Pokémon Go 'PokémonXP and 2026 Worlds' event guide

Polygon RSS Feed✍ Julia Lee📅 August 25, 2026⏱ 5 min read(about 1 hour ago)

Overview & Key Takeaways

Our Pokémon Go guide lists the "PokémonXP & 2026 Worlds" event perks as well as how to find these new costumed Pikachu.

Pokémon is hosting its first-ever PokémonXP convention alongside the Pokémon 2026 World Championships, so naturally, Pokémon Go is hosting an event themed around them. The "PokémonXP & 2026 Worlds" event runs from Aug. 25-30 and features a lot of competitively used Pokémon alongside these adorable costumed Pikachu.

Below we list the event bonuses for Pokémon Go's "PokémonXP & 2026 Worlds" event, alongside how to find the special costumed Pikachu.

How to catch Cosmog suit Pikachu and World Championships 2026 Pikachu in Pokémon Go

The main way to grab both of these costumed Pikachu are from raids, but there are a few other ways to find them.

Both shiny and regular Pikachu in the Cosmog spacesuit in Pokémon Go. Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Scopely Explore

For Pikachu in the Cosmog spacesuit, here's how you can grab one:

Find this Pikachu in one-star raids during the event period.
As a reward at rank 28 and 59 of the event Go Pass. (Deluxe pass owners will get additional encounters at those levels, too.)
Complete the "Spin 26 PokéStops or gyms" or "Explore 5 km" event Field Research.
Watch at least 30 minutes of the PokémonXP Twitch stream on Saturday, Aug. 29 and complete the given Timed Research.

Shiny and regular Pikachu in a crown and cape get-up in Pokémon Go Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Scopely Explore

For the Pikachu in the lavish crown and cape World Championship 2026 outfit, it's a similar process:

Find this Pikachu in one-star raids from Aug. 28-30.
As a reward at rank 29 and 60 of the event Go Pass. (Deluxe pass owners will get additional encounters at those levels, too.)
Tune in to "official Pokémon Go co-streamers" during the World Championships for at least 45 minutes to get a Timed Research that rewards this Pikachu.

Neither of these Pikachu can evolve, but they are available shiny. Costumed Pikachu from World Championship events tend to be pretty rare, so grab them while you can!

Pokémon Go 'PokémonXP & 2026 Worlds' event Go Pass

This event features a Go Pass with 30 ranks (plus 30 more bonus ranks). As usual with these passes, you can earn some pretty decent rewards (including the aforementioned Pikachu) just by playing the game as you would. You'll get points for catching Pokémon, winning raids, and hatching eggs. You can earn up to 100 points (one full rank) per day by completing a "Catch 10 Pokémon" task.

There's also a few special event perks you can unlock at certain ranks:

Rank 10: 2x catch Stardust
Rank 20: Additional 3,000 XP awarded for successful raids.
Rank 20 (deluxe): Receive up to three raid passes at no cost by spinning photo discs at gyms

You can pay $4.99 to upgrade your pass to the deluxe version, which includes more rewards, including a Zapdos encounter and a backpack cosmetic themed around the event.

A Pokémon Go trainer wears a backpack with the Cosmog suit Pikachu and World Championship 2026 Pikachu on it. Image: Scopely Explore

Pokémon Go 'PokémonXP & 2026 Worlds' event Field Research and rewards

Spinning a PokéStop during the event period may yield one of these tasks:

Catch 5 Pokémon (5 Poké Balls, 2 Revives, or 3 Super Potions)
Explore 4 km (Pikachu [Cosmog spacesuit])
Spin 3 PokéStops or gyms (5 Poké Balls, 2 Revives, or 3 Super Potions)
Spin 26 PokéStops or gyms (Pikachu [Cosmog spacesuit])

Pokémon Go 'PokémonXP & 2026 Worlds' event boosted spawns

These Pokémon will spawn more frequently during specific parts of the event.

Aug. 25-28:

Ralts
Numel
Spheal
Drifloon
Elgyem
Deino
Sobble
Pawmi

Aug. 28-30:

Alolan Sandshrew
Mankey
Lickitung
Totodile
Wooper
Togetic
Beldum
Foongus
Froakie
Litten

*There is an "increased chance" of finding this shiny in the wild as part of the event.

Pokémon Go 'PokémonXP & 2026 Worlds' event raid targets

The following changes to the one-star raid schedule will take place as part of the event:

Aug. 25-28:

Pikachu (Cosmog spacesuit)
Impidimp

Aug. 28-30:

Pikachu (Cosmog spacesuit)
Pikachu (World Championships 2026)
Honedge

*These Pokémon have an "increased chance" of being shiny when raided.

Pokémon Go 'PokémonXP & 2026 Worlds' event special moves

Pokémon caught or evolved during this event will learn special legacy moves, so make sure to evolve any of the following Pokémon if you want these moves: