Five Japanese Pokemon sets have now released in 2026, roughly one every two months, and the fifth — the first simultaneous worldwide release in the franchise’s history — came out on September 16, 2026.
If you’re trying to track what’s actually out, what’s coming, and what’s just internet noise, this page is the reference. Every date below is sourced to pokemon-card.com, 30th.pokemon-card.com, or our own audited card-list research. Product links point to our live listings out of Tokyo — availability changes fast, so check the linked page for current stock.
Calendar current as of September 16, 2026.
Five MEGA-era sets have now released in Japan in 2026 — Nihil Zero (M3) in January, Ninja Spinner (M4) in March, Abyss Eye (M5) in May, Storm Emeralda (M6) in July, and Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration (M6a) on September 16, 2026, alongside the companion Premium Deck Set Espeon & Umbreon and the FUTURISTIC BOX — its official card list (165 numbered cards + 8 energy, 173 in all; PokeBeach’s headline figure is 176) was published September 9, 2026. A 30th CELEBRATION Card Set starter-promo bundle remains pre-release, officially dated for October 16, 2026. No main numbered Japanese set after that has been named, dated, or officially teased.
30th Celebration (M6a) released worldwide on September 16, 2026 — the fifth Japanese Pokemon set of 2026; the Premium Deck Set Espeon & Umbreon and the FUTURISTIC BOX released in Japan the same day. All 32 secret rares (104–135) have now been seen, though the block is still not in the official card database. Our M6a Booster Box remains listed as a pre-order (Sealed ¥25,000; No Shrink sold out). The 30th CELEBRATION Card Set bundle (October 16) is still pre-release.
Full card list: every card of the set with its official image, in number order — 30th CELEBRATION (M6a) card list (all 173 cards).
Prices below are from our own in-stock listings, snapshotted September 16, 2026, and converted at ¥154/USD. Treat ¥ figures as the primary number and $ as an approximate conversion.
The Full 2026 Japanese Set Timeline
Here is every MEGA-era Japanese main set released in 2026, in order, plus the next confirmed release:
| Set code | Set name | JP release date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| M3 | Nihil Zero (Munikis Zero) | January 23, 2026 | Released |
| M4 | Ninja Spinner | March 13, 2026 | Released |
| M5 | Abyss Eye | May 22, 2026 | Released |
| M6 | Storm Emeralda | July 31, 2026 (Friday) | Released |
| M6a | 30th Celebration | September 16, 2026 (Wednesday) | Released |
The companion Premium Deck Set Espeon & Umbreon and the FUTURISTIC BOX released alongside M6a on the same day, September 16, 2026.
For context, the MEGA era itself began in the second half of 2025: Mega Brave (M1L) and Mega Symphonia (M1S) launched together on August 1, 2025, followed by Inferno X (M2) on September 26, 2025 and Mega Dream ex (M2a) on November 28, 2025. Those four are 2025 sets, not part of the 2026 count above, but they establish the cadence: a new main release roughly every two months, alternating standard Expansion Packs with the occasional High Class Pack. That is a description of the pattern already on the calendar — it is not a prediction of what comes after 30th Celebration.
January: Nihil Zero (M3)
Nihil Zero — also listed as Munikis Zero — opened 2026 on January 23, the first Japanese MEGA-era set of the year. Its chase card is the Mega Zygarde ex, per our own store listing for the set.
Pack price and exact base/total card counts for M3 were not confirmed in our research pass, so we’re not publishing figures we can’t stand behind — only the release date is stated here as fact.
Sealed M3 booster boxes are currently listed at ¥8,160 (~$53).
March: Ninja Spinner (M4)
Ninja Spinner released March 13, 2026: 83 base cards, 120 total including secrets, at ¥180 per pack. The set’s MUR chase card is Mega Greninja ex, numbered 120/083.
Sealed M4 booster boxes are currently listed at ¥8,160 (~$53).
May: Abyss Eye (M5)
Abyss Eye (アビスアイ) released May 22, 2026: 81 base cards, 118 total, at ¥200 per pack. Its chase card is Mega Darkrai ex, 118/081 MUR. Note that “Pitch Black” sometimes appears alongside this set’s name in listings — that’s a legacy store label, not an official alternate English title. The official name reviewed against primary sources is simply Abyss Eye.
M5 booster boxes (No Shrink) are currently listed at ¥7,200 (~$47); the Sealed option is sold out at the time of this update.
July: Storm Emeralda (M6)
Storm Emeralda (ストームエメラルダ) released Friday, July 31, 2026, headlined by Mega Rayquaza ex. It runs 76 base cards (62 Pokemon, 14 Trainer) and 113 total including 37 secret rares — 12 AR, 18 SR, 6 SAR, and 1 MUR.
For the full 113-card checklist, see our Storm Emeralda card list.
Released September 16: 30th Celebration (M6a) — and What’s Still Ahead
The next Japanese release after Storm Emeralda was Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration, Japanese set code M6a, which released worldwide on September 16, 2026. This is a separate, additional set from M6 — not a reprint or continuation of Storm Emeralda — and the two should not be confused.
| Detail | Confirmed fact |
|---|---|
| Release date | September 16, 2026 (Wednesday) — the first simultaneous worldwide (Japan + English) release in Pokémon TCG history |
| Pack | ¥360 tax incl., 6 cards, all foil/holo |
| Guaranteed pull | 1 of 30 different Pikachu cards per pack (30 illustrators, including OKACHEKE, Yuu Nishida, Atsuko Nishida) plus a YOSHIROTTEN-design foil Basic Energy |
| Box | 20 packs, ¥7,200 (JP) |
| New rarity | FUR (Futuristic Rare) 134–135, opalescent full-art by YOSHIROTTEN — Mewtwo ex (134) and Mew ex (135) |
| New ex Pokemon (M6a set) | Fuecoco ex, Greninja ex, Pikachu ex (day & night), Mewtwo ex, Mew ex, Sylveon ex, Gengar ex, Jirachi ex, Salamence ex — Espeon ex and Umbreon ex are full-art cards in the companion Premium Deck Set, not the M6a booster set |
| Classic Collection | 30 reprints (numbered 136–165), sparkling holofoil with gold border, not Standard-legal. All 30 are now listed in the official card database, published September 9, 2026 — see our full reprints list for every card and illustrator. |
JP retail for this set was lottery-based — Pokémon Center pre-lottery, Amazon invitation lottery, My Number ID verification — so it was limited-availability rather than something you could simply add to cart on release day. Our own M6a 30th CELEBRATION Booster Box is currently listed as a pre-order at Sealed ¥25,000 (~$162); the No Shrink option is sold out at the time of this update. Orders ship from Tokyo after release — see the product page for the current dispatch date. The companion FUTURISTIC BOX released the same day and is currently listed as a pre-order at ¥79,800 (~$518). The Pokémon Center Online additional-lottery window for the FUTURISTIC BOX and the October Card Set bundle ran September 11 to 16, closing at 16:59 JST on the 16th, with results due September 30 (per SNKRDUNK’s lottery roundup).
Per PokeBeach (report of September 12, updated September 15, 2026), three secret-rare Mew cards — R/RGB, G/RGB and B/RGB, illustrated by YOSHIROTTEN — were pulled from early-opened 30th Celebration products and surfaced in a Pokémon TCG Live update on September 15, 2026. They sit outside the /103 numbering and outside the compiled 165-card M6a numbered list (173 cards in all with the 8 Basic Energy; PokeBeach’s headline figure is 176) published on September 9, 2026, and Pokemon has not officially acknowledged them. The set’s two officially numbered Mew ex slots (SAR 129 and FUR 135) have also now been seen.
No main numbered Japanese set after 30th Celebration and the October Card Set bundle has been officially announced as of September 16, 2026. We’re not going to guess at a name or date here — check back once pokemon-card.com or 30th.pokemon-card.com actually confirms something.
How to Buy Japanese Sets from Tokyo
We ship sealed Japanese booster boxes and singles worldwide out of Tokyo with tracked delivery. For the five 2026 sets covered above, sealed boxes are currently listed as follows:
| Set | Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
| M3 Nihil Zero | Booster box | ¥8,160 (~$53) Sealed |
| M4 Ninja Spinner | Booster box | ¥8,160 (~$53) Sealed |
| M5 Abyss Eye | Booster box | ¥7,200 (~$47) No Shrink |
| M6 Storm Emeralda | Booster box | ¥11,040 (~$71) No Shrink |
| M6a 30th Celebration | Booster box (pre-order) | ¥25,000 (~$162) Sealed; No Shrink sold out |
Prices are a snapshot from September 16, 2026 and move with stock levels, so check the product page for the live figure before ordering. If you want a mix of sets, singles, or graded cards in one order, our Quick Order page is the fastest way to build it, and our full shop covers everything currently in stock, including sets outside this 2026 calendar.
For background on how Japanese rarities map to English terms, or which 2026 chase cards are worth the most, see our rarities guide and our most valuable Japanese cards of 2026 roundup. If you’re deciding which box to open first, our best Japanese booster box 2026 guide compares all four sets side by side.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the first Japanese Pokemon set released in 2026?
Nihil Zero (Munikis Zero), Japanese set code M3, released January 23, 2026 — the first Japanese MEGA-era main set of the year.
How often do new Japanese MEGA-era Pokemon sets release?
Roughly every two months, based on the dates on the calendar so far: M3 on January 23, M4 on March 13, M5 on May 22, and M6 on July 31, 2026. That’s a description of the observed pattern, not a guarantee of future timing.
What was the next Japanese Pokemon set released after Storm Emeralda?
Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration (Japanese code M6a) released worldwide on September 16, 2026 — the first simultaneous worldwide release, confirmed by pokemon-card.com and pokemon.com. Its official card list — 165 numbered cards + 8 energy (173 in all; PokeBeach’s headline figure is 176) — was published September 9, 2026. A 30th CELEBRATION Card Set starter-promo bundle remains pre-release, officially dated for October 16, 2026. No main numbered set after that has been officially announced as of September 16, 2026.
Is RGB Mew confirmed to be part of the 30th Celebration set?
Not officially. Per PokeBeach (report of September 12, updated September 15, 2026), three secret-rare Mew cards — R/RGB, G/RGB and B/RGB, illustrated by YOSHIROTTEN — were pulled from early-opened 30th Celebration products and surfaced in a Pokémon TCG Live update on September 15, 2026. They sit outside the /103 numbering and outside the compiled 165-card list, and Pokemon has not officially acknowledged them; PokeBeach expects that to continue for months.
Where can I buy Japanese Pokemon booster boxes from these 2026 sets?
Sealed boxes from M3, M4, M5, M6 and M6a (pre-order) are currently listed, shipped from Tokyo with tracked delivery. See the product links in the “How to Buy” section above, or use our Quick Order page to combine sets and singles in one order.
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