How Pokémon Day 2026 Unfolds: Key Announcements in the Pokémon Presents

Fans, trainers, and nostalgia seekers alike are counting down the hours: Pokémon Day 2026 brings more than just candles on a cake. The franchise hits its 30th anniversary on February 27, 2026, and The Pokémon Company has teased a Pokémon Presents event that promises bold moves, re-releases, new campaigns, and a celebration of legacy. Here’s everything confirmed so far—and what to expect when the livestream hits.

When, Where, and How to Watch

The Pokémon Presents livestream will go live on February 27, 2026—Pokémon Day—at 6:00 a.m. Pacific Time / 9:00 a.m. Eastern / 2:00 p.m. GMT. It aligns with the franchise’s 30th birthday, commemorating the 1996 debut of Pokémon Red and Green in Japan. The broadcast will be accessible on official Pokémon YouTube and Twitch channels, aiming to unite global fans for something that promises to be more than a replay of past hits.

FireRed & LeafGreen Return (Surprise!

In a move sure to delight longtime trainers, Pokémon FireRed Version and Pokémon LeafGreen Version—the 2004 Game Boy Advance remakes—are coming to the Nintendo Switch family. The games will be released digitally via the Nintendo eShop at $19.99 each on Pokémon Day, bypassing Nintendo Switch Online entirely. While physical editions are limited to Japan, all fans worldwide can preorder now and have them unlocked right after the Pokémon Presents stream concludes. The ports will preserve core content, support local wireless trading and battling via the Pokémon Wireless Club, and be fully compatible with both Switch and Switch 2 hardware.

30th Anniversary Logo Campaign & Pokémon GO Photo Feature

It’s not all games—Pokémon 2026 is leaning hard into the visuals. Over 1,100 custom 30th-anniversary logos have been released—each Pokémon species, regional variant, and special form has been reimagined as a “30” emblem; language boxes and museum-style displays are going up in major Japanese cities like Tokyo and Osaka. For those outside Japan, a social media campaign lets fans “catch” a random logo just by engaging online, with the campaign running through early March.

Meanwhile, Pokémon GO is rolling out a brand-new AR photography feature called “What’s Your Favorite?” that lets players take pictures with pretty much any Pokémon—caught or not. The feature is paired with special research tasks that reward new Trainers with items, Stardust, and a Gengar. These additions are part of a wider cultural push: celebrity-fueled commercials during Super Bowl LX, new merch collabs, and themed promotions across games and apps.

Merch, Events, and Beyond

Pokémon Day won’t just live in Switch firmware and AR filters—it’s hitting the real world too. There are two official in-store celebrations slated for Nintendo NEW YORK and Nintendo SAN FRANCISCO on February 27, described as full-day festivities acknowledging three decades of Pocket Monsters. More broadly, expect more limited-edition merchandise, special collector sets (especially in Japan where physical bundles include display cases and glass Poké Balls), and event drops tied to the TCG, anime, and social media.

What We’re Still Waiting On

No confirmed new mainline games yet—Generation 10, remasters of older entries, or sizable spin-offs could still be revealed during the Presents stream. Also, while FireRed and LeafGreen are getting modern releases, online multiplayer isn’t supported yet—just local wireless for battling and trading. Pokémon HOME integration is only promised “in the future,” with no firm window announced.

We’ve rounded up enough nostalgia, new tech, exclusive art, and early access surprises to make this a Pokémon Day to remember. The 30th anniversary is shaping up as both homage to the past—and clear signal of what’s next.