Pokemon GO New Year’s Event 2026: Your Complete Guide to Festive Bonuses and Exclusive Encounters
Pokemon GO’s New Year’s Event runs Dec 31-Jan 4 with 2x XP, Party Hat Pikachu, exclusive costumed Pokemon, increased Lucky trades, and special research. Get all the details here.
Ring in 2026 with Pokemon GO‘s annual New Year’s Event! Niantic is bringing back the celebration with festive fireworks, exclusive costumed Pokemon, and some seriously good bonuses. Whether you’re a casual player or a dedicated trainer, here’s everything you need to know.
When Does the Pokemon GO New Year’s Event Start?
Event Duration:
- Start: December 31, 2025 at 10:00 AM (local time)
- End: January 4, 2026 at 8:00 PM (local time)
Mark your calendars! You’ll have just over four days to take advantage of all the New Year’s festivities.
New Year’s Event Bonuses You Can’t Miss
The Pokemon GO New Year’s Event comes loaded with valuable bonuses:
- 2x XP from Raid Battles – Perfect for leveling up quickly
- 2x Stardust – Stock up on this precious resource for powering up your team
- Festive fireworks in the sky – Just for ambiance, but pretty cool!
- Increased Lucky Trade chances – Lucky exchanges jump from 35 to 45
Special Lucky Trade Guarantee
Here’s a game-changer: Any Pokemon that’s been sitting in storage since 2020 or earlier will become Lucky when traded during this event—guaranteed! This perk is permanent once you hit the limit, so dig through your old collection and make those trades count.
Costumed Pokemon Spawning During the New Year’s Event
Get ready for some adorable encounters! The Pokemon GO New Year’s Event features several party-ready Pokemon:
Wild Encounters:
- Party Hat Pikachu (also in raids) – The star of the show with a fancy top hat
- Party Hat Bulbasaur
- Ribbon-wearing Jigglypuff
- Party-style Hoothoot
Shiny Alert: All these costumed Pokemon have a chance to appear as shinies, so keep your eyes peeled!
New Year’s Raid Battles
Raids get festive too with themed encounters:
1-Star Raids:
- Party Hat Wurmple
- Party Hat Pikachu
3-Star Raids:
- Party Hat Raticate
- Party Hat Nidorino
- Party Hat Gengar
- Party Hat Wobbuffet
Paid Timed Research ($1.99)
If you want to maximize your New Year’s Event experience, consider the optional Timed Research:
What You Get:
- 2 Premium Battle Passes
- 3,000 Stardust
- Encounters with Top Hat Pikachu
- Bonus: One additional daily Raid Pass from Photo Disks (2 total instead of 1)
New in Shop: Blacephalon Boots avatar item
Don’t Forget: Winter Holiday Event Happening Now
Before the New Year’s Event kicks off, Pokemon GO’s Winter Holiday Event starts December 18 with even more costumed creatures:
- Sudowoodo dressed as a Christmas tree
- Charjabug wrapped like a present
- Festive versions of Eevee, Dedenne, and Vikavolt
- Ice-type hatches including Smoochum, Cryogonal, and Snom
- Featured spawns: Swinub, Snorunt, and Spheal
Tips to Make the Most of the Pokemon GO New Year’s Event
- Prioritize raids – That 2x XP bonus is huge for leveling
- Hunt for shinies – The costumed variants are limited-time only
- Check your 2020 Pokemon – Use that guaranteed Lucky trade wisely
- Complete Field Research – Another way to encounter event Pokemon
- Save your Star Pieces – Use them during raids to maximize that 2x Stardust
December 2025 continues to be packed with content for Pokemon GO players, from Community Day returns to Max Raid battles and now the New Year’s celebration. Don’t miss out on these limited-time bonuses and exclusive Pokemon encounters!
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