Pokémon 30th Anniversary: the timeline and the 2026 celebration
On 27 February 1996 Pokémon Red and Green came out in Japan, and the trading card game followed on 20 October that same year. So in 2026 Pokémon turns thirty, and you can tell: an anniversary set released worldwide on the same day, new products right through to December, and events in Japan and Europe. Here is what is happening and what to do with it.
Updated By the GemHunt editors7 questions answered
Short answerPokémon turns thirty in 2026: the games Red and Green came out in Japan on 27 February 1996, and the trading card game on 20 October 1996. The anniversary is marked by a Pokémon Presents on 27 February, the 30th Celebration card set, released worldwide on the same day on 16 September, special events in Japan and a concert in London on 10 November.
How did Pokémon start thirty years ago?
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| 27 February 1996 | Pokémon Red and Green come out in Japan |
| 20 October 1996 | The Pokémon Trading Card Game launches in Japan |
| Early 1999 | The English Base Set, the start of the cards outside Japan |
| 27 February 2026 | Pokémon Presents on the thirtieth Pokémon Day |
| 16 September 2026 | 30th Celebration, the first set released worldwide at the same time |
Anyone who collected cards in 1999 or 2000 will recognise the first generation straight away: Pikachu, Charizard, Mewtwo. The game has run without a break ever since, and it is bigger than ever. New sets come out a few times a year, and around an anniversary a special set is added.
What is the 30th Celebration anniversary set?
The card set for the anniversary: every pack contains only foil cards and always one of thirty Pikachus, and there is a Classic Collection of reprinted cards from every generation. What is in which product and which product suits you is in the 30th Celebration buying guide; what is in stock right now is on the set page.
What are the First Partner Illustration Collections?
A separate anniversary series, apart from the 30th Celebration set. Three waves come out in 2026, each about the starter Pokémon of three regions. Every collection contains a pack with 3 of that wave's 9 promo cards in illustration rare style, two regular booster packs and a sticker sheet. The promo cards are not in regular packs.
| Wave | Regions | Promo cards |
|---|---|---|
| Series 1 (20 March 2026) | Kanto, Sinnoh, Alola | MEP 037 to 045 |
| Series 2 | Johto, Unova, Galar | MEP 046 to 054 |
| Series 3 (7 August 2026) | Hoenn, Kalos, Paldea | MEP 055 to 063 |
What is in stock is on the First Partner Illustration Collection page.
What else comes out in the anniversary year?
| Date | Product |
|---|---|
| 2 October | Booster Bundle (6 packs), Mini Tins (2 packs per tin) |
| 30 October | Espeon ex and Umbreon ex Battle Decks |
| 6 November | Ultra-Premium Collection Day and Night, Ditto Premium Collection, Figure Collection |
| 4 December | Binder Collection (moved back, first planned for 2 October) |
The regular Mega Evolution set Delta Reign, with Mega Rayquaza ex, also comes out on 6 November.
Which anniversary events are there?
- 27 February 2026: a Pokémon Presents on the thirtieth Pokémon Day, including FireRed and LeafGreen for the Switch.
- Japan: special promo packs at Gym Battles, from 16 September 2026 up to and including January 2027. Only available in Japan.
- 10 November 2026: Pokémon Night Out, a concert at The O2 in London.
- 24 October to 1 November: the Delta Reign prereleases at participating stores.
Did you collect yourself as a child? Then the Poster Collection is a good place to start: large promo cards and packs with the Classic Collection inside. If you are after the first generation, also have a look at the 151 set.
Is GemHunt celebrating the anniversary too?
Yes. During the Pokémon 30th anniversary sale you get 20% off the entire range, from single packs to booster boxes. Every product page shows the old price struck through next to the new one. Everything in the offer is on the deals page.
Pokémon 30th anniversary sale: 20% off until 12 October, while stocks last. The struck-through price is the lowest price in the 30 days before the sale.
Pokémon is thirty, and the card game turns thirty on 20 October 2026. The last anniversary products only arrive on 6 November and 4 December; if you are looking for something for Christmas, take what is in stock now.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Pokémon in 2026?
Thirty years old. Pokémon Red and Green came out in Japan on 27 February 1996; that date is celebrated every year as Pokémon Day. The trading card game launched in Japan on 20 October 1996, so the card game also turns thirty in 2026. The English cards followed in early 1999.
What is Pokémon 30th Celebration?
The anniversary set of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, released on 16 September 2026. It is the first set to come out worldwide on the same day. Every pack contains five foil cards from the set, always including one of thirty different Pikachus, plus a foil Energy card. There is no booster box: packs only come inside products.
Which 30th Celebration products are still to come?
The Booster Bundle and the Mini Tins on 2 October, the Espeon ex and Umbreon ex Battle Decks on 30 October, the Ultra-Premium Collection, the Ditto Premium Collection and the Figure Collection on 6 November, and the Binder Collection on 4 December. The Binder Collection was first planned for October and has been moved back.
Are the First Partner Illustration Collections part of 30th Celebration?
No. They are a separate anniversary series, in three waves, each about the starter Pokémon of three regions. Every collection contains a pack with 3 of that wave's 9 promo cards, two regular booster packs and a sticker sheet. There are no 30th Celebration packs inside.
What is a Futuristic Rare?
A rarity introduced with 30th Celebration. There are two: Mew ex and Mewtwo ex, both drawn by the Japanese artist YOSHIROTTEN. The Pokémon Company does not publish pull rates; counts by collector sites come to roughly one per 120 packs, but that remains an estimate.
Which anniversary product suits someone who collected as a child?
The Poster Collection or a 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box. The set contains a Classic Collection of thirty reprinted cards from every generation, so you meet cards from back then in today's style. If you are after the original 151 Pokémon specifically, have a look at the 151 set too.
Are there anniversary events in the UK?
Yes: Pokémon Night Out, a concert at The O2 in London on 10 November 2026. The special promo packs at Gym Battles are only available in Japan. Prereleases for the next set, Delta Reign, run from 24 October to 1 November.
Read more
- New setsPokémon 30th Celebration: what is in each product and which to buyPokémon 30th Celebration, the 30th Anniversary set out on 16 September 2026: 6 foil cards per pack, 30 Pikachus, no booster box. Which product suits you.
- CollectingPokémon card value: how much are my Pokémon cards worth?Find the value of your Pokémon cards in 5 steps: identify the card, check rarity and condition, and find real sold prices on Cardmarket or eBay. Plus: when grading pays.
- Understanding productsBooster box, Elite Trainer Box (ETB) or bundle: what is the difference?Booster box, Elite Trainer Box (ETB), bundle, tin and blister compared: how many packs are inside, what a pack costs and what you buy each one for.