The Pokémon Go New Year’s event celebrates the start of 2026, featuring a New Year’s 2026 Collection Challenge.
This event brings back previous New Year’s costume Pokémon and introduces new field research tasks. A permanent update to Lucky Pokémon is also part of the celebration. Players can also benefit from various New Year’s bonuses, potentially earning valuable items.
New Year’s 2026 Collection Challenge Pokémon list
The New Year’s 2026 Collection Challenge must be completed by Sunday, January 4th, 2026, at 8 PM local time to claim all rewards.
Pokémon required for this challenge and their acquisition methods include:
- Party Top Hat Pikachu – In the wild
- Party Hat Bulbasaur – In the wild
- Party Hat Charmander – In the wild
- Party Hat Squirtle – In the wild
Rewards: 2026 XP, 2026 Stardust and 26 Ultra Balls.
New Year’s 2026 field research tasks
Event-exclusive New Year’s 2026 field research tasks are:
- Catch 26 Pokémon reward – 2026 Stardust
- Win a raid reward – 2026 Stardust
Players with three or fewer active field research tasks can receive one of these bonus tasks daily:
- Catch 15 Pokémon reward – 1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense
- Spin 5 PokéStops or Gyms reward – 1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense
- Send 5 Gifts to friends reward – 1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense
- Transfer 15 Pokémon reward – 1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense
- Power up Pokémon 10 times reward – 1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense
New Year’s 2026 event bonuses
- Double raid XP.
- Double raid stardust.
- Increased chance of encountering shiny Party Top Hat Pikachu in the wild and from raids.
- One bonus daily field research task every day, which rewards either one Lucky Egg or one Incense. This bonus requires having three or fewer field research tasks.
- Fireworks will be decorating the sky!
The event also increases the maximum number of Lucky Pokémon obtainable from trades from 35 to 45. Additionally, trading any Pokémon stored since 2020 guarantees it will become Lucky until this new limit is reached.
New Year’s 2026 wild Pokémon encounters
During the New Year’s 2026 event, these Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild:
- Party Hat Bulbasaur
- Party Hat Charmander
- Party Hat Squirtle
- Party Top Hat Pikachu
- Ribbon Jigglypuff
- New Year’s Outfit Hoothoot
- Party Hat Wurmple
New Year’s 2026 raids
One Star Raids
- Party Top Hat Pikachu
- Party Hat Wurmple
Three Star Raids
- Party Hat Raticate
- Party Hat Nidorino
- Party Hat Gengar
- Party Hat Wobbuffet
New avatar item for New Year’s 2026
The Blacephalon Boots will be released in the avatar store during the New Year’s 2026 event, available for purchase after the event concludes.
New Year’s 2026 pay-to-play quest
- $1.99 or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency.
- Non-refundable and can not be purchased using PokéCoin.
- Can be given to a player who is Great Friends or higher.
- Quest must be completed, with rewards claimed, before Sunday 4th January 2026 at 8pm (local time).
- Rewards include two Premium Battle Passes, 3,000 Stardust and encounters with Party Top Hat Pikachu.
- Also unlocks an additional bonus – one additional Raid Pass every day, earned by spinning Gym Photo Discs.
‘New Year’s 2026 Timed Research’ Step 1 of 1
- Catch 5 Pokémon – Party Top Hat Pikachu encounter
- Catch 10 Pokémon – Party Top Hat Pikachu encounter
- Catch 15 Pokémon – Party Top Hat Pikachu encounter
- Catch 20 Pokémon – Party Top Hat Pikachu encounter
- Catch 25 Pokémon – Party Top Hat Pikachu encounter
- Make 5 Nice Throws – Party Top Hat Pikachu encounter
- Make 10 Nice Throws – Party Top Hat Pikachu encounter
- Make 15 Nice Throws – Party Top Hat Pikachu encounter
- Make 5 Great Throws – Party Top Hat Pikachu encounter
- Make 10 Great Throws – Party Top Hat Pikachu encounter
Rewards: 3,000 Stardust, two Premium Battle Passes and Party Top Hat Pikachu.
