Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration — the Japanese MEGA expansion pack officially named 30th CELEBRATION, set code M6a — released on September 16, 2026 as the first worldwide simultaneous release in the Pokémon Trading Card Game’s 30-year history. Every card in every pack is foil, a brand new rarity called FUR (Futuristic Rare) debuted with the set, and packs are priced at ¥360 with a guaranteed Pikachu card in every one.
The Pokemon Trading Card Game launched in October 1996 in Japan. Thirty years later, The Pokémon Company marked the milestone with a set that bridges every generation — from a Base Set Charizard reprint to a Team Up-era Pikachu & Zekrom-GX reprint. For international collectors, the simultaneous worldwide release eliminated the usual 2–3 month wait between Japanese and English availability for the first time.
This guide reflects everything officially confirmed about 30th Celebration as of September 16, 2026 — release day — including the official card list published September 9, the FUR rarity, the confirmed Classic Collection reprints, the full JP and EN product lineups, and how to buy through the JP lottery system or through Samurai Sword INC in Tokyo. USD conversions in this article use ¥154/USD (editorial rate).
30th Celebration (M6a) released worldwide on September 16, 2026; here’s what changed:
- Released: 30th Celebration (M6a) released worldwide on September 16, 2026; the Premium Deck Set and the FUTURISTIC BOX released the same day in Japan only; the official card database still shows the same 140 entries (103 main-set + 29 Classic Collection entries covering 30 cards + 8 Basic Energy)
- Secret rares: all 32 (104–135) have now been seen — the last five (Kommo-o AR, Ditto AR, Mewtwo ex SAR, Mew ex SAR, Gengar ex SAR) surfaced with release-day listings on SNKRDUNK, September 16, 2026 — but the block is still not in the official card database
- Our store: the M6a Booster Box is currently listed as a pre-order at ¥25,000 (~$162) sealed (the no-shrink option is sold out); the FUTURISTIC BOX is now listed as a pre-order at ¥79,800 (~$518); the Card Set bundle remains sold out
- Market: the lowest SNKRDUNK asking price for a sealed M6a box fell from ¥47,200 (Sept 1) to ¥28,200 (Sept 10) to ¥17,500 on release day, September 16, 2026 — all seller asks, not sold prices
- Lottery: the Pokémon Center Online additional-lottery window for the FUTURISTIC BOX and Card Set ran September 11, 16:00 – September 16, 16:59 JST; results are due September 30
- Full card list: every card of the set with its official image, in number order — 30th CELEBRATION (M6a) card list (all 173 cards).
With the set out on September 16, 2026, here is how the pre-release reporting held up:
- Confirmed — set structure. The list PokeBeach compiled on September 9 (103 main-set cards, AR 104–123, SAR 124–133, FUR 134–135, Classic Collection 136–165, 8 Basic Energy) matched what release day showed; the AR/SAR/FUR block is still outside the official card database, but nothing has contradicted the numbering.
- Confirmed — the five never-pictured cards. Kommo-o AR 119, Ditto AR 121, Mewtwo ex SAR 128, Mew ex SAR 129 and Gengar ex SAR 131 had never been pictured before release; all five surfaced with release-day listings at exactly those numbers (SNKRDUNK, September 16, 2026). PokeBeach’s projected numbering was right.
- Confirmed — FUR by YOSHIROTTEN. Mewtwo ex 134/103 and Mew ex 135/103 are the two Futuristic Rare cards, as announced; no SR or MUR tier appeared.
- Confirmed — one Pikachu per pack. The pre-release box opening PokeBeach reported (20 Pikachu in a 20-pack box) matched the official pack structure.
- Confirmed — the “RGB Mew”. Three secret Mew cards in red, green and blue, illustrated by YOSHIROTTEN and numbered R/RGB, G/RGB and B/RGB outside the /103 run, were pulled from early-opened 30th Celebration products and surfaced in a Pokémon TCG Live update on September 15, per PokeBeach (September 12, updated September 15, 2026). They sit outside every official list, may stay officially unacknowledged for months, and their pull rate is unknown.
- Overshot — pre-release price forecasts. Japanese market sites forecast ¥105,000 and up for Mew ex FUR and ¥70,000 and up for Pikachu ex SAR (September 9); the lowest release-day asks on SNKRDUNK were ¥22,222 and ¥11,000–13,000 (asking prices, not sold prices). Sealed boxes followed the same path: ¥47,200 → ¥28,200 → ¥17,500 for the lowest M6a box ask.
- Still open — pull rates. The Pokémon Company has published none; the pre-release opening remains the only reported structure.
30th Celebration (JP: M6a) released worldwide on September 16, 2026 — the first simultaneous global release in Pokémon TCG history. The official card list, published September 9, 2026, puts the set at 165 numbered cards plus 8 Basic Energy (173 in all; PokeBeach’s headline figure is 176): 103 main-set cards, 32 secret rares (AR 20 / SAR 10 / FUR 2, no SR tier) and 30 Classic Collection reprints. Every card in every pack is foil. Packs are ¥360 (6 cards: 5 foil cards plus 1 YOSHIROTTEN-designed foil Basic Energy, with one of the cards always one of 30 different Pikachu cards). Boxes are ¥7,200 for 20 packs. A brand new rarity — FUR (Futuristic Rare) — debuted with opalescent full-art Mew ex and Mewtwo ex. All 30 Classic Collection reprints are confirmed, numbered 136–165.
Set Overview: What Is 30th Celebration?
30th Celebration is a special commemorative MEGA expansion pack marking the 30th anniversary of the Pokemon Trading Card Game. It’s a standalone celebration product with a unique structure designed for both collectors and nostalgic fans across every generation. The official card list, published September 9, 2026, confirms a total of 165 numbered cards plus 8 Basic Energy (173 in all; PokeBeach’s headline figure is 176): 103 main-set cards, 32 secret rares split into AR ×20, SAR ×10 and FUR ×2 (there is no SR tier in this set), and 30 Classic Collection reprints.
| Spec | 30th Celebration (M6a) | Mainline MEGA sets, e.g. M6 Storm Emeralda (for comparison) |
|---|---|---|
| Confirmed Date (Worldwide) | September 16, 2026 | Varies |
| Worldwide Release | Simultaneous (series first) | JPN first, EN 2–3 months later |
| Cards per Pack | 6 (all foil) | 5 |
| MSRP (Pack) | ¥360 | ¥200 |
| Packs per Box | 20 | 30 |
| MSRP (Box) | ¥7,200 | ¥6,000 |
| Card Treatment | All foil | Standard (foil for rares only) |
| New Rarity | FUR (Futuristic Rare) — debuts this set | Standard rarity structure |
| Theme | 30 years of Pokemon TCG history | Set-specific theme |
| Secret-Rare Structure | AR ×20 (104–123), SAR ×10 (124–133), FUR ×2 (134–135) — no SR tier | Set-specific |
The 25th Anniversary Comparison
The closest precedent is 2021’s Celebrations (25th Anniversary Collection in Japan). That release generated some of the highest secondary-market demand of its era for a commemorative Pokémon TCG product. 30th Celebration follows a similar concept at a larger scale — a full all-foil booster set rather than a single collection box, plus the added milestone of a worldwide simultaneous launch.
Major Pokemon TCG anniversary products have historically generated strong collector demand in the sealed market. 30th Celebration is the first anniversary product to combine an all-foil pack structure with a worldwide simultaneous release — there is no comparable precedent for how the secondary market will respond now that it’s out. On SNKRDUNK the lowest asking price for a sealed M6a box went from ¥47,200 on September 1 to ¥28,200 on September 10 and ¥17,500 on release day, September 16, 2026 — still about 2.4× the ¥7,200 MSRP. All three figures are seller asks, not sold prices, and release-day listings are volatile; we won’t guess where it settles from here.
What Makes This Set Historic
First Worldwide Simultaneous Release
In the Pokemon TCG’s entire 30-year history, Japanese sets have always released first, with English and other language versions following 2–3 months later. 30th Celebration broke this pattern entirely — it released worldwide on September 16, 2026, with no separate JPN-first window. This means:
- No early-access window — Japanese and English versions dropped on the same date
- Global hype concentrated into a single date — no staggered demand
- Unified collector excitement — the entire global community opens together
Whether the usual JPN-vs-EN pricing gap changes as a result is something we’ll only know once both markets have more live sealed data now that the set is out — we won’t speculate on numbers here.
All-Foil Cards, 30 Pikachu Guarantee
Every single card in 30th Celebration is foil — there are no standard non-foil prints. Each 6-card pack guarantees one of 30 different Pikachu cards, illustrated by 30 different artists (including OKACHEKE, Yuu Nishida, and Atsuko Nishida), plus one YOSHIROTTEN-designed foil Basic Energy card (8 types exist). Pikachu ex appears in two versions as part of the lineup.
Unique Pack Structure
At ¥360 per pack (6 cards, all foil), the per-card cost is ¥60 — compared to ¥40 per card in mainline MEGA packs such as Storm Emeralda (¥200 / 5 cards). The premium reflects the all-foil treatment, and boxes at ¥7,200 (20 packs) cost ¥1,200 more than mainline MEGA boxes such as Storm Emeralda (¥6,000 MSRP). The pack-to-box ratio is also lower: 20 packs vs. 30, meaning fewer total pulls per box but a guaranteed foil-only pull rate.
The Classic Collection
Following the successful formula from 2021’s Celebrations, 30th Celebration includes a 30-card Classic Collection of reprints of iconic cards from across the game’s history, each carrying a “30” Pikachu stamp and special foil treatment. These reprints are not Standard-format legal — they’re a collector-focused nostalgia subset. Full details are in the section below.
FUR: The New Rarity Type
30th Celebration introduces a brand new card rarity: FUR (Futuristic Rare). It features an opalescent, full-art design by illustrator YOSHIROTTEN. The first two confirmed FUR cards are Mew ex and Mewtwo ex.
What’s Confirmed
- New rarity name: FUR (Futuristic Rare) — opalescent, full-art treatment by YOSHIROTTEN
- First confirmed FUR cards: Mew ex and Mewtwo ex
- Separately, every pack guarantees 1 of 30 different Pikachu cards — this is a per-pack pull guarantee, not the FUR rarity itself
- Pull rates for FUR have not been officially disclosed — we won’t estimate them
PokeBeach reported, from an official box opening shown before release, that one 20-pack box contained 20 of the 30 Pikachu cards (each unique, no duplicates), 2 Classic Collection cards, 4 Art Rares, 1 Special Art Rare and 1 Futuristic Rare (Mew ex or Mewtwo ex). The Pokémon Company still has not published official pull rates, and one reported opening is not a rate — treat this as a single data point, not a guarantee. Release-day box openings are circulating on social media, but none of them is a published rate and this article does not quote them.
Other New ex Cards Revealed
Beyond the FUR debut, The Pokémon Company has revealed several new ex Pokémon for this set: Greninja ex, Sylveon ex, Espeon ex, and Umbreon ex.
Illustration Rares: Now Compiled
The compiled card list published September 9, 2026 shows the AR (Art Rare) block running 104–123 (20 cards) and the SAR (Special Art Rare) block running 124–133 (10 cards), alongside FUR 134–135. Illustration rares shown so far include Lapras, Drifloon, Hisuian Zorua, and Lycanroc, plus Umbreon and Espeon in a day/night illustration pairing. Additional Pokémon shown on the official JP set page include Ho-Oh, Lugia, Groudon, Kyogre, Reshiram, Zekrom, Zacian, Zamazenta, and Hisuian Zoroark. The main set (001–103), the 30 Classic Collection reprints, and the 8 Basic Energy are all listed in the official card database; the AR/SAR/FUR block is still compiled from official promotional images and marketplace listings rather than the database. All 32 secret rares have now been seen — the last five (Kommo-o AR, Ditto AR, Mewtwo ex SAR, Mew ex SAR, Gengar ex SAR) surfaced with release-day listings on SNKRDUNK, September 16, 2026. AR and SAR illustrators remain unpublished (the two FUR cards are by YOSHIROTTEN).
The Classic Collection Reprints
30th Celebration’s Classic Collection is a confirmed subset of 30 reprints of iconic cards, each marked with a “30” Pikachu stamp and a special foil treatment. These reprints are not Standard-format legal — they exist purely as a collector nostalgia subset, similar in spirit to the 25th Anniversary Celebrations reprints.
All 30 Confirmed Reprints (Numbers 136–165)
The official card database lists all 30 Classic Collection cards as of September 9, 2026. Original-printing attributions below are reported (PokeBeach / Bill’s Archive) rather than official, except for 137 Charizard (official caption) and 160 Pikachu & Zekrom-GX (named in official EN news). See our full Classic Collection reprints list for illustrators and the complete breakdown.
| No. | Card | Original Printing (reported unless noted) |
|---|---|---|
| 136 | Pikachu | Base Set era |
| 137 | Charizard | 1996 first Expansion Pack — official caption |
| 138 | Misty | Gym Heroes |
| 139 | Erika’s Jigglypuff | Gym Heroes |
| 140 | Sneasel | Neo Genesis |
| 141 | Shining Celebi | Neo Destiny |
| 142 | Lugia (“Crystal” Lugia) | Aquapolis |
| 143 | Delcatty | EX era |
| 144 | Dark Tyranitar | Team Rocket Returns |
| 145 | Scizor ex | EX era |
| 146 | Metagross δ | Delta Species era |
| 147 | Palkia LV.X | Diamond & Pearl era |
| 148 | Uxie | DP era |
| 149 | Crobat G | Platinum era |
| 150 | Gengar (Prime) | HGSS era |
| 151 | Darkrai & Cresselia LEGEND (top half) | HGSS era |
| 152 | Darkrai & Cresselia LEGEND (bottom half) | HGSS era |
| 153 | N | Black & White era |
| 154 | Rayquaza EX | BW era |
| 155 | Genesect EX | BW era |
| 156 | Mega Gardevoir EX | XY era |
| 157 | Greninja BREAK | XY BREAKpoint |
| 158 | Solgaleo GX | Sun & Moon |
| 159 | Buzzwole GX | Sun & Moon era |
| 160 | Pikachu & Zekrom GX | Team Up 33/181 — named in official EN news |
| 161 | Zacian V | Sword & Shield |
| 162 | Raikou | Vivid Voltage era |
| 163 | Mew VMAX | Fusion Strike era |
| 164 | Arceus VSTAR | Brilliant Stars era |
| 165 | Magikarp | Paldea Evolved illustration rare |
151 and 152 share the same official database entry — they’re the top and bottom halves of the two-part Darkrai & Cresselia LEGEND card, not two separate cards.
Full Product Lineup (JP + EN)
30th Celebration released with a focused, premium product lineup on both sides of the Pacific. Japan’s lineup has official prices; the English lineup’s contents are confirmed but MSRPs have not yet been published.
Japanese Lineup (Official Prices)
| Product | Price (JPY) | Price (USD, ¥154/USD) | Release | Contents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Booster Box | ¥7,200 | ~$47 | Sep 16 | 20 packs × 6 all-foil cards |
| Booster Pack | ¥360 | ~$2.34 | Sep 16 | 6 all-foil cards, incl. 1 of 30 Pikachu |
| Premium Deck Set: Espeon & Umbreon | ¥6,200 | ~$40 | Sep 16 | Two 60-card pre-built decks |
| FUTURISTIC BOX | ¥27,500 | ~$179 | Sep 16 | Pokémon Center exclusive, incl. 2 promo Pikachu ex + accessories |
| Card Set (×9 variants) | ¥1,200 each | ~$8 | Oct 16 | 3 promo cards + 2 booster packs |
The Card Set’s lineup is now official: 9 region-based sets (Kanto through Paldea), each with 3 promo cards plus 2 booster packs, numbered M-P 101–127 per compiled checklists. The FUTURISTIC BOX and Card Set both had a Pokémon Center Online additional lottery window that ran September 11, 16:00 – September 16, 16:59 JST, with results due September 30, per SNKRDUNK’s lottery roundup (September 9, 2026). At Samurai Sword, the Booster Box and the Premium Deck Set are currently listed as pre-orders shipping from Tokyo after release (see each product page for the current dispatch date). The FUTURISTIC BOX is also currently listed as a pre-order, at ¥79,800 (~$518). The Card Set bundle is sold out at the time of this update, with restock requests going through Quick Order.
English Lineup (No MSRPs Published Yet)
The Pokémon Company has confirmed the English 30th Celebration product lineup and its release waves through November 2026, though English MSRPs have not been announced:
- September 16: Tech Sticker Collection, 2-Pack Blister, Knock Out Collection, Poster Collection (legendary birds promos), Sylveon ex & Greninja ex Box, Elite Trainer Box (9 packs, Nidorina full-art promo), Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box (11 packs)
- October 2: Booster Bundle (6 packs), Mini Tins
- October 30: Battle Deck Espeon ex & Umbreon ex (all-foil 60-card deck)
- November 6: Ditto Premium Collection, Ultra-Premium Collection “Day & Night” (29 packs + 1 Classic Collection pack), Figure Collection Mew & Mewtwo
- December 4: Binder Collection
Should You Buy This Set?
30th Celebration is a unique product in the Pokemon TCG landscape — it’s not a standard expansion and not a typical MEGA set. It’s a milestone anniversary release with characteristics that set it apart from anything else releasing in 2026.
For Collectors (Experience-First Buyers)
This is almost certainly a must-open set for collectors. The all-foil treatment means every pack delivers a visually premium pull. The Classic Collection creates a nostalgic journey through 30 years of the game, and FUR debuting on Mew ex and Mewtwo ex gives the set a clear, confirmed chase pair. If you collect for the joy of it, 30th Celebration is built specifically for you.
For Sealed Collectors
Anniversary sealed product has historically generated strong secondary-market interest in Japan. At ¥7,200 per box, the entry point is higher than a standard MEGA set, but the 30th anniversary — and its worldwide simultaneous release — only happens once. Now that the set is out, the clearest signal is still the marketplace: on SNKRDUNK, the lowest asking price for a sealed M6a box went from ¥47,200 on September 1, 2026 to ¥28,200 on September 10, 2026 to ¥17,500 on release day, September 16, 2026 — still about 2.4× the ¥7,200 MSRP. All three are seller asks, not sold prices, and release-day listings are volatile in both directions; we won’t forecast where the market goes from here.
Buy Now the Set Is Out
- Our sealed listing is ¥25,000 (~$162); the lowest SNKRDUNK ask on September 16, 2026 was ¥17,500 (an asking price, not a sold price)
- Anniversary products historically sell through fast in Japan
- Worldwide release means concentrated global demand on one date
- Risk: JP retail allocation is still lottery-based, not guaranteed
Wait for More Market Data
- Release-day pull reports and sealed pricing are only starting to circulate
- Simultaneous release means no JPN early-access rush to chase
- Risk: SNKRDUNK asks have moved lower with each snapshot so far, but future movement isn’t predictable
JPN vs. English: A Different Equation
Unlike every other set we cover, 30th Celebration’s worldwide simultaneous release means the usual JPN-first advantage doesn’t apply — both versions released September 16, 2026. English MSRPs haven’t been published yet, so we can’t compare pricing directly. Japanese print quality and card texture have historically commanded a collector premium regardless of timing, but this is the first anniversary set where release-date timing itself wasn’t a factor.
How to Buy 30th Celebration
Even with a worldwide simultaneous release, Japanese 30th Celebration products are distributed through Japan’s lottery-based retail system, which means allocation — not just demand — determines who can buy at retail.
Want the FUTURISTIC BOX too? It’s currently listed as a pre-order at ¥79,800 (~$518). The Card Set bundle is sold out at the time of this update — submit a Quick Order request to put a restock request on record. Quick Order requests are the first thing our Tokyo team works through if more supply arrives.
Japanese Retail (Lottery System)
JP retail for 30th Celebration was lottery-based (抽選) rather than first-come-first-served. Here’s the state of play as of September 16, 2026, release day:
- Pokémon Center Online lottery (Booster Box / Premium Deck Set) — the box and Premium Deck Set are sold by lottery only. The additional lottery round closed August 31 at 16:59 JST; results went out from September 4 (box from 13:00, deck set from 17:00), payment ran September 4–8, and lottery-won boxes ship November 11–20 (deck sets November 1–15) — well after the September 16 release date
- Pokémon Center Online additional lottery (FUTURISTIC BOX / Card Set) — applications September 11, 16:00 – September 16, 16:59 JST; results September 30 (per SNKRDUNK’s lottery roundup, September 9, 2026)
- Pokémon Center in-store pre-lottery — applied for via the Pokémon Center LINE app through September 8, with a 10-pack limit per applicant
- My Number ID verification — the priority lottery tier requires My Number card identity verification (Japan’s national ID), with a separate phone-verified tier; past buyers of the same product are excluded as a resale countermeasure
Currently Listed: M6 Storm Emeralda
While the M6a lottery and pre-order process play out, Samurai Sword INC also has the previous mainline set, M6 Storm Emeralda, currently listed and ready to ship from Tokyo:
For more on the current M6 set, see our Storm Emeralda full card list. Also related: our Delta Reign card list, Terastal Festival ex (SV8a) card list, and most valuable Japanese Pokémon cards of 2026.
Key Dates to Watch
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 28 – 31, 2026 | Pokémon Center Online additional lottery application window (now closed) |
| September 4, 2026 | Additional-lottery results (box from 13:00, deck set from 17:00); payment window runs to September 8 |
| September 8, 2026 | Pokémon Center in-store pre-lottery window closes (LINE app, 10-pack limit) |
| September 9, 2026 | Official card list published for M6a and the Premium Deck Set (165 numbered + 8 energy; 173 cards, PokeBeach’s headline figure is 176) |
| September 11 (16:00) – September 16 (16:59), 2026 | Pokémon Center Online additional lottery for FUTURISTIC BOX and Card Set; results September 30 (per SNKRDUNK) |
| September 16, 2026 (done) | Booster Box and Booster Pack released worldwide; Premium Deck Set and FUTURISTIC BOX released the same day in Japan only |
| October 16, 2026 | 30th Celebration Card Sets (×9 variants) release |
| November 11 – 20, 2026 | Pokémon Center Online additional-lottery boxes ship (deck sets November 1–15) |
Frequently Asked Questions
When did 30th Celebration (M6a) release?
30th Celebration — officially “Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration” (EN) / M6a (JP) — released on September 16, 2026, worldwide simultaneously. This was the first time in Pokemon TCG history that Japanese and English versions released on the same date, eliminating the usual 2–3 month gap.
How much does a 30th Celebration booster box or pack cost?
The Japanese booster box MSRP is ¥7,200 (~$47 at ¥154/USD) for 20 packs of 6 all-foil cards each. Individual packs are ¥360 (~$2.34). English MSRPs have not yet been announced.
What is FUR (Futuristic Rare), the new rarity in this set?
FUR is a brand new card rarity debuting in 30th Celebration — an opalescent, full-art treatment designed by illustrator YOSHIROTTEN. The confirmed FUR cards are Mew ex (135) and Mewtwo ex (134). The Pokémon Company has not published official pull rates; PokeBeach reported one FUR per box from a single official box opening, which is not a guarantee.
What classic cards are in the Classic Collection reprints?
The Classic Collection is a confirmed 30-card reprint subset (numbers 136–165), each marked with a “30” Pikachu stamp and special foil, and not Standard-format legal. All 30 are now listed in the official card database as of September 9, 2026, from Base Set Charizard (137) to Pikachu & Zekrom-GX (160) and Magikarp (165).
How does the guaranteed Pikachu pull work?
Every 6-card pack guarantees one of all 30 Pikachu cards, each illustrated by a different artist (including OKACHEKE, Yuu Nishida, and Atsuko Nishida), plus one YOSHIROTTEN-designed foil Basic Energy card (8 types exist). Pikachu ex appears in two versions in the set.
Can I buy 30th Celebration from Samurai Sword?
Our 30th Celebration Booster Box is currently listed as a pre-order at ¥25,000 (sealed); the no-shrink option is sold out at the time of this update. The FUTURISTIC BOX is currently listed as a pre-order at ¥79,800. The Card Set bundle is sold out at the time of this update; restock requests go through Quick Order. In the meantime, our current M6 Storm Emeralda Booster Box is currently listed at ¥11,040.
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