualification for Worlds is earned through accumulating Championship Points throughout the season via official tournaments (Regionals, Internationals). Players from Asia (Japan, South Korea, mainland China, Asia-Pacific) qualify through their respective regional programs.
For Pokémon UNITE, the system has evolved: teams qualifying through Regional Leagues (Top 2), international tournaments (Aeos Cup, Asia Champions League, Final Stretch at NAIC), or the Last Chance Qualifier now all receive travel expense support.
🎟️ How to Attend as a Fan?
General public access is through an Interest List on the official website:
- Multi-day pass (3 days): interest list open from April to end of April 2026 — now closed
- Single-day pass: interest list open until June 18, 2026, selection in mid-July
The multi-day pass + Arena Experience includes access to the Sunday final at Chase Center. Qualified competitors have dedicated access with their own welcome kit.
🌍 A Record-Breaking Event on the Horizon
This is the 21st edition of the TCG World Championships and the 18th time the event is held in the United States. Moving the final to Chase Center signals a clear ambition: to make Championship Sunday a spectacle on par with the world’s greatest sporting finals.
The 2026 edition also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, promising announcements and surprises befitting the milestone.
📅 Key Dates
| What | When / Where |
|---|---|
| Opening Night (Pokémon GO Night) | August 27 — Oracle Park |
| Worlds & PokémonXP | August 28–30 — Moscone Center |
| Championship Sunday (Final) | August 30 — Chase Center |
| Interest list (day pass) | Closed June 18, 2026 |
| Day pass selection | Mid-July 2026 |
Sources: Pokémon.com, Bulbapedia, Press.pokemon.com — Updated: June 2026