Welcome to the weekly Pokémon roundup for August 24, 2026. This is one of the biggest weeks of the year, headlined by the upcoming 2026 World Championships in San Francisco, major TCG announcements, and massive in-game events across mobile and console titles.
The 2026 World Championships and Pokopia
The pinnacle of competitive play kicks off from August 28 to 30 at the Moscone Center and Chase Center in San Francisco. Over 50,000 fans are expected to attend the tournament and the inaugural PokémonXP fan convention. Meanwhile, players of the Switch 2 exclusive Pokémon Pokopia can visit a special PokémonXP and Worlds Cloud Island starting August 28 by using a special access code distributed during the event broadcasts.
TCG News: Delta Reign and Team Rocket's Ambition
Physical card players have a lot to look forward to with the announcement of the Delta Reign expansion releasing on November 6, featuring Rayquaza in its Mega Evolution form. This set introduces Legendary Stadiums like Legendary Summit, which require two cards to play. Additionally, the physical Mega Evolution Ascended Heroes Tins launch on August 28, offering tins for Meganium, Emboar, and Feraligatr. On the mobile side, Pokémon TCG Pocket players should prepare for the Team Rocket's Ambition expansion dropping on August 27.
Pokémon GO Events and Raid Rotations
In Pokémon GO, the Ultra Unlock Water Festival ends on August 24 at 8:00 PM local time. Immediately after, the GO Pass: PokémonXP and 2026 Worlds event begins on August 25. This week marks the debut of Dynamax Hitmontop in Max Battles, the return of Regirock, Registeel, and Regice to five-star raids, and the appearance of two new costumed Pikachu variants.
Action Steps for Players This Week
To make the most of this packed week, players should set reminders to tune into the World Championships on Twitch from August 28 to 30 to claim exclusive Twitch drops. Pokémon GO players should complete their Water Festival research before Monday night and prepare teams for Dynamax Hitmontop on Tuesday. Finally, save your in-game gems in Pokémon TCG Pocket for the Team Rocket's Ambition release on Thursday.