Celebrate 30 Years of Pikachu and Pokémon

Did you know that 2026 marks exactly 30 years of Pokémon? To celebrate, Pokémon has something pretty fun up it’s sleeve. You may remember we kicked off the celebrations at Chaos Cards back in March with a Pokémon party at our Tabletop Gaming Store in Folkestone. And it looks like the celebrations will be continuing throughout the year and across the world.

Did you know that Pokémon Red and Green first launched on the Game Boy in Japan on the 27th February 1996? The franchise has grown and evolved since then, with not just the games, but the TV shows, the movies and of course the Trading Card Game.

We are excited to announce that the Pokémon Company will be releasing the 30th Celebration expansion in September to celebrate the last 3 decades of the iconic TCG.

So if you have been a player since 1996, or you have just recently discovered the game, this release will be pretty exciting news for you. Read on for everything you need to know about this highly anticipated set!

The 30th Celebration Set will be an extra special release, from a global release, to a new rarity and reprints, there’s plenty to be excited about.

• For the very first time in Pokémon TCG history, this set will launch simultaneously across the world. This means no more waiting to see what you get, you can rip packs at the exact same time as players in Tokyo.

• Every single card in the pack is a foil card, yes, that includes the Basic Energies. Each booster pack will contain 5 foil cards, 1 foil Basic Energy, and 1 Pokémon TCG Live code card.

• To celebrate this anniversary there are 30 completely unique variations of Pikachu to collect in this set. Each pack is a chance to find a rare new artwork.

• Along with a brand-new unannounced rarity, beloved retro cards will be making a comeback. Look out for reprints like Charizard and the iconic Pikachu & Zekrom-GX. There is plenty to get excited about for this birthday!

Ultra-Premium Collections

For the ultimate collector, the Premium Collections are split into two celestial themes. Each box contains an astonishing 30 total booster packs (including a special 3-card etched Classic Collection pack), alongside a playmat, sleeves, deck box, and metal coins.

• Ultra-Premium Collection: Day: Features full-art promo cards starring Pikachu and Espeon ex.

• Ultra-Premium Collection: Night: Features full-art promo cards starring Pikachu and Umbreon ex.

Figures & Displays

• Mew & Mewtwo Figure Collections: Each set comes with 5 booster packs, a promo card, an oversized foil card, and a nice little sculpted figure of either Mew or Mewtwo. Which one will you choose?

• Ditto Premium Collection: Comes with 8 booster packs and a colourful, premium acrylic display case to showcase an included Ditto promo card.

Decks & Collections

• Espeon Ex & Umbreon Ex Battle Decks: Ready-to-play, all-foil 60-card decks designed to play straight out of the box.

• Elite Trainer Box (ETB): This is probably the most popular product in any Pokémon release. The ETB features 9 booster packs, 65 card sleeves, a player's guide, 16 foil Basic Energy cards, and a gorgeous full-art foil promo card featuring Pokémon #30 Nidorina. (It looks stunning.)

• Sylveon Ex / Greninja Ex Boxes: Includes 4 booster packs, a playable promo, and an oversized card of your chosen Pokémon.

Other Pokemon Treats

• Mini Tins: 10 different tins to collect featuring gorgeous art of Mew, Pikachu, Espeon, Lapras, Moltres, Mewtwo, Umbreon, Greninja, and Zapdos. Each tin contains 2 booster packs, an art card, and a sticker sheet.

• Binder, Poster, & Sticker Collections: These fun sets contain between 3 to 5 booster packs, with promos featuring Articuno, Zapdos, Moltres, Lucario, Alolan Exeggutor, or a special 9-pocket anniversary binder. (Which one will you get?)

• 2-Pack Blister & Booster Bundles: Looking for just the booster packs to rip? Grab a 2-Pack Blister, with a promo and a coin, or a 6-pack Booster Bundle.

The Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration is set to be a massive milestone to honour the extraordinary legacy of Pokémon, whilst ushering in a new era for players worldwide. The guaranteed all-foil packs, the return of classic mechanics, and a historic simultaneous global launch are adding up to make this one of the most legendary release we have ever seen. Keep an eye on the Chaos Cards News and Events page for information about any 30th Celebration events we have in store at our Tabletop gaming shop.

This sure looks to be an exciting release for Pokémon fans young and old, which means it will definitely be our most popular release this year! Make sure you check out the Chaos Cards official Product Drop Guidelines to find out how the system works before the release date.

Which product will you be most excited to get? Join in the Pokémon 30th Birthday discussion over on our socials.