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Pokemon World Championship 2026 Expands with PokemonXP Festival
New fan-focused event to run alongside elite esports tournaments in San Francisco
Mar. 3, 2026 at 8:07am by Ben Kaplan
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The Pokémon World Championship 2026 is expanding beyond just competitive tournaments, with the addition of a new PokemonXP fan festival running concurrently in San Francisco. The PokemonXP event will offer workshops, cosplay contests, and other activities for all Pokémon fans, not just the elite esports competitors.
Why it matters
The Pokémon franchise is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, and the expanded World Championship event represents an effort by The Pokémon Company to engage the broader fan community beyond just the top-level competitive players. This shift towards a more inclusive, festival-like experience could help grow the overall Pokémon audience and introduce the brand to new generations of fans.
The details
The Pokémon World Championship tournaments will take place from August 28-30, 2026 at the Moscone Center and Chase Center in San Francisco. Alongside the competitive events in Pokémon GO, Pokémon UNITE, and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the new PokemonXP festival will be held at the Moscone Center and surrounding Yerba Buena Gardens. PokemonXP will feature interactive activities like the PlayLab for beginners, creative workshops, and an autograph room to meet Pokémon celebrities.
- The Pokémon World Championship 2026 will take place from August 28-30, 2026.
- Tickets for the multi-day PokemonXP festival will go on sale on September 17, 2025.
- The Pokémon Presents announcement about the 2026 events was made on February 27, 2026 to coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise.
The players
The Pokémon Company
The company that owns and manages the Pokémon franchise, including the World Championship events.
Chris Brown
The global esports lead at The Pokémon Company, who noted that around 3,000 participants from around the world are expected at the 2026 tournament.
What’s next
Tickets and registration for the PokemonXP 2026 festival will open on September 17, 2025, with single-day tickets going on sale in spring 2026.
The takeaway
The expansion of the Pokémon World Championship into a broader fan festival in 2026 represents The Pokémon Company's efforts to celebrate the franchise's 30th anniversary by engaging the wider Pokémon community, not just the top competitive players.
