Pokémon Go Launches Pre-World 2025 Festival Events

• The Pokémon Go World Championships are scheduled from August 15th through 17th.
• A Pikachu sporting a varsity jacket will be available in the game.
• The Go Battle League will receive a themed update, along with several other in-game activities.

Pokémon Go is celebrating the 2025 Pokémon World Championships in Anaheim, California, running from August 15th to 17th. While top Trainers worldwide compete for the title of World Champion, players at home can join in the fun. The festivities kick off with a code for a commemorative 2025 Worlds Tee (White), distributed during the day one livestream.

To commemorate the event, a Pikachu wearing a varsity jacket is making its first appearance, with a chance to encounter its Shiny variant. This special Pikachu will appear in one-star raids, Field Research tasks, and wild encounters. Raids will also feature Lapras, Honedge, Dusclops, and Diggersby. Note that Lapras and Pikachu will have increased odds of being Shiny during the event.

A $5 Timed Research ticket is also available, offering encounters with Lickitung, Sableye, Guzzlord, and others, plus 25,000 Stardust and a Premium Battle Pass. Certain evolutions will gain exclusive Charged Attacks: Primeape and Annihilape learn Rage Fist, while Clodsire acquires Megahorn. Themed stickers can be found at PokéStops, in Gifts, and in the shop, alongside exclusive avatar items.

Additionally, from August 11th to 17th, the Go Battle League will be refreshed with a new arena and background music. During the Go Battle Weekend, players can complete up to 100 battles daily, earn 4x Stardust from victories, and claim free Timed Research with battle-themed avatar rewards. Pokémon in the Go Battle League will also display broader stat spreads for Attack, Defense, and HP.

To help players prepare, the Pokémon Go Web Store offers special bundles like the Ultra Ticket Box (which includes a bonus Premium Battle Pass) and the TM Elite Master Box (filled with Elite and regular TMs). Don't forget to check out free items by redeeming the latest Pokémon Go codes!

You can watch the livestream of the 2025 Pokémon World Championships on the official Pokémon Go Twitch channel when it begins.