The Pokemon GO Special Anniversary Pikachu Celebration event is one of the biggest highlights of Pokémon GO’s 10th Anniversary festivities, bringing together some of the game’s most popular Costume Pikachu alongside exclusive GO Pass rewards, event bonuses, raids, and Field Research.
Running from Monday, July 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. until Monday, July 20, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. local time, the event is split into three separate celebrations, each featuring different Costume Pikachu for Trainers to discover.
Whether you’re trying to complete your Costume Pikachu collection, unlock every GO Pass reward, or simply take advantage of the event bonuses, here’s everything you need to know about the Pokemon GO Special Anniversary Pikachu Celebration.
Pokemon GO Special Anniversary Pikachu Celebration Dates
The event runs from:
Start: Monday, July 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. local time
End: Monday, July 20, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. local time
The celebration is divided into three separate stages.
Celebration 1
- July 13 – July 15
Celebration 2
- July 15 – July 18
Celebration 3
- July 18 – July 20
Each celebration introduces different Costume Pikachu into the wild and through Field Research, giving Trainers plenty of opportunities to expand their collections.
Wild Costume Pikachu
During the Pokemon GO Special Anniversary Pikachu Celebration, Trainers may encounter several special Costume Pikachu in the wild.
These include:
- Pikachu wearing a Tricks & Treats costume
- Pikachu wearing a Winter Carnival outfit
- Pikachu with Summer Flair
- Additional event-themed Costume Pikachu
If you’re lucky, each of these Pokémon may also appear as a Shiny.
For collectors, this is one of the best opportunities of the year to catch multiple Costume Pikachu during a single event.
One-Star Raid Pokemon
Several rare Costume Pikachu will also appear in One-Star Raids throughout the event.
These include:
- Dapper Pikachu with Red Accents
- Dapper Pikachu with Yellow Accents
- Dapper Pikachu with Blue Accents
- Pikachu wearing a Safari Hat
- Pikachu wearing a Varsity Jacket
- Pikachu wearing an Amethyst Crown
- World Championships 2022 Pikachu
- World Championships 2023 Pikachu
- World Championships 2024 Pikachu
All of these raid-exclusive Pikachu can also be encountered as Shiny if you’re lucky.
Because many of these costumes only appear during limited-time events, this could be one of the best chances to complete your Costume Pikachu collection.
Have You Collected Them All?
Keep track of all Costume Pikachu with our free collection tracker. Your progress is saved automatically, just bookmark the page so you can come back whenever a new event arrives.
Event Bonuses
The Pokemon GO Special Anniversary Pikachu Celebration also introduces several useful gameplay bonuses.
All Trainers can enjoy:
- Increased wild Pikachu spawns.
- Easier Pikachu catches.
- Bonus GO Pass rewards.
As you progress through the event GO Pass, you’ll unlock additional bonuses.
Rank 10 Bonuses
- 2× Candy for transferring Pokémon.
- Increased Candy XL chance for Trainers Level 31+.
GO Pass Deluxe Trainers receive:
- 3× Transfer Candy.
- Even higher Candy XL chance.
Rank 20 Bonuses
- 2× Stardust for catching Pokémon.
GO Pass Deluxe Trainers receive:
- 3× Stardust for catching Pokémon.
These bonuses make the event an excellent opportunity for Trainers looking to clear storage while earning additional Candy and Stardust.
Field Research
Special Anniversary Pikachu Celebration introduces exclusive event-themed Field Research.
Completing these tasks rewards Trainers with encounters featuring Costume Pikachu from the event.
Because different Costume Pikachu appear throughout the celebration, it’s worth completing as many Field Research tasks as possible before the event ends.
GO Pass Rewards
A free GO Pass will automatically become available when the event begins.
As Trainers collect GO Points, they’ll rank up to earn rewards including:
- Event-themed Pokémon encounters.
- More than 150,000 XP.
- Lucky Egg.
- Golden Razz Berries.
- Additional items.
Players who purchase the GO Pass Deluxe unlock an upgraded reward track featuring:
- More than 350,000 XP.
- Additional Costume Pikachu encounters.
- Silver Pinap Berries.
- Lure Module.
- Faster progression.
- Every reward from the free GO Pass.
The Deluxe version can also be upgraded with six additional starting ranks for Trainers who want an early boost.
Is the Pokemon GO Special Anniversary Pikachu Celebration Worth Playing?
Absolutely.
The event combines several features that appeal to almost every type of Pokémon GO player.
Collectors have an opportunity to catch numerous Costume Pikachu, Shiny hunters gain access to multiple Shiny-eligible costumes, while competitive players benefit from increased Stardust and Candy bonuses.
Meanwhile, the GO Pass offers valuable rewards simply by playing throughout the week.
With so many limited-time Costume Pikachu available in one event, this is likely to become one of the biggest collection events of Pokémon GO’s anniversary celebrations.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Pokemon GO Special Anniversary Pikachu Celebration start?
The event begins on Monday, July 13, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. local time.
Can Costume Pikachu be Shiny?
Yes. Many of the featured Costume Pikachu available during the event can appear as Shiny Pokémon.
Is there a free GO Pass?
Yes. Every Trainer receives a free GO Pass during the event, with an optional GO Pass Deluxe upgrade available for additional rewards.
Which Pikachu appear in raids?
Nine Costume Pikachu appear in One-Star Raids, including Dapper Pikachu, Safari Hat Pikachu, Varsity Jacket Pikachu, Amethyst Crown Pikachu, and the World Championships 2022, 2023, and 2024 Pikachu.
The Pokemon GO Special Anniversary Pikachu Celebration is shaping up to be one of the biggest Costume Pikachu events Pokémon GO has ever seen. Whether you’re chasing Shinies, filling your collection, or earning GO Pass rewards, the event offers plenty of reasons to jump in throughout the week-long celebration.
