Pokémon TCG: Full Release Schedule for 2026

If 2025 felt busy, 2026 is already shaping up to beryllium a large twelvemonth for the Pokémon TCG with the expansions it’s got coming up.

The Pokémon Trading Card Game is charging into its 30th day twelvemonth with the remainder of the Pocket Monsters franchise, with a renewed absorption connected Mega Evolution, day celebrations, and tightly curated sets designed to support some collectors and competitory players afloat locked in.

While the afloat year’s roadmap hasn’t been revealed yet, 3 large products are already confirmed, and they springiness america a precise wide thought of what benignant of twelvemonth we’re successful for.

Here’s everything we cognize truthful acold astir the confirmed Pokémon TCG releases for 2026, including erstwhile they launch, what makes them special, and wherever you tin really bargain them close now.

Mega Evolution: Ascended Heroes – Releasing Jan. 30, 2026

Mega Evolution: Ascended Heroes - Credit: The Pokemon Company

The 2026 TCG twelvemonth officially kicks disconnected with Ascended Heroes, the archetypal English Mega Evolution enlargement of the caller epoch since the basal acceptable launched successful September past year.

Ascended Heroes leans heavy into classical Mega Pokémon, caller Tera cards, Team Rocket Pokémon, and adjacent a Stadium card, with 290 cards coming to the acceptable altogether.

Preorders person initially opened up, but availability has varied wide depending connected the retailer — with Target already sold retired and Best Buy’s scope listed arsenic “Coming Soon”, some listing products astatine MSRP. The lone options presently disposable are those not sold retired owed to being listed astatine prices higher than marketplace value.

Magic Madhouse has announced it volition beryllium stocking Ascended Heroes, but it looks similar it won’t beryllium disposable determination until launch. The large summons point of immoderate Pokémon TCG expansion, Ascended Heroes’ modular ETB (with 9 booster packs, a promo card, and overmuch more) is presently disposable astatine TCGplayer and Walmart: with TCGplayer’s being the champion enactment astatine $119, with Walmart’s being distant backup astatine $178.

The next-most desirable merchandise of an expansion, the six-pack booster bundle for Ascended Heroes is inactive mode supra MSRP, but is presently astir affordable astatine Walmart for astir $79, followed by TCGplayer astatine conscionable implicit $82.

Both the Charmander and Ghastly Tech Sticker Collections (three booster packs, promo card, and stickers) are presently listed for the champion prices astatine Amazon astatine conscionable nether $50 each — with TCGlayer offering overmuch larger terms points for now.

Meanwhile, the Heroes Collections astir Erika and Larry, each with boosters and promo cards tin beryllium recovered cheapest astatine Walmart, and $10 much expensive, if you privation the Larry mentation arsenic a guarantee.

Ascended Heroes volition besides person a assortment of mini-tins featuring galore cardinal Pokémon — Clefairy & Chikorita, Zorua & Cramorant, Riolu & Darumaka, etc — but these tin presently outgo upwards of $190 astatine TCGplayer. If you don’t caput getting a random tin, though, these are thankfully disposable for $29.99 astatine Walmart.

Finally, each Premium Poster Collection (one for Mega Lucario and different for Mega Gardevoir) tin presently beryllium recovered champion astatine TCGplayer for conscionable implicit $85 each — with Walmart’s sitting astatine $120.

Pokémon TCG: Pokémon Day 2026 Collection – Releasing Jan. 30, 2026

Mega Evolution: Perfect Order – Releasing March 2026

Mega Evolution: Perfect Order - Credit: The Pokemon Company

If Ascended Heroes is going to beryllium mounting the instauration of what the Mega Evolution set’s expansions are going to look like, Perfect Order’s going to footwear things up a notch. Just announced this period and arriving successful March, Perfect Order is going to beryllium honing successful connected galore of the Pokémon featured successful the Legends: Z-A game.

Among the cards announced from the 120-card acceptable truthful far, we cognize we’re going to beryllium seeing galore of the game’s starring Mega Pokémon; Mega Zygarde ex, Mega Starmie ex, and Mega Clefable ex; but besides immoderate astonishing other additions similar Meowth ex.

At the clip of writing, determination are nary pre-orders of Perfect Order products to buy, but we’ll beryllium updating this nonfiction arsenic soon arsenic they are.

Pokémon TCG: 2025 Release Calendar – A Look Back

Despite the Pokemon TCG's ongoing proviso issues driving prices up, 2025 was 1 of the astir packed years for the trading paper game, some successful expansions releases and conscionable however costly immoderate products and pursuit cards person been worth.

Still, adjacent for casual collectors, the hundreds of caller cards released person had plentifulness that are inactive worthy grabbing successful 2026, if you tin find a terms you're blessed with. Most notably, 2025 included the motorboat of the caller Mega Evolution series, with the aptly named Mega Evolution set, and the last merchandise of the year, Phantasmal Flames.

• Prismatic Evolutions: Jan. 17, 2025
• Journey Together: Mar. 28, 2025
• Destined Rivals: May 30, 2025
• Black Bolt / White Flare: Jul. 18, 2025
• Mega Evolution: Sep. 26, 2025
• Phantasmal Flames: Nov. 14, 2025

Mega Evolution: Phantasmal Flames - Nov. 14, 2025

Mega Evolution: Phantasmal Flames - Credit: The Pokemon Company

The 2nd enlargement successful Pokémon TCG's Mega Evolution acceptable was gearing up for rather immoderate time. Phantasmal Flames landed connected 14 November 2025, and collectors were rapidly scrambling to unafraid their favourite sealed products earlier the inevitable shortages kicked in. With headliners similar Mega Charizard X ex taking centre stage, request ran blistery crossed each large retailer.

Featuring six booster bundles, there's inactive each accidental that you'll propulsion a Mega Charizard X ex treble rare, alt rare, oregon adjacent Secret Art Rare oregon Gold Rare. I've pulled 3 mean 'Zard ex's truthful far, truthful nary request to interest astir platform gathering with Phantasmal Flames.

They besides had the Phantasmal Flames Elite Trainer Box live, which is really disposable for $74.99 close now, though it's been going successful and retired of banal arsenic the months person gone by. With that, I'd suggest keeping an oculus connected that too.

What made this acceptable adjacent much breathtaking is its size, with astir 90 cards earlier concealed rares, which makes it the smallest English acceptable successful astir a decade. For collectors similar me, that usually means a overmuch much manageable chase, portion inactive packing successful plentifulness of dense hitters for players.

The merchandise lineup altogether for Phantasmal Flames was beauteous stacked, too. We got the accustomed booster packs and booster container (36 packs), a 9-pack Elite Trainer Box featuring a shiny caller Charcadet promo, and an Ultra-Premium Collection built astir Mega Charizard X ex.

On apical of that, 2 taxable decks for Mega Gengar ex and Mega Diancie ex arrived a fewer weeks aboriginal connected October 24, which was a amusive mode to get a sensation of the acceptable earlier launch. If you’re similar maine and emotion cracking packs, the booster container was the mode to go, but the UPC already looked similar the large collector portion this clip around.

What tied it each unneurotic was the Japanese acceptable Inferno X, which deed shelves determination successful precocious September. That acceptable had lone 80 cards, and erstwhile you added successful the Mega Gengar and Mega Diancie decks, you fundamentally got the afloat Phantasmal Flames lineup.

We'd already seen immoderate slayer reveals, including the Mega Charizard X ex concealed uncommon previewed astatine Worlds, truthful I afloat expected that to beryllium the pursuit paper erstwhile this launches. Between the smaller acceptable size, Charizard hype, and immoderate coagulated gameplay cards, I'm not amazed this 1 flew disconnected the shelves and I’m decidedly gladsome I locked successful my preorder.

Mega Evolution - Released Sept. 26, 2025

Mega Evolution - Credit: The Pokémon Company

Just erstwhile you thought the Pokémon TCG had capable going connected with Destined Rivals and Black Bolt and White Flare, successful came a marque caller bid altogether with the Mega Evolution sets.

Announced astatine Japan's Championship tournament, the 2 caller sets featuring Mega Lucario ex and Mega Gardevoir ex marked the fashionable trading paper crippled stepping distant from its Scarlet and Violet era.

Mega Evolution released connected August 1, 2025, successful Japan, and September 26 successful English markets (with much preorders besides supposedly taking spot connected September 13).

Finding sealed products similar these astatine a just terms became a situation precise quickly. Some stores were holding MSRP, others were and inactive are inflating prices, and secondary marketplaces person had their ain dynamics to support successful mind, too.

But the gist is: collectors who indispensable person the ETB, Best Buy and Walmart were worthy changeless refreshing. If reliability matters more, TCGplayer has been the astir straightforward (though slighty much costly) option.

While we tin expect products from this acceptable to beryllium hopefully support joining Pokémon TCG deals further down the line, immense archetypal request volition decidedly spot definite cards go terms juggernauts among upcoming crashers and climbers.

2025 was shaped up to beryllium a immense twelvemonth astatine that point, sobut here’s everything other from the remainder of the Pokémon TCG large releases past year. As always, IGN volition support tracking the bargain links, some present and connected socials astatine @IGNDeals.

Pokémon TCG 2025 Holiday Calendar - Released Aug. 22, 2025

Pokémon TCG: Holiday Calendar (2025)

The Pokémon Company started releasing yearly vacation calendars backmost successful 2022, inspired by the Pokémon Countdown Calendar from 2008.

These products are amazingly bully worth successful the existent TCG market, arsenic good arsenic for casual fans of the bid successful different forms. You tin spot the listing present astatine Amazon oregon scroll connected for much details.

The 2025 Pokémon Holiday Calendar released connected August 22 and initially retailed for $49.99 astatine Target earlier quicklly selling out. It's present disposable astatine Walmart for a pricier $64.99 oregon astatine Amazon for $69.

Black Bolt and White Flare - Released Jul. 18, 2025

Credit: The Pokemon Company / IGN

Scarlet & Violet: Black Bolt and White Flare person been disposable since the summer, and tin inactive beryllium astir astatine marketplace terms with capable luck astatine the close time, and if you cognize wherever to look. We antecedently previewed the caller sets that brought 156 Unova Illustration cards to Pokémon TCG, and it's altogether beauteous good!

If you haven't secured immoderate boosters for Black Bolt and White Flare sealed products, you tin inactive effort your luck astatine section ceramic and mortar oregon online, oregon adjacent online retailers similar Amazon close now.

Alternatively, TCGplayer pricing for sealed merchandise has occassionally been crashing, truthful I reckon we've good been seeing the accustomed terms clang post-launch — arsenic it what happens with immoderate expansions.

What bash I deliberation of the set? I deliberation it's large and perchance the champion accidental to propulsion Illustration Rares successful the Scarlet and Violet era, it's ending connected a precocious note.

Personally I'm not a instrumentality of stuffing the acceptable with Pokéball and Masterball rares, but successful presumption of prime and presentation, they look cool. It would beryllium expansive to spot Mega Evolution additionally treble down connected the dual format and loads of Illustration Rares going forward, but this is an encouraging sneek peek into what's adjacent for Pokémon TCG.

Black Bolt and White Flare absorption connected the 156 Pokémon primitively discovered successful the Unova region. Each Unova Pokémon look arsenic either an illustration uncommon oregon a peculiar illustration uncommon card, with antithetic versions disposable successful Black Bolt and White Flare products.

• July 18, 2025: Scarlet & Violet Black Bolt/White Flare ETBs (9 boosters, promo, accessories); Binder Collection (5 boosters, Zekrom/Reshiram album); Unova Poster Collection (6 boosters, Snivy/Tepig/Oshawott promos, poster); Unova Mini Tin (2 boosters, art/sticker card).
• August 1, 2025: Tech Sticker Collection (3 boosters, Reuniclus/Gothitelle promo, stickers); Unova Victini Illustration Collection (4 boosters, foil/parallel/oversized Victini).
• August 22, 2025: Booster Bundle (6 Black Bolt/White Flare boosters).

Destined Rivals - Released May. 30, 2025

Destined Rivals - Credit: The Pokémon Company

Things truly kicked disconnected connected May 30 with Destined Rivals. This acceptable brought backmost Trainer’s Pokémon, reintroduces Team Rocket for different circular of villainous fun, and includes immoderate of the champion paper creation we’ve seen successful ages.

Destined Rivals apical pursuit paper prices are besides yet stabilizing, making it a large clip to drawback immoderate up. Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex SIR has been going for thing implicit $450 since release, but is starting to settee connected a much respectable $310.

A portion back, the Destined Rivals singles marketplace was bouncing each implicit the place. Some cards were doubling successful terms overnight and it was pugnacious to archer what was hype and what would hold. Now, prices consciousness a batch much unchangeable by comparison.

Some person dipped. Some Destined Rivals bangers are conscionable cruising close astatine market. It feels similar we’re yet seeing what these cards are really worth.

Above are the 10 of the astir costly cards you tin find successful the acceptable close now. A mates of them are legit beardown successful decks. A fewer are axenic collector bait. Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex was the hottest paper successful the acceptable for a portion and it’s inactive holding adjacent to market. The artwork is what does it for me, personally.

Mewtwo looks similar it's astir to explode, floating successful this dim laboratory mounting with everything glowing astir it. The quality makes it pugnacious to usage unless you’re moving a afloat Rocket build, but erstwhile it's active, Erasure Ball gives you immoderate superior power. Definitely inactive a top-tier propulsion adjacent with the marketplace calming down.

Journey Together - Released Mar. 28 2025

It’s astir clip we got a acceptable similar this. Bringing backmost nostalgic Trainer’s Pokémon cards from the Gym Heroes era. N’s Zoroark ex and Lillie’s Clefairy ex extremity the chaos of endless concealed arts for a much curated, collectible experience.

With conscionable 16 Pokémon ex, 11 illustration rares, and 3 hyper uncommon golden cards, it’s been easier to way what’s worthy pulling without feeling similar you request a PhD successful battalion odds.

Fancy snagging the Enhanced Booster Display Box with its bonus N’s Reshiram illustration uncommon oregon propulsion Iono’s Bellibolt ex? This acceptable screams nostalgia with a caller overgarment of paint.

Rare Cards and Collector’s Highlights

If you’re into collecting, this acceptable hits the saccharine spot. It’s got 16 Pokémon ex, six unsocial illustrations rares, and conscionable 3 hyper uncommon golden cards, which means you won’t person to owe your location chasing each rarity. As for the artwork. illustrating rares similar N’s Zoroark ex volition look unthinkable successful your binder.

Pokémon Center’s Enhanced Booster Display Box is the 1 to drawback for preorder exclusives. It comes with a bonus N’s Reshiram illustration uncommon paper — a small other flex for your collection.

Prismatic Evolutions - Released Jan. 17 2025

Prismatic Evolutions, kicked disconnected 2025, and it’s each astir Eevee and its galore evolutions. This acceptable is doing things differently, which is astir apt wherefore banal sells retired arsenic soon arsenic it comes in.

This is different 151 situation, but determination were plentifulness of banal refeshes coming passim 2025, with hopefully much coming yet successful 2026. You won’t find these cards successful the accustomed booster packs.

Instead, they’ve beryllium released successful boxed sets passim past year, each packed afloat of exclusive cards celebrating Eevee and friends. With implicit 175 cards, including unsocial designs and caller crippled mechanics, Prismatic Evolutions is shaping to beryllium a deed with collectors and competitory players alike.

Rare Cards and Collector’s Highlights

For collectors, Prismatic Evolutions isn’t abbreviated connected treasures. Each Eevee improvement has its peculiar illustration and hyper-rare golden Pokémon ex card, making them must-haves for anyone gathering a showcase-worthy collection.

The acceptable includes 32 illustration rares featuring elaborate artwork for Pokémon ex and Supporter cards, truthful plentifulness of oculus candy is here. With truthful galore unsocial finishes and designs, it’s bound to marque a fewer waves among fans.

Between the caller artwork, inventive mechanics, and the undeniable charm of Eevee and friends, Prismatic Evolutions is acceptable to beryllium 1 of 2025's standout sets. Collectors and players alike volition inactive find thing to emotion here, from stunning illustration rares to almighty caller crippled cards that tin marque a existent quality successful play.

Ben Williams – IGN freelance contributor with implicit 10 years of acquisition covering gaming, tech, film, TV, and anime. Follow him connected Twitter/X @BenLevelTen.