Pokémon: everything announced at the 2026 World Championships, including a new movie, TCG updates and more
The Pokémon franchise received several major announcements during the 2026 Pokémon World Championships closing ceremony on 30 August 2026, and at the concurrent PokémonXP event in San Francisco. Highlights include the first theatrical animated film in seven years, new dual-type cards for the mobile game Pokémon TCG Pocket, and the addition of Mega Evolutions to Pokémon Go and Pokémon Champions. As of September 2026, no release date has been confirmed for the new movie beyond a 2027 window, while the TCG Pocket update is scheduled for October 2026.
Pokémon: Wild Card – the first animated movie in seven years
A new animated feature film titled Pokémon: Wild Card was announced during PokémonXP and the World Championships closing ceremony. It will be the franchise’s 25th theatrical movie (including the 2019 live-action Detective Pikachu) and the first since 2020’s Pokémon the Movie: Secrets of the Jungle. The film is set for release in 2027, with no specific date confirmed as of the August 2026 announcements.
Pokémon: Wild Card will be the first animated movie not to feature the longtime anime protagonist Ash/Satoshi, and the first to centre on the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The story follows a boy described as a "Pokémon TCG player" alongside a Mimikyu, with a trailer showing a table set up for a game of Pokémon. The film is animated by CloverWorks (Spy x Family, The Elusive Samurai), directed by Katsuhiko Kitada (Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance), and features character design by Akemi Hayashi (Banana Fish).
The Pokémon TCG has never been explicitly confirmed to exist in the anime’s world, aside from a few references and Easter eggs. For example, in episode 73 of Pokémon The Series, "Bad to the Bone," TCG cards appear briefly among Team Rocket member Jessie’s possessions, though these were edited out in the English version. The villain of Pokémon The Movie 2000 also owns an Ancient Mew card, which was distributed at cinemas. It is unclear whether Pokémon: Wild Card takes place in the same continuity as the anime.
Pokémon TCG Pocket – dual-type cards arriving in October 2026
During a Pokémon TCG Pocket panel at PokémonXP, The Pokémon Company announced that dual-type cards will be added to the mobile game starting in October 2026. The first confirmed dual-type card is Mega Mewtwo X ex, a Psychic/Fighting-type Pokémon with 180 HP and a "Dual Impact" ability that deals 100+ damage, with an additional 40 damage if a stadium card is in play. The October update will also introduce ex cards for partner Pokémon Piplup and Fuecoco.
A blog post on the Pokémon website confirmed that more dual-type cards will follow, and that the October update will "kick off a new series of Pokémon TCG Pocket expansions." Dual-type Pokémon have existed in the video games since the first generation, but did not appear in the physical TCG until the mid-2000s, with at least 90 such cards released since then.
Pokémon Go – Mega Evolutions in competitive play and Armored Mewtwo return
At the World Championships closing ceremony, Pokémon Go was announced to allow Mega Evolved Pokémon to participate in official competitive play. This change will begin with the Go Fest Mega Finale event starting on 5 September 2026. Additionally, Armored Mewtwo will return to the game for the first time in six years.
Pokémon Champions – new Mega Evolutions added
A new trailer for Pokémon Champions was shown, revealing that Z Mega Evolutions for Absol and Lucario, as well as Mega Heatran, will join the battle simulator on 9 September 2026.
Pokémon World Championships 2027
The 2027 Pokémon World Championships will be held in Singapore from 13 to 15 August, as confirmed during the closing ceremony.
Pokémon TCG – new set and ex star cards
The Trading Card Game is receiving a new set (name not provided in the announcements), which will include several Mega Evolutions introduced in Legends: Z-A, such as the Z Mega Evolutions from the Mega Dimension DLC. The Legendary Beasts will also be featured. A new card type called ex star was teased, but no further details were given.
What is still unknown
Several details remain unconfirmed. The exact release date for Pokémon: Wild Card in 2027 has not been announced. The name of the new TCG set was not revealed. The full roster of dual-type cards for Pokémon TCG Pocket beyond Mega Mewtwo X ex has not been detailed. The role of Mimikyu in the film is unclear, and it is unknown whether the movie is set in the same continuity as the anime. No information was provided about a new Winds and Waves trailer, which some fans had anticipated. No release dates, prices, or additional platforms were announced for any of the titles beyond what is stated above.