Pokemon GO New Year’s 2026 Event (January 2026) Complete Guide
Get ready to celebrate the arrival of 2026 in style! The Pokemon GO New Year’s 2026 Event brings an explosive 5-day celebration packed with exclusive costumed Pokemon, incredible bonuses, special raids, and limited-time research opportunities. Whether you’re a casual player or a dedicated trainer, this event offers something special for everyone.
From December 31, 2025, at 10:00 AM to January 4, 2026, at 8:00 PM local time, you’ll have the chance to catch rare party-themed Pokemon, earn double rewards from raids, and even encounter shiny variants at increased rates. I’ve gathered all the essential information you need to maximize your experience during this festive event.
Quick Event Overview
| Aspect | Details | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Event Dates | Dec 31, 2025 – Jan 4, 2026 | 5 Days |
| Start Time | 10:00 AM Local Time | – |
| End Time | 8:00 PM Local Time | – |
| Main Bonus | 2x XP & Stardust from Raids | Entire Event |
| Featured Shiny | Party Top Hat Pikachu (Increased Rate) | Entire Event |
| Ticket Price | $1.99 USD | Entire Event |
Event Bonuses: Maximize Your Rewards
The New Year’s 2026 Event offers several fantastic bonuses that will significantly boost your progression:
Free Bonuses (Available to All Players)
- 2× XP from Raid Battles – Perfect for leveling up quickly
- 2× Stardust from Raid Battles – Build up your Stardust reserves
- Increased Shiny Chance for Party Top Hat Pikachu in both wild encounters and raids
- Festive Fireworks – Enjoy colorful decorations lighting up the sky
- Permanent Lucky Pokemon Limit Increase – From 35 to 45 guaranteed Lucky Pokemon in trades
Premium Bonuses (Ticket Holders Only)
- One Additional Raid Pass Daily – Get 2 Raid Passes per day from Gym spins instead of 1
- Access to exclusive Timed Research with valuable rewards
Pro Tip: The increased Lucky Pokemon limit is a permanent change that starts with this event. If you trade Pokemon that have been in your storage since 2020, they’re guaranteed to become Lucky until you reach the new 45-Pokemon limit!
Wild Encounters: Complete Spawn List
During the event, you’ll find these festive costumed Pokemon appearing more frequently in the wild:
| Pokemon | Costume | Type | Shiny Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulbasaur | Party Hat | Grass/Poison | Yes |
| Charmander | Party Hat | Fire | Yes |
| Squirtle | Party Hat | Water | Yes |
| Jigglypuff | Ribbon | Normal/Fairy | Yes |
| Hoothoot | New Year’s Hat | Normal/Flying | Yes |
| Pikachu | Party Top Hat | Electric | Yes |
Special Spotlight: Party Top Hat Pikachu has significantly increased shiny odds compared to regular encounters, making this the perfect time to hunt for this festive shiny variant!
Related: If you enjoy hunting special Pokemon variants, check out our Ultimate Pokemon GO Mr. Mime Guide for more regional exclusive strategies.
Raid Battles: All Bosses and Counters
The event introduces special costumed Pokemon across all raid tiers, plus the debut of Blacephalon with an exclusive attack!
1-Star Raids
| Pokemon | Type | Max CP | Boosted CP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Party Top Hat Pikachu | Electric | 536 | 670 |
| Party Hat Wurmple | Bug | 330 | 413 |
3-Star Raids
| Pokemon | Type | Max CP | Boosted CP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Party Hat Raticate | Normal | 989 | 1,236 |
| Party Hat Nidorino | Poison | 796 | 995 |
| Party Hat Gengar | Poison/Ghost | 1,644 | 2,055 |
| Party Hat Wobbuffet | Psychic | 586 | 733 |
5-Star Raids
| Pokemon | Type | Special Move | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacephalon | Ghost/Fire | Mind Blown | 130 Power in raids, 90 Power in PvP with defense decrease |
Mega Raids
- Mega Swampert – Water/Ground type
Blacephalon’s Exclusive Move: Mind Blown is an incredibly powerful Charged Attack that deals 130 damage in raids but comes with the drawback of reducing the user’s Defense. This makes Blacephalon a glass cannon option for both raid and PvP battles.
For more raid strategies, our Ultimate Giovanni Shadow Giratina Guide offers advanced team building tips.
Collection Challenge: Complete Tasks & Rewards
The New Year’s 2026 Collection Challenge requires you to catch specific costumed Pokemon during the event:
Required Pokemon
- Party Top Hat Pikachu
- Party Hat Bulbasaur
- Party Hat Charmander
- Party Hat Squirtle
Rewards
- 2,026 Stardust
- 2,026 XP
- 26 Ultra Balls
Strategy Tip: Focus on catching these four Pokemon early in the event to complete the challenge quickly. The Ultra Balls reward will help you catch more costumed Pokemon throughout the event!
Field Research: Tasks and Rewards
Event-Specific Field Research
Complete these tasks by spinning PokeStops during the event:
| Task | Reward |
|---|---|
| Catch 26 Pokemon | 2,026 Stardust |
| Win a Raid | 2,026 Stardust |
Daily Bonus Field Research
Log in each day with 3 or fewer active research tasks to receive bonus tasks:
| Task | Reward |
|---|---|
| Catch 15 Pokemon | 1 Lucky Egg OR 1 Incense |
| Spin 5 PokeStops or Gyms | 1 Lucky Egg OR 1 Incense |
| Send 5 Gifts to Friends | 1 Lucky Egg OR 1 Incense |
| Transfer 15 Pokemon | 1 Lucky Egg OR 1 Incense |
| Power up Pokemon 10 times | 1 Lucky Egg OR 1 Incense |
Pro Tip: Save your Lucky Eggs from these bonus tasks and use them during the event’s 2x XP raid bonus for maximum efficiency!
Paid Timed Research: Worth the Investment?
For $1.99 (or equivalent in your local currency), you can purchase the New Year’s 2026 Premium Timed Research. Here’s what you get:
Immediate Bonus
- One extra Raid Pass daily (2 total from Gyms)
Research Rewards
- 2 Premium Battle Passes
- 3,000 Stardust
- Multiple Party Top Hat Pikachu encounters
Research Tasks
All tasks focus on catching Pokemon and making throws:
- Catch 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 Pokemon (Pikachu encounters)
- Make 5, 10, 15 Nice Throws (Pikachu encounters)
- Make 5, 10 Great Throws (Pikachu encounters)
Shiny Rate Bonus: According to Pokemon GO Hub, the Party Top Hat Pikachu encounters in this research have a 1/64 shiny rate (1.5625%), significantly higher than the standard rate!
Ultra Ticket Box Alternative
The Web Store offers the New Year’s 2026 Ultra Ticket Box for $1.99, which includes:
- Event ticket (same as above)
- 1 Lucky Egg
For more value analysis of Pokemon GO purchases, check out our How to Get a Coin Bag in Pokemon GO guide.
Avatar Items and Shop Content
New Avatar Item
- Blacephalon Boots – 200 PokeCoins
- Available during the event and continues after it ends
Web Store Exclusive
- New Year’s 2026 Ultra Ticket Box – $1.99
- Includes event ticket + Lucky Egg
- Better value if you need Lucky Eggs
Permanent Game Changes
This event introduces a significant permanent improvement to Pokemon GO:
Increased Lucky Pokemon Limit
- Previous Limit: 35 guaranteed Lucky Pokemon from trades
- New Limit: 45 guaranteed Lucky Pokemon from trades
- Special Condition: Pokemon in storage since 2020 are guaranteed to become Lucky when traded (until limit reached)
This change makes it much easier to build your collection of Lucky Pokemon, which have reduced Stardust costs for powering up and improved IV stats.
Event Strategy Guide
Day 1-2: Focus on Collection Challenge
- Prioritize catching the four required Pokemon
- Use Incense to maximize encounters
- Save event-specific Field Research for later
Day 3-4: Raid Marathon
- Take advantage of 2x XP and Stardust bonuses
- Use your daily Raid Passes efficiently
- Focus on Blacephalon raids for the exclusive move
Day 5: Research Completion
- Complete any remaining Timed Research tasks
- Use accumulated Lucky Eggs for maximum XP
- Last chance for costumed Pokemon spawns
Resource Management Tips
- Save Star Pieces for use during raid sessions with 2x Stardust
- Stock up on Raid Passes before the event starts
- Clear Field Research slots daily to get bonus tasks
- Trade old Pokemon (from 2020) for guaranteed Lucky Pokemon
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the New Year’s 2026 event last?
The event runs for exactly 5 days, from Wednesday, December 31, 2025, at 10:00 AM local time to Sunday, January 4, 2026, at 8:00 PM local time.
Is the paid Timed Research worth it?
Yes, the $1.99 ticket offers excellent value with 2 Premium Battle Passes (normally $2 each), 3,000 Stardust, extra Raid Passes, and multiple Pikachu encounters with increased shiny rates.
Can I complete the Collection Challenge without the ticket?
Absolutely! The Collection Challenge is free for all players and requires catching four specific costumed Pokemon that appear in the wild.
Will the costumed Pokemon disappear after the event?
Yes, all event-specific costumed Pokemon (Party Hat and New Year’s variants) will stop spawning after January 4, 2026, at 8:00 PM local time, though you can keep any you’ve caught.
Is Blacephalon’s Mind Blown move permanent?
Yes, Blacephalon caught during this event will permanently know the Charged Attack Mind Blown, even after the event ends.
Can I gift the paid research to friends?
Yes, you can purchase and gift the ticket to friends who are Great Friends or higher, but all purchases are non-refundable.
Conclusion
The Pokemon GO New Year’s 2026 Event offers an incredible opportunity to start your year with rare catches, valuable rewards, and permanent game improvements. Whether you’re hunting for shiny Party Top Hat Pikachu, building your Lucky Pokemon collection, or just enjoying the festive atmosphere, this 5-day celebration delivers exceptional value.
Remember to mark your calendar for December 31, 2025, and prepare your resources for maximum efficiency. With proper planning and the strategies outlined in this guide, you’ll make the most of every moment during this spectacular New Year’s celebration!