First Look: Pokemon Go Fest: Global 2026

A free-to-play event, new mega and legendary Pokémon, and much more. This is not a Go Fest you want to miss.

Pokémon Go Fest is back! 

Pokémon Go dropped the first look at Pokémon Go Fest: Global 2026, and we can't wait. A free-to-play event, Mega Mewtwo debuts and lots more, this a Go Fest you don't want to miss.

The highlight of the event is the debut of Mega Mewtwo X and Y in super mega raids throughout the event. This Pokémon has been requested and theorised about for years, and now, during the 10-year anniversary of Pokémon Go, it is finally here. Mewtwo X and Y will be some of the most powerful Pokémon in the game.

Trainers can catch these new Mewtwo from a free branching special research, where trainers can choose to catch Mewtwo X or Y. The two forms will also be in super mega raids, and completing them will reward trainers with mega energy. To complete the super mega raids, trainers will need a raid pass/remote raid pass, link charges and an already mega-evolved Pokémon.

Mega Mewtwo is not the only new addition to Pokémon Go this year, as the event will also see the debut of Zeraora, the thunderclap Pokémon. This will be available through free special research.

Trainers will have the chance to catch Pokémon from each of the 18 types over the two-day event. The Pokémon spawning throughout the event will change every 3 hours as different habitats rotate. The times for these habitats are:

Saturday 11th June.

• Stormfire Peaks, 10 am - 1 pm, Ice, Electric and Fire.
• Astral Tides, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Physic, Ghost and Water.
• Dragonlight Summit, 4 pm to 7:00 pm, Flying, Rock and Dragon.

Sunday 12th June

• Earthforged Domain, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm, Ground Steel and Normal 
• Verdant Anomaly, 1:00 pm to 4 pm, Poison, Bug and Grass
• Twilight Battlefield, 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Dark, Fairy and Fighting.

View this post on Instagram

Pokémon Go announced a lot of exciting information about this year's Go Fest on 28th April 2026. This announcement included the locations and dates of the in-person Go Fest events. These included:

• Tokyo, Japan, May 29th - June 1st
• Chicago, USA, June 5th - June 7th
• Copenhagen, Denmark, June 12 - June 14.

Pokémon Go Fest: Global is set to take place from July 11th to 12th, 2026, and will run from 10 am - 7 pm on both days.

View this post on Instagram

This marks a marked change from previous years of Pokémon Go Fest. The game was run by Niantic until May 2025, when the game business was acquired by Scopely. It is a subsidiary of Saudi Arabia’s Games Group. The game business was sold for $3.5 billion. 

During the previous Go Fest events, players could either play for free or purchase a Pokémon Go Fest ticket and receive extra perks that would help them catch rarer Pokémon. These extra perks included an increased chance of encountering shiny Pokémon, research and more. However, this year, all trainers will receive all the perks and special research for free.

Trainers will encounter Tropius and Bouffalant, the regional Pokémon for Africa and New York, USA. Another bonus of the incense is that it will attract all forms of the Unown pokemon.

The bonuses for 2026 Go Fest include:

• Increased appearances of Pokémon-type featured during each time block of Go Fest Global.
• Lure modules activated during the event will remain active for 1 hour.
• Incense (excluding daily incense) will attract special Pokémon.
• Party play will be active for nine hours.
• Increased chance of encountering shiny Pokémon.
• Special research, including an encounter with Zeraora
• Branching Timed Research with a choice between Mega Mewtwo X or Y.
• Global challenges to unlock additional bonuses and Ultra Unlock events.
• Different Pokémon-type-themed research every hour.

Trainers will also encounter event-exclusive costumed Pokémon, including Pikachu, wearing team Instinct, Valor, and Mystic hats and Charmander. Players can also encounter Bulbasaur and Squirtle wearing Pikachu visor hats, these Pokémon can evolve and can also be shiny.