Pokemon Go January 2026 Guide: Events, Raids, Shinies & More
Welcome to my comprehensive guide for Pokemon Go January 2026! After playing since launch and participating in countless events, I’m excited to walk you through everything happening this month. Niantic is starting the year strong with two Community Days, exciting new Pokemon debuts, legendary raids, and special fusion events that’ll keep you busy all month long.
Quick Overview: Pokemon Go January 2026 Events
| Event Name | Date | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s 2026 | Dec 31 – Jan 4 | Party Hat Pikachu, Blacephalon raids, 2x Raid XP |
| Piplup Community Day Classic | January 4 | Hydro Cannon Empoleon, 1/4 hatch distance |
| Pinch Perfect | January 6-11 | Klawf debut, Shiny Dhelmise, crab Pokemon |
| Kyurem Fusion Day | January 10 | Reshiram, Zekrom, fusion forms |
| High Zaptitude | January 13-18 | Electric-type focus event |
| Grookey Community Day | January 18 | Frenzy Plant Rillaboom, 3x Stardust |
| Precious Pals | January 20-25 | New event activities |
| Precious Pals: Taken Over | January 23-25 | Team GO Rocket invasion |
| Shadow Raid Day | January 24 | Shadow Pokemon raids |
| Into the Depths | January 27-Feb 1 | Closing month event |
| Dynamax Weekend | January 31-Feb 1 | Dynamax Roggenrola featured |
Pokemon Go January 2026 Raid Boss Schedule
Understanding the raid rotation is crucial for planning your month. I’ve broken down every raid tier to help you coordinate with your local community.
Five-Star Legendary Raids
January 5-16: Genesect Returns
- Genesect (Burn Drive) – can be Shiny
- Genesect (Chill Drive) – can be Shiny
Both Genesect forms feature different typing advantages based on their drives. The Chill Drive variant gains Ice-type moves while Burn Drive gets Fire-type coverage, making them versatile raid attackers.
January 16-25: Thundurus (Incarnate Forme)
- Available in Shiny form
- Electric/Flying-type legendary from Unova
- Perfect for Flying Cup and Master League battles
January 25-February 4: Tornadus (Incarnate Forme)
- Shiny available
- Flying-type legendary
- Strong in PvP formats with Hurricane
Mega Raids Schedule
January 5-16: Mega Blaziken
- Fire/Fighting-type
- Shiny available
- Best Fire-type Mega for raids
January 16-25: Mega Sceptile
- Grass-type specialist
- Can be Shiny
- Excellent for Water-type raids
January 25-February 4: Mega Ampharos
- Electric/Dragon-type
- Shiny encounters possible
- Great for Dragon Cup battles
Shadow Raids (Weekends Throughout January)
Shadow Cresselia appears every weekend from January 2 through February 1. This Psychic-type legendary offers a unique challenge with its Shadow boost.
Best Counters for Shadow Cresselia:
- Darkrai with Dark moves
- Weavile (Snarl/Avalanche)
- Tyranitar (Bite/Crunch)
- Gengar (Shadow Claw/Shadow Ball)
Max Battles Schedule
Dynamax Pokemon rotate weekly with special Max Monday events from 6-7 PM local time:
- January 5-11: Dynamax Drampa (can be Shiny)
- January 12-18: Dynamax Caterpie (Shiny available)
- January 19-25: Dynamax Beldum (great for Metagross candy!)
- January 26-February 1: Dynamax Roggenrola (Gigalith evolution)
January 2026 Spotlight Hours: Complete Schedule
Every Tuesday from 6-7 PM local time, a featured Pokemon appears more frequently with special bonuses. Here’s your complete weekly breakdown:
January 6: Barboach Spotlight Hour
- Featured Pokemon: Barboach (can be Shiny)
- Bonus: 2x Catch XP
- Strategy Tip: Perfect for grinding XP with Lucky Eggs. I stack these with excellent throws for massive gains!
January 13: Mareep Spotlight Hour
- Featured Pokemon: Mareep (Shiny available)
- Bonus: 2x Evolution XP
- Pro Tip: Save your evolutions all week! With a Lucky Egg active, you’ll get 4,000 XP per evolution instead of 1,000.
January 20: Hatenna Spotlight Hour
- Featured Pokemon: Hatenna (can be Shiny)
- Bonus: 2x Transfer Candy
- Best Use: Perfect timing to clean out your storage and double up on candy for December Community Day Pokemon.
January 27: Foongus Spotlight Hour
- Featured Pokemon: Foongus (Shiny form available)
- Bonus: 2x Catch Stardust
- Money Move: Combine with Star Piece for 3x Stardust total. I’ve earned 100,000+ Stardust in a single hour using this strategy!
Piplup Community Day Classic – January 4, 2026
Starting the year with nostalgia! Piplup’s Community Day Classic runs from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time on Sunday, January 4.
Event Highlights
Featured Pokemon: Piplup (increased Shiny odds approximately 1 in 25)
Exclusive Move: Evolve Prinplup into Empoleon by 9:00 PM local time to learn Hydro Cannon
- Trainer Battles: 80 power
- Gyms/Raids: 90 power
Event Bonuses
- 1/4 Egg Hatch Distance – Place eggs in incubators during the event!
- 3-Hour Incense Duration (excluding Daily Adventure Incense)
- 1-Hour Lure Modules that attract Piplup
- Photobomb Surprise – Take AR snapshots during the event
Extended Lure Module Bonus
From 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM local time, Piplup will spawn frequently at PokeStops with active regular Lure Modules. These Piplup have increased Shiny odds and may feature Special Backgrounds!
Special Research (Paid)
For $1.99, you get access to exclusive Special Research featuring:
- 3 Piplup encounters with Special Backgrounds
- Additional Piplup encounters
- 1 Premium Battle Pass
- 1 Rare Candy XL
- Extra rewards
My Verdict: If you’re a shiny hunter or completionist, this is solid value. The Premium Battle Pass alone is worth $1, making everything else essentially free.
Pro Strategy Tips
- Start with incubators: Place 12 eggs in super incubators right at 2 PM for maximum efficiency
- Lure rotation: Drop lures at 2 PM, 3:15 PM, and 4:30 PM to maintain coverage
- Fast catch technique: Use quick catch methods to encounter 300+ Piplup
- Save excellent Piplup: Keep high-IV specimens for eventual Lucky trades
Check out my Pokemon GO New Year’s 2026 Event guide for transition strategies between events!
Pinch Perfect Event: Klawf Debut! (January 6-11)
The first major event of March introduces the rock-type crab Pokemon Klawf from the Paldea region!
New Pokemon Debuts
Klawf (Rock-type)
- First appearance in Pokemon Go
- Available through Field Research and Timed Research rewards
- Base stats suggest strong PvP potential in Great League
Shiny Dhelmise
- First-time Shiny release for the Ghost/Grass anchor Pokemon
- Appears in 3-Star Raids
- Rare spawns in the wild
Featured Wild Spawns
During Pinch Perfect, expect increased encounters with:
- Corphish (Water-type) – can be Shiny
- Dwebble (Bug/Rock-type) – Shiny available
- Clauncher (Water-type) – can be Shiny
- Tirtouga (Water/Rock-type) – Fossil Pokemon
- Archen (Rock/Flying-type) – Rare fossil spawn
Raid Encounters
One-Star Raids:
- Corphish (Shiny chance)
- Dwebble (can be Shiny)
- Clauncher (Shiny available)
Three-Star Raids:
- Dhelmise (SHINY DEBUT!)
- Dondozo (Water-type from Paldea)
Event Bonuses
- 2x XP for Catching Pokemon – Stack with Lucky Eggs for 4x XP!
- Increased Shiny Rates for Corphish, Dwebble, and Clauncher
My Hunting Strategy
Focus your shiny hunting in this priority order:
- Dhelmise raids (new shiny release)
- Clauncher spawns (evolves into powerful Clawitzer)
- Corphish for shiny Crawdaunt
- Complete Klawf research tasks early
For more event coordination tips, check my Pokemon GO World Championships September 2026 Guide.
Kyurem Fusion Day – January 10
Mark your calendars! Friday, January 10 from 2:00-5:00 PM local time brings back Unova’s legendary dragons for a special fusion-themed raid day.
Featured Raid Bosses
All rotating throughout the 3-hour window:
- Reshiram (Fire/Dragon) – can be Shiny
- Zekrom (Dragon/Electric) – Shiny available
- Black Kyurem (Dragon/Ice) – Shiny encounters possible
- White Kyurem (Dragon/Ice) – can be Shiny
Fusion Energy System
Successfully completing raids earns Fusion Energy, which allows you to change your Kyurem between its three forms:
- Regular Kyurem
- Black Kyurem (fused with Zekrom)
- White Kyurem (fused with Reshiram)
Special Event Bonuses
- Up to 5 Additional Free Raid Passes – Spin Gym Photo Discs for extra passes
- Remote Raid Pass Limit Increased to 20 (January 9-10 only)
- Increased Shiny Odds for all featured legendaries
- Bonus Fusion Energy per successful raid
Paid Event Ticket ($1.99)
The optional ticket provides:
- Even more Fusion Energy
- Additional Raid Passes
- Special Research with exclusive rewards
Optimal Raid Strategy
For Reshiram:
- Best counters: Mega Rayquaza, Kyogre, Rampardos
- Weather boost: Rainy (Dragon), Sunny (Fire)
For Zekrom:
- Top counters: Rayquaza, Garchomp, Groudon
- Weather boost: Rainy (Dragon), Windy (Flying resistance)
For Both Kyurem Forms:
- Premier counters: Mega Rayquaza, Dialga, Salamence
- Weather boost: Windy (Dragon), Snow (Ice)
Pro Tip: Coordinate with your local community early! Organize raid trains to maximize your free pass efficiency and cover multiple gyms during the 3-hour window.
High Zaptitude Event (January 13-18)
Electric types take center stage during this mid-month celebration! While Niantic hasn’t revealed full details yet, based on similar events I expect:
Predicted Features
- Increased Electric-type spawns (Pikachu, Mareep, Electabuzz)
- Electric-type raid bosses
- Special Field Research focusing on Electric Pokemon
- Potential Shiny releases or boosted rates
Stay tuned – I’ll update this section as official announcements drop!
Grookey Community Day – January 18, 2026
The first full Community Day of 2026 features Grookey, the adorable Chimp Pokemon from the Galar region! This Sunday event runs from 2:00-5:00 PM local time.
Community Day Highlights
Featured Pokemon: Grookey (Shiny odds approximately 1 in 20)
Exclusive Move: Evolve Thwackey into Rillaboom during the event (or up to 4 hours after) to learn Frenzy Plant
- Trainer Battles: 60 power + lowers opponent’s Attack by one stage
- Gyms/Raids: 115 power
New Move Available: Starting with this event, Rillaboom can also learn Drum Beating
- Trainer Battles: 60 power + Attack debuff
- Gyms/Raids: 115 power
Event Bonuses
- 3x Catch Stardust – Massive stardust farming opportunity!
- 2x Catch Candy
- 2x Candy XL Chance (Trainers level 31+)
- 3-Hour Incense Duration (excluding Daily Adventure Incense)
- 1-Hour Lure Modules
- One Additional Special Trade (3 total for the day)
- 50% Reduced Stardust for Trades
- AR Photo Surprise
Extended Lure Bonus (2:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
Grookey will spawn frequently at PokeStops with active regular Lure Modules. These extended spawns maintain increased Shiny odds and may have Special Backgrounds!
Special Research ($1.99)
Premium research includes:
- 3 Grookey encounters with Special Backgrounds
- Additional Grookey spawns
- 1 Premium Battle Pass
- Exclusive rewards
Showcases
Grookey and Rillaboom Showcases run from Saturday, January 17 at 10:00 AM through Sunday, January 18 at 8:00 PM. Enter your best specimens for competitive rankings!
My Community Day Game Plan
Hour 1 (2:00-3:00 PM): Pure catching focus
- Use fast catch method
- Prioritize Shiny checks
- Stack excellent throws for bonus Stardust
Hour 2 (3:00-4:00 PM): Selective catching + appraisals
- Check IVs on Shinies and high-CP specimens
- Continue stacking Stardust
- Complete Field Research tasks
Hour 3 (4:00-5:00 PM): Evolution hour
- Activate Lucky Egg
- Evolve all high-IV Grookey to Thwackey to Rillaboom
- Ensure Frenzy Plant is learned
- Complete any remaining research
Post-Event (5:00-9:00 PM): Lure farming
- Continue catching at lured PokeStops
- Hunt for perfect IV specimens
- Trade duplicates with friends for Lucky chances
For advanced trading strategies during Community Day, see my Pokemon GO Lucky Trinket trading guide.
Precious Pals Event (January 20-25)
Details are limited, but this appears to be a friendship-themed celebration! Based on the name and timing, I anticipate:
Expected Features
- Friendship-related bonuses (reduced Stardust costs, increased Lucky Friend chance)
- Cute Pokemon spawns (Happiny, Chansey, Clefairy line)
- Special Research focusing on friendship mechanics
- Trading bonuses
Official details coming soon!
Precious Pals: Taken Over (January 23-25)
Team GO Rocket crashes the Precious Pals party for a 3-day takeover event!
Confirmed Features
Shadow Raid Day Integration: This takeover directly leads into the Shadow Raid Day on January 24, creating a seamless Team GO Rocket weekend.
What to Expect?
Based on previous takeover events:
- Increased Team GO Rocket encounters at PokeStops
- Special Timed Research featuring Team GO Rocket battles
- Shadow Pokemon-focused Field Research
- Potential Giovanni encounters with Super Rocket Radar
- Double Stardust from Team GO Rocket battles
Preparation Checklist
- Stock up on potions and revives – You’ll battle constantly
- Save a Super Rocket Radar if you haven’t defeated Giovanni yet
- Clear Pokemon storage for incoming Shadow Pokemon
- Prepare counter teams for Rocket Leaders (Cliff, Sierra, Arlo)
For detailed Team GO Rocket strategies, reference my Ultimate Pokemon GO Taken Over Event Guide.
Shadow Raid Day – January 24
Following the Team GO Rocket takeover, Friday January 24 features Shadow Pokemon appearing in special raids!
How Shadow Raids Work?
Shadow Raids are special raid encounters where Shadow Pokemon appear as raid bosses. These Pokemon:
- Have the red aura visual effect
- Require purification OR keep as Shadow for 20% damage boost
- Often feature meta-relevant legendaries
Expected Shadow Raid Boss
Based on the January schedule, Shadow Cresselia is the confirmed weekend Shadow Raid boss throughout the month.
Shadow Raid Strategy
Best Counters:
- Mega Gengar (Shadow Claw/Shadow Ball)
- Darkrai (Snarl/Dark Pulse)
- Hydreigon (Bite/Brutal Swing)
- Shadow Weavile (Snarl/Avalanche)
Key Tips:
- Shadow Raids are more difficult than regular raids
- Bring 5-7 trainers minimum for Shadow Cresselia
- Shadow Pokemon take more damage, so dodge charge moves
- Consider keeping as Shadow for Master League PvP
Into the Depths Event (January 27 – February 1)
Closing out January with a mysterious deep-sea themed event! While Niantic hasn’t released full details, the name suggests:
Predicted Features
- Water-type and deep-sea Pokemon spawns
- Possible debut of Gen 9 Water types
- Ocean-themed research tasks
- Potential legendary raids (Kyogre, Primal Kyogre?)
This event transitions perfectly into February’s content, so expect some preview elements for next month’s activities.
Dynamax Weekend (January 31 – February 1)
The final weekend of January features special Dynamax Battle opportunities!
Featured Dynamax Pokemon
Dynamax Roggenrola (January 26-February 1)
- Rock-type from Unova
- Evolves into Boldore, then Gigalith
- Excellent for building your Rock-type raid team
Weekend Bonuses
Dynamax Weekends typically include:
- Increased Dynamax Battle spawn rates
- Special Max Particles rewards
- Extended Power Spot activation times
- Community coordination opportunities
Why Farm Roggenrola?
Gigalith is one of the best non-legendary Rock-type attackers:
- Strong against Fire, Flying, Bug, Ice types
- Excellent raid counter for legendary birds
- Great League and Ultra League potential
Farming Strategy: Prioritize high-IV Roggenrola for future Gigalith army. I recommend catching 6+ excellent specimens during this weekend for a full raid team.
Research Breakthroughs (All January)
Complete 7 days of Field Research stamps to encounter one of these Pokemon:
- Galarian Mr. Mime (can be Shiny)
- Lapras (Shiny available)
- Snorlax (can be Shiny)
- Sinistea (Shiny form available)
- Honedge (no Shiny yet)
- Dreepy (Shiny not released)
Pro Tip: Save your 7-day breakthrough for a day with Lucky Egg active to maximize XP gains! I time mine with Community Day evolution sessions.
January 2026 Raid Hours Schedule
Every Wednesday from 6:00-7:00 PM local time features the current 5-Star Raid Boss:
- January 7: Genesect (both Drives)
- January 14: Genesect (both Drives)
- January 21: Thundurus (Incarnate Forme)
- January 28: Tornadus (Incarnate Forme)
Raid Hour Strategy: Join your local Discord or community group! Raid Hours are perfect for coordinating multiple raids in a short window. I typically complete 8-12 raids during each Raid Hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best event in Pokemon Go January 2026?
The Grookey Community Day on January 18 offers the most value with 3x Catch Stardust, exclusive moves, and guaranteed Shiny encounters. However, Kyurem Fusion Day on January 10 is perfect for legendary hunters.
Can I get Shiny Klawf during Pinch Perfect?
Klawf is debuting during Pinch Perfect (January 6-11), and new Pokemon typically don’t have Shiny forms available at launch. However, Shiny Dhelmise IS available for the first time during this event!
What’s the best way to prepare for Grookey Community Day?
Stock up on Pinap Berries, clear Pokemon storage space, prepare a fast catch technique, and coordinate with local players for trading. Save a Lucky Egg for the evolution window!
Are Shadow Pokemon worth keeping or should I purify them?
Keep Shadow Pokemon! The 20% damage boost makes Shadow versions superior for raids and Master League PvP, even with lower IVs. Only purify for Lucky Dex completion or specific collection goals.
How many raids can I do during Kyurem Fusion Day?
With the 5 additional free passes plus your daily pass and any Premium Raid Passes, you can complete 10+ raids easily during the 3-hour window if you coordinate with a group. Remote Raiders can use their Remote Passes as well (limit increased to 20).
What Pokemon should I prioritize catching in January 2026?
Priority order:
- Klawf (new Pokemon debut)
- Shiny Dhelmise (first-time Shiny)
- Grookey on Community Day (for Frenzy Plant Rillaboom)
- Legendary raid bosses (Genesect, Thundurus, Tornadus)
- Shadow Cresselia from Shadow Raids
Is the Piplup Community Day Classic worth playing if I already have Empoleon?
Yes! Hydro Cannon is significantly better than standard moves, and the 1/4 egg hatch distance bonus is perfect for clearing out your egg inventory. Plus, Shiny Piplup is adorable!
What happens to my Kyurem if I fuse it?
Fusion is reversible! You can switch between regular Kyurem, Black Kyurem, and White Kyurem using Fusion Energy. The process doesn’t consume your Pokemon – it’s a form change mechanic.
Final Thoughts
After analyzing every event, raid schedule, and bonus opportunity, here’s my master plan for dominating Pokemon Go in January 2026:
Week 1 (Jan 1-7):
- Capitalize on New Year’s event bonuses
- Complete Piplup Community Day Classic on January 4
- Start Pinch Perfect event strong on January 6
Week 2 (Jan 8-14):
- Farm Genesect raids before rotation
- Participate in Kyurem Fusion Day on January 10
- Prepare for High Zaptitude event
Week 3 (Jan 15-21):
- Grind Grookey Community Day on January 18
- Stockpile Stardust with 3x bonus
- Begin Precious Pals event
Week 4 (Jan 22-28):
- Battle Team GO Rocket during Taken Over
- Maximize Shadow Raid Day on January 24
- Start Into the Depths event
Week 5 (Jan 29-Feb 1):
- Dynamax Weekend farming
- Month-end preparation for February events
Resource Management Tips:
Stardust: January offers multiple Stardust bonuses. Prioritize:
- Grookey Community Day (3x catch Stardust)
- Foongus Spotlight Hour (2x catch Stardust + Star Piece)
- Team GO Rocket battles during takeover
Raid Passes: Focus your Premium Raid Passes on:
- Kyurem Fusion Day (best value)
- Shiny Dhelmise raids
- Genesect if you need candy for GO Battle League
Lucky Eggs: Optimal usage:
- Mareep Spotlight Hour (2x evolution XP)
- Grookey Community Day evolution session
- Research breakthrough completions
January 2026 is absolutely PACKED with content, from nostalgia Community Days to legendary fusion mechanics to new Pokemon debuts. Whether you’re a casual player or hardcore trainer, there’s something exciting happening every single week. The key is prioritizing events that align with your goals – shiny hunting, Pokedex completion, competitive battling, or pure collection.
My personal focus? I’m hunting that Shiny Dhelmise, maxing out on Kyurem Fusion Energy, and building a perfect IV Rillaboom for Ultra League. Whatever your goals, use this guide as your roadmap to Pokemon Go success this January!
Related Resources:
For more Pokemon Go guides and strategies: