Pokémon 30th Release Date: 30th CELEBRATION Timeline From September 16 to October 16, 2026

The Pokémon 30th release date is September 16, 2026. That is the day the Japanese Pokémon Card Game MEGA Expansion Pack “30th CELEBRATION” (set code M6a) went on sale, billed by the official site as a worldwide simultaneous release. The 30th CELEBRATION Card Set followed on October 16, 2026.

Updated November 9, 2026

Every date in this guide is now in the past, so this page works as a dated timeline: what launched when, what each product cost in Japan at official prices, and how the Japanese edition reaches you from Tokyo. We keep it to dates, prices and contents. It does not repeat a full card list. The key facts for the main set are below. Prices are Japanese official prices with tax, in yen.

What Is the Pokémon 30th Release Date?

The main 30th release date is September 16, 2026, a Wednesday. The official 30th product page lists the expansion pack, the Espeon & Umbreon deck set and the FUTURISTIC BOX under that date. Pokémon’s media alert gives the same date for participating retailers worldwide and adds that the exact time on launch day may vary across countries and regions.

“30th” refers to the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon Card Game. The official site introduces the line as special products made to mark that anniversary. When you search for the date, two things need separating. The second is the wider 30th CELEBRATION line: decks, a supply set, nine Card Sets and accessories. Those items did not all share one date, and the timeline below gives each one.

In short: if you want the pack, the date is September 16, 2026. If you want the Card Set with the starter promo cards, the date is October 16, 2026. Accessories split between the same two days.

What Is the Full 30th Timeline in Date Order?

The 30th line ran across four dates: the digital start on September 15, the main launch on September 16, our listed dispatch date of September 26, and the Card Set and collection items on October 16, 2026.

Read the table as two separate clocks. The release date is set by the Pokémon Company in Japan. The dispatch date is set by the stock and pre-order position on each of our product pages. They are different dates, so an order placed at launch ships on the date shown on its listing, not on launch day.

The media alert also says more 30th Celebration products will launch later in 2026, with details on Pokemon.com. Nothing in the sources gives dates for those, so this timeline stops at October 16.

Did the 30th Pokémon Set Release Worldwide on the Same Day?

Yes, the official M6a page describes a worldwide simultaneous release on September 16, 2026. The Pokémon Company International says the English expansion, Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration, launches the same day at participating retailers. Local launch times can differ by country.

The Japanese edition and the English edition share a launch day, but they are different products with different product names and card numbering. Our listings are the Japanese edition.

Digital players had a head start. Pokémon TCG Live opened the expansion on September 15, 2026 at 10 a.m. PDT on iOS, Android, macOS and Windows, according to the media alert. That is the day before the physical launch in the same timezone reference.

The English expansion page uses its own card numbering. Pikachu rare cards run from 2M6P_EN_23 through 2M6P_EN_52, and Mew ex in the Futuristic rare finish is shown as 2M6P_EN_158. The Japanese page numbers its 30 commemorative cards 136 to 165. The numbers differ between editions, so check which edition’s number you are reading before you compare cards.

What Else Came Out for 30th, and When?

Six official product lines have dates and prices, and only the Card Set and two collection items came later than September 16. The table follows the official product list.

The FUTURISTIC BOX lists Pokémon Center Online as its channel, so it is a different kind of product from the pack and the deck set. The Pokémon Company International also lists English products such as the Elite Trainer Box, Poster Collection and Knock Out Collection. Our Knock Out Collection guide covers that box.

When Did the 30th CELEBRATION Card Set Come Out?

The 30th CELEBRATION Card Set released in Japan on October 16, 2026, a Friday and exactly one month after the expansion. Each set costs 1,200 yen and is built around one starter trio, from Bulbasaur / Charmander / Squirtle through Sprigatito / Fuecoco / Quaxly, nine sets in total.

The official list names all nine trios: Bulbasaur / Charmander / Squirtle, Chikorita / Cyndaquil / Totodile, Treecko / Torchic / Mudkip, then the Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, Galar and Paldea trios. Each set contains three holo promo cards (one for each starter of that region), two booster packs of the 30th CELEBRATION expansion and a paper card stand.

Per our all 9 types bundle page (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order), the full run is 27 promo cards and 18 packs. That page says orders on it ship after all existing pre-orders have shipped, and that the bundle must be bought as a separate order: if your cart already has items, check out first or clear the cart, then add the bundle.

Choose the all-nine bundle if you want the complete run of promo cards in one order. Choose a single set only if you collect one region.

What Is Inside the 30th Expansion Pack?

Every M6a pack holds six foil cards, and every pack includes one Pikachu card and one YOSHIROTTEN-designed Basic Energy. The official M6a page shows 30 Pikachu special-art cards by 30 illustrators, and a new rarity, FUR (Futuristic Rare), shown on Mew ex and Mewtwo ex.

The English side says the same thing in its own words. The Pokémon Company International states that all cards are foil, that the new rarity is Futuristic rare with new visuals by YOSHIROTTEN, that there are 30 Pikachu rare cards with one per booster pack, and that 30 classic Pokémon cards return to the TCG. On the Pokémon TCG expansion page, every card in a pack is foil and each pack’s Basic Energy card was designed by YOSHIROTTEN.

Other cards featured on the Japanese page include Greninja ex, Pikachu ex, Jirachi ex and Ho-Oh. The English page shows card numbers for Pikachu ex (53), Nidorina (88), Unown (72), Slowpoke (16), Ho-Oh (12), Eevee (118), Espeon (69) and Umbreon (91). For how the ex label works on these cards, see our guide on what ex means on Pokémon cards.

Our M6a booster box page states that The Pokémon Company does not publish per-box pull rates for this set, and that figures circulating online disagree with one another, so we do not quote any. Official sources give the contents of each pack, not odds for the rarer cards.

What Are the 30 Commemorative Cards, and Can You Play Them?

The 30 commemorative cards are numbered 136 to 165 on the Japanese official page, each one a card from Pokémon TCG history, and they are not usable in the current Standard regulation. Their original cards can be used in regulations where those originals are legal.

The official page names the 30, including Pikachu, Charizard, Misty, Erika’s Jigglypuff, Lugia, Gengar, N, Zacian V, Mew VMAX, Arceus VSTAR and Magikarp. We do not reproduce the whole list here, because this guide is about dates. If you buy for play, buy the originals’ current legal versions. If you buy to collect, the commemorative versions are the point.

The English expansion page adds the history behind some of them, described as classic reprints with “a stunning new foil treatment”, including Charizard from Base Set and Pikachu & Zekrom-GX from Sun & Moon-Team Up. The same page gives these origin years:

Misty is one of the 30. Our Misty Trainer Card 30th guide covers that card in detail.

Which English 30th Celebration Products Launched?

The English line is a different product list from the Japanese one, and the Pokémon Company International names five boxed products with their contents. They belong to the English-language launch on September 16, 2026 at participating retailers, and they are not the Japanese items in our listings.

The English expansion page also names the Premium Binder Collection and the Booster Bundle Box. If you want one of these English boxes, buy it as an English product. If you want the Japanese edition, the products to look at are the ones in the next sections.

What Do the Premium Deck Set and FUTURISTIC BOX Contain?

The Premium Deck Set Espeon & Umbreon is two ready-to-play 60-card decks, and the FUTURISTIC BOX is a Pokémon Center Online exclusive supply set. Both released September 16, 2026.

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The Premium Deck Set has an Espeon ex deck and an Umbreon ex deck, a tin double deck case, a full-size paper playmat and two Pokémon coins. Each deck also includes a full-art Espeon ex or Umbreon ex card. The tin is a slide-type metal case with the 30th anniversary logo that holds both decks. The official price is 6,200 yen for the whole set.

The FUTURISTIC BOX, with artwork by graphic artist YOSHIROTTEN, has two FUR Pikachu ex promo cards, 64 deck shields, a flip deck case, a half-size rubber playmat, 12 metal damage dice, metal markers, 2 coins and a display frame. YOSHIROTTEN is the same artist behind the FUR Mew ex and Mewtwo ex in the expansion. The official price is 27,500 yen.

The choice between them is simple. Pick the Premium Deck Set if you want decks you can play straight away. Pick the FUTURISTIC BOX if you want the FUR Pikachu ex promos and a full set of matching play supplies rather than decks.

Which 30th Accessories Released on Which Date?

Most 30th accessories released on September 16, 2026, and only the Collection File Premium and Collection Refill lines came on October 16, 2026. The official product page lists the prices below.

The Collection File Premium comes in nine designs: Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh & Hisui, Unova, Kalos, Alola with Meltan & Melmetal, Galar and Paldea. The refills follow the same regions. That makes them natural companions to the nine Card Sets released the same day.

How Do You Get Japanese 30th Products Shipped From Tokyo?

You order from our listings, and our shipping policy says most orders are processed and shipped within 5 business days after PayPal or Wise payment has cleared, then go by FedEx. Standard shipping is FedEx International Connect Plus with a tracking number, usually 3-7 business days after dispatch. Expedited is FedEx International Priority, usually 2-5 business days. Both are estimates only, and shipping cost is calculated at checkout from your delivery address.

Delivery estimates shown on the site, at checkout or in carrier tools do not include our handling time, pre-order release timing, supplier allocation delays, quality inspection holds, weekends, Japanese national holidays, customs processing, carrier congestion, weather or destination-country conditions. After an order is handed to FedEx, timing is controlled by the carrier and destination-country authorities. FedEx cannot deliver to P.O. Boxes, so use a physical address.

Our M6a, Premium Deck Set and FUTURISTIC BOX pages say they ship on or after September 26, 2026, once all existing pre-orders have shipped. The release date in Japan and the date your parcel leaves Tokyo are therefore different dates. If your order is delayed before dispatch, the policy says we will contact you by email as soon as practical with a revised estimate, and for significant dispatch delays before handoff to FedEx we may offer the option to wait or to cancel with a full refund.

There is no minimum order amount or quantity. Before you pay, check the address carefully: while an order is paid and its shipment has not yet been scheduled, you can update the shipping address yourself from My Account > Orders. The destination country cannot be changed. Our guide to getting Japanese Pokémon cards explains the buying options in more detail.

How Do You Pay for a 30th CELEBRATION Order?

All payments are made in Japanese yen (JPY), by Wise bank transfer, PayPal, or credit and debit card through PayPal. The payment methods page sets out the terms for each.

If you pay by Wise without a screenshot, the window is 12 hours, or 3 hours if your order contains a pre-order item. With a screenshot uploaded within 5 days, your order price is held for a total of 10 days from placing the order. The screenshot option requires an account and is not available at guest checkout. Enter the payment reference SST-{order number} in the Wise reference field exactly as issued.

Any difference between the amount we charge and the amount on your statement comes from exchange rates and conversion fees charged by your card issuer, bank or PayPal, and it is outside our control.

Is There a Lower-Priced Way to Buy 30th Boxes?

Damaged-box listings are a lower-priced option for some 30th products, and they carry firm conditions. These are unopened Japanese products with cosmetic damage to the outer box, such as dents, creases or scuffs. The listing photos are samples and do not show the actual item you will receive.

The Premium Deck Set Espeon & Umbreon damaged box and the M6a 30th CELEBRATION booster box damaged box follow the damaged-item terms: sold as-is, no responses to inquiries about the item, and no returns or refunds. Read those terms on the listing page before you add either to a cart. If you want a box in mint condition, the regular M6a listing is the right choice, because the damaged-box terms exclude returns.

Which 30th Product Should You Buy?

Buy by what you want from the set, because the products do different jobs. A booster box is for opening packs, the Card Set is for the starter promo cards, the Premium Deck Set is for playing, and the FUTURISTIC BOX is for the FUR Pikachu ex promos and supplies.

• You want packs with the 30 Pikachu cards: the M6a booster box. Every pack has one Pikachu card and six foil cards. In Japan this set is sold mainly through lottery allocations that require My Number Card identity verification, as the product page notes.
• You want the starter promos: the Card Set. All nine types give 27 promo cards and 18 packs.
• You want to play right away: the Premium Deck Set, with two 60-card decks. Keep in mind the 30 commemorative cards are not usable in current Standard, so a deck is the safer pick for play.
• You want FUR Pikachu ex and supplies: the FUTURISTIC BOX, a Pokémon Center Online exclusive supply set.

For all of them, the dispatch date on the listing page is what sets your timeline, not the Japanese release date.

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