Get ready for the return of Mid-Year Celebration events, Trainers! Local Play! Pokémon Stores will once again have the opportunity to host these fun casual events from June 15, 2026, to August 16, 2026, with a few prizes available for the first time. Mid-Year Celebration events are the perfect way to take it easy while still staying sharp as the Pokémon Championship Series takes a break from June 15, 2026, to August 31, 2026. There will be no CP-earning events (League Challenges, League Cups, etc., are CP-earning events) during this break.
As you participate in Mid-Year Celebration events, you can look forward to a few different prizes. There will be digital participation prizes sent directly to your Pokémon Trainer Central email, playmats featuring the adorable trio of Chikorita, Totodile, and Tepig for Pokémon TCG event winners, a notebook showcasing epic Pokémon Champions key art for Pokémon VGC event winners, and a notebook stylized with Team Instinct, Team Mystic, and Team Valor colors and logos for Pokémon GO event winners.
Play! Pokémon Stores will be able to host two Mid-Year Celebration events this year, so keep tabs on the Event Locator for a chance to enjoy some casual games and maybe even earn these cool prizes while doing it.
The new Pokémon Championship Series is set to begin on September 1, 2026, and prospective Trainers can look forward to a few changes. Pokémon TCG and Pokémon GO players will now have an offseason where there are no CP-earning events, reducing the pressure of a long season and aligning with the current season layout for Pokémon VGC.
New prizes are coming to the 2027 season too! Pokémon VGC and Pokémon GO competitors who finish first place at a local event will now earn an acrylic trophy alongside some cool digital rewards to commemorate their accomplishment. Stay tuned for more details on these rewards in the future.