The 2025 Pokémon World Championships have just wrapped up, and as always, the closing ceremony brought a wave of exciting announcements. Presented by Tzunekazu Ishihara, President and CEO of The Pokémon Company, the event delivered surprises across multiple Pokémon titles, plus a glimpse at what’s coming in 2026. Here’s everything you need to know.
Pokémon Champions Announced for 2026
A brand-new game called Pokémon Champions is coming to mobile and Nintendo Switch in 2026. It will also become the official video game format for the Pokémon Championship Series starting next year.
New Pokémon Joining Pokémon Unite
Three new Pokémon are joining the Pokémon Unite roster:
- Empoleon – Playable on September 19, 2025
- Dhelmise – Coming soon
- Vaporeon – Coming soon
In addition, starting September 4, Groudon will replace Rayquaza in the Theia Sky Ruins, giving massive buffs to whichever team defeats it.
Mega Evolution Debuts in Pokémon TCG Pocket
A new season of Pokémon TCG Pocket launches this fall, featuring Mega Pokémon such as:
- Mega Altaria
- Mega Gyarados
- Mega Blaziken
This marks the first time Mega Evolution arrives in the TCG Pocket app.
Eternamax Eternatus Arrives in Pokémon GO
The legendary Eternamax Eternatus makes its global debut during the Pokémon GO: Dark Skies event from August 18–23, 2025, with the Max Finale on August 23–25. Players can catch every Dynamax and Gigantamax Pokémon so far, plus Eternatus, through the free GO Pass: Max Finale.
Mega Charizard X and More in the Pokémon TCG
Fans got a sneak peek at powerful upcoming TCG cards, including:
- Mega Charizard X ex
- Mega Gardevoir ex
- Mega Lucario ex
- Oricorio ex (with the unique Excited Turb Ability)
- Mega Dragonite ex, featuring the new Sky Transport Ability
These new cards highlight the return of Mega Evolutions to the TCG.
Four-Player Ranked Battles in Pokémon Legends: Z-A
A new trailer revealed 4-player Ranked Battles for Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Trainers can now fight in real-time battles with AOE attacks like Draco Meteor, competing for the most knockouts within a three-minute limit. These can be played locally or online.
PokémonXP and 2026 Worlds in San Francisco
The next Pokémon World Championships will be held in San Francisco from August 28–30, 2026 at the Moscone Center. Alongside it, fans can enjoy PokémonXP, a new fan event celebrating everything Pokémon, with tickets starting at $120 for adults and $70 for youth.
Two pass types will be available:
- Multi-Day Pass – General access to PokémonXP
- Multi-Day + Arena Pass – Includes Championship Sunday arena access
Championship Sunday Moves to the Chase Center
For 2026, Championship Sunday will take place at the Chase Center, a massive arena with over 18,000 seats—more than double the size of Anaheim’s 7,500-seat venue used this year.
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Pokémon World Championships were packed with surprises: new games, TCG expansions, Unite roster updates, and the debut of Eternamax Eternatus. With Pokémon Champions, PokémonXP, and San Francisco set as the next big stage, the Pokémon community has plenty to look forward to in the coming year.
