Pokémon GO launches Pokémon XP and 2026 World Championships celebration event

Niantic’s mobile game Pokémon GO announced a limited‑time celebration for Pokémon XP and the 2026 Pokémon World Championships. The event runs from 25 August to 30 August and adds new costumed Pikachu variants, special raids, rotating wild encounters, field research tasks and a GO Pass that grants exclusive rewards such as a 2026 Worlds backpack and a Zapdos encounter.

During the celebration the daily GO Battle League limit rises to 15 sets (75 battles), and players can unlock extra timed research by watching official Pokémon XP and World Championships livestreams. The 2026 Pokémon World Championships will be held in San Francisco from 28 August to 30 August, with livestream viewers receiving a free 2026 Worlds‑themed avatar item.

The event also introduces a GO Pass Deluxe tier that provides additional bonuses, including increased raid‑pass rewards and a special avatar backpack. All new content, including the Pikachu costumes and special‑tech Pokémon, is available only for the event’s duration.