Pokémon GO Festival of Lights 2026 is an India-exclusive event running from November 6 at 10:00 a.m. to November 8 at 8:00 p.m. local time, with returning Saree Pikachu and Kurta Pikachu, short Sparkle O’Clock spawn bursts and branched Timed Research.
The event has several separate player questions: where the costumes appear, when the five-minute bursts happen, how the Special Background works and when the research becomes available. This hub connects those parts without pretending unreleased tasks are already known.
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Use our interactive Pokémon GO trackers to record shinies, regional Pokémon, costumes, patterns and event collections.
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Pokémon GO Costume Pokémon Tracker
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Festival of Lights 2026
India EventIndia-exclusive Festival of Lights with Saree Pikachu, Kurta Pikachu, Sparkle O’Clock, branched Timed Research and Special Background encounters.
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Pokémon GO Festival of Lights 2026 dates and availability
Pokémon GO Festival of Lights 2026 Image Pokémon GO.
Pokémon GO Festival of Lights 2026 starts Friday, November 6 at 10:00 a.m. and ends Sunday, November 8 at 8:00 p.m. local time. The event is exclusive to Trainers in India, so its local raids, Sparkle O’Clock spawns and research should not be expected on accounts playing elsewhere.
| Detail | Confirmed information |
|---|---|
| Location | India only |
| Starts | November 6 at 10:00 a.m. local |
| Ends | November 8 at 8:00 p.m. local |
| Timed Research opens | November 1 at 6:00 a.m. |
| Costumes | Saree Pikachu and Kurta Pikachu |
| Shiny costumes | Both are eligible |
The research opening on November 1 gives eligible players several days to make the branch choice before the main Pokémon GO Festival of Lights 2026 weekend begins.
Festival of Lights raids and costume Pikachu
Event raids feature Pikachu wearing a saree and Pikachu wearing a kurta. Both can be Shiny, and Pokémon GO says either costume can also appear with a Special Background. Raids are therefore one of the repeatable collection routes during Pokémon GO Festival of Lights 2026.
The costumes are returning rather than new. Players who already own them can focus on Shiny checks and Special Background versions rather than treating the event as a first-time costume registration.
Pokémon GO Festival of Lights 2026 Sparkle O’Clock
Pokémon GO Festival of Lights 2026 includes Sparkle O’Clock at 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. local time. Each burst lasts only five minutes.
| Time | Duration |
|---|---|
| 6:00 p.m. | 5 minutes |
| 6:30 p.m. | 5 minutes |
| 7:00 p.m. | 5 minutes |
| 7:30 p.m. | 5 minutes |
The pool includes Charmander, Saree Pikachu, Kurta Pikachu, Chinchou, Mareep, Camerupt, Litwick, Lampent, Morelull and Tadbulb. Every announced Sparkle O’Clock species is Shiny eligible, and the costume Pikachu can also carry a Special Background.
Timed Research, Collection Challenges and bonuses
Branched Timed Research becomes available November 1 at 6:00 a.m. The confirmed rewards include XP, Stardust, path-themed stickers and a Special Background encounter with either Saree Pikachu or Kurta Pikachu depending on the branch. The exact tasks are not published yet, so Pokémon GO Festival of Lights 2026 coverage should not invent them.
Collection Challenges reward XP and Stardust. Lure Modules last three times as long and attract Charmander, Chinchou, Mareep, Camerupt, Litwick, Lampent, Morelull and Tadbulb. Event stickers are also available from PokéStops, and some event Pokémon glow.
What to prioritise during the event
- Claim the branched Timed Research after November 1.
- Choose the costume path based on the Special Background Pikachu you want.
- Use all four Sparkle O’Clock windows for dense Shiny and background checks.
- Keep long-duration Lures active between scheduled bursts.
- Raid the costume Pikachu for extra checks outside the wild windows.
The most efficient Pokémon GO Festival of Lights 2026 plan combines the scheduled bursts, repeatable raids and long Lures instead of relying on one acquisition method. That gives collectors more chances at both costumes while the research provides one controlled Special Background reward.
What is worth doing first during Pokémon GO Festival of Lights 2026?
If you are in India, start with the branched Timed Research when it becomes available on November 1 at 6:00 a.m. IST. Choose which costumed Pikachu you would most like with a Special Background, then work through the tasks shown in your Research tab. The event notice confirms the rewards but does not supply a complete task-by-task list or a precise expiry time for that research.
From November 6 to 8, raids provide another way to encounter both Saree and Kurta Pikachu. Each costume may be Shiny or carry a Special Background, but neither result is guaranteed from an ordinary raid catch. The research reward is different: Niantic specifically advertises a Special Background on the Pokémon from your chosen branch.
How do the event Lure Modules and spawns work?
The event gives Lure Modules three times their usual duration, helping you hunt the regular event pool between the short Sparkle O’Clock bursts. Lures are more likely to attract Charmander, Chinchou, Mareep, Camerupt, Litwick, Lampent, Morelull and Tadbulb. Saree and Kurta Pikachu are listed for raids and the scheduled Sparkle O’Clock wild encounters, not for that specific boosted Lure list.
The four Sparkle O’Clock periods happen at 6:00, 6:30, 7:00 and 7:30 p.m. IST each event day. Each lasts five minutes. Trainers in Britain can convert these to 12:30, 1:00, 1:30 and 2:00 p.m. GMT for planning, but that does not make the India-exclusive spawns available in the UK.
What about Collection Challenges, stickers and regional access?
Collection Challenges reward XP and Stardust for catching event-themed Pokémon. Spinning PokéStops during the event can give Saree or Kurta Pikachu stickers, and some featured Pokémon have a glowing appearance. The announcements do not specify Collection Challenge capture lists, so rely on the challenges shown in-game when the event starts.
Pokémon GO Festival of Lights 2026 is explicitly a celebration for Trainers in India. If you are playing elsewhere, do not expect the local research, wild bonuses or collection challenges to appear just because the event is on the global news page. Our regional-access guide explains the difference between playing the event and obtaining a costume Pikachu later.
Related Pokémon GO Festival of Lights Guides
Official source: Pokémon GO Festival of Lights 2026 announcement.
