Pokémon Go’s “New Year’s 2026” event is live from Dec. 31 through Jan. 4. Expect costumed Pokémon all over the place and Blacephalon headlining raids — and if you catch it during the event, it knows its signature move, Mind Blown.
Raids are extra juicy this time with doubled XP and Stardust, so don’t sleep on your daily free passes. Niantic also expanded the guaranteed Lucky trade system — trades involving Pokémon from 2020 now qualify for a guaranteed Lucky result.
Below is a clean rundown of what’s in the event, from the premium Timed Research to spawns and raid targets.
Timed Research and rewards (New Year’s 2026)
There’s a $1.99 Timed Research ticket that expires when the event ends. Buying it also adds one extra free (orange) raid pass per day during the event. Value-wise, the ticket makes sense if you want a pile of guaranteed costumed Pikachu encounters or plan to raid a lot.
New Year’s 2026 — Step 1 of 1
- Catch 5 Pokémon (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Catch 10 Pokémon (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Catch 15 Pokémon (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Catch 20 Pokémon (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Catch 25 Pokémon (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Make 5 Nice throws (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Make 10 Nice throws (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Make 15 Nice throws (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Make 5 Great throws (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Make 10 Great throws (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
Completion rewards: Pikachu (party top hat) encounter, 2 Premium Battle Passes, 3,000 Stardust
Collection Challenge
This Collection Challenge runs for the full event:
New Year’s 2026 Collection Challenge
- Catch a Pikachu (party top hat)
- Catch a Bulbasaur (party hat)
- Catch a Charmander (party hat)
- Catch a Squirtle (party hat)
Rewards: 2,026 Stardust, 2,026 XP, 26 Ultra Balls
Field Research and rewards
Spinning PokéStops during the event can grant these tasks:
- Catch 26 Pokémon (2,026 Stardust)
- Win a raid (2,026 Stardust)
There’s also a set of daily Field Research for logging in that awards premium items, provided you have room for another task:
- Catch 15 Pokémon (1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense)
- Spin 5 PokéStops or Gyms (1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense)
- Send 5 gifts to friends (1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense)
- Transfer 15 Pokémon (1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense)
- Power up Pokémon 10 times (1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense)
Event spawns
According to Niantic, these Pokémon appear more frequently during the event:
- Bulbasaur (party hat)
- Pikachu (party top hat)*
- Jigglypuff (ribbon)
- Hoothoot (New Year’s outfit)
Players are also seeing the following in the wild:
- Charmander (party hat)
- Squirtle (party hat)
- Wurmple (party hat)
*Pikachu (party top hat) has an increased shiny chance in the wild during the event.
Raid targets (event rotation)
One-star raids
- Pikachu (party top hat)*
- Wurmple (party hat)
Three-star raids
- Raticate (party hat)
- Nidorino (party hat)
- Gengar (party hat)
- Wobbuffet (party hat)
Five-star raids
- Blacephalon
*These raid bosses have an increased shiny chance when encountered via raids.
Quick reminder: Blacephalon caught during the event knows Mind Blown, and raids are paying out double XP and Stardust — a good time to use those free passes and clear a few tiers.