Pokémon World Championships to arrive in San Francisco

The 2026 Pokémon World Championships and the new PokémonXP fan convention are set to take place in San Francisco from August 28 to 30. Organizers expect over 50,000 attendees. Most competitions, including the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon GO, Pokémon UNITE, and the newly released Pokémon Champions, will be held at the Moscone Center. Championship Sunday will move to the Chase Center.

PokémonXP, coinciding with the franchise’s 30th anniversary, will offer workshops, panels, cosplay competitions, and a Pokémon Center pop-up shop featuring exclusive merchandise. The festivities begin on August 27 with a sold-out Pokémon Worlds Night hosted by the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park.

Due to the scale of the event, several street closures are in effect in the SoMa district through September 1, including full closures of Howard Street between 3rd and 4th streets and portions of Minna Street. While Muni transit is not expected to reroute, delays are anticipated.