Published 3 hours ago

Party hats for everyone

Image: Niantic

Pokémon Go’s "New Year's 2026" event has kicked off, running from Dec. 31 until Jan. 4. During this event, you can find costumed Pokémon and even raid Blacephalon, which will know its special move "Mind Blown" when caught.

The event also features doubled XP and Stardust from raids, so you'll definitely want to take advantage of any free raid passes you get each day. Additionally, the expansion of the guaranteed lucky trade system has been implemented, so you can now trade Pokémon from 2020 and it will trigger a guaranteed lucky trade.

Below we list the other perks of Pokémon Go's "New Year's 2026" event, including the premium research, spawns, and raid targets.

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Pokémon Go 'New Year's 2026' event Timed Research and reward

For $1.99, you can nab a premium research ticket that expires when the event ends. Additionally, you'll get an extra free (orange) raid pass per day if you buy this ticket. Yes, the "New Year's 2026" premium research is worth it for coin value, but mainly only if you really want a lot of guaranteed costumed Pikachu encounters or if you plan on doing a lot of raids. You can see the research steps below.

'New Year's 2026' step 1 of 1

• Catch 5 Pokémon (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
• Catch 10 Pokémon (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
• Catch 15 Pokémon (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
• Catch 20 Pokémon (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
• Catch 25 Pokémon (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
• Make 5 nice throws (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
• Make 10 nice throws (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
• Make 15 nice throws (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
• Make 5 great throws (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
• Make 10 great throws (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)

Rewards: Pikachu (party top hat) encounter, 2 Premium Battle Passes, 3,000 Stardust

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Pokémon Go 'New Year's 2026' event Collection Challenges

The following Collection Challenge will be live throughout the duration of the event:

'New Years 2026' Collection Challenge

• Catch a Pikachu (party top hat)
• Catch a Bulbasaur (party hat)
• Catch a Charmander (party hat)
• Catch a Squirtle (party hat)

Rewards: 2,026 Stardust, 2,026 XP, 26 Ultra Balls

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Pokémon Go 'New Year's 2026' event Field Research and rewards

Spinning a PokéStop during the event period may yield one of these tasks:

• Catch 26 Pokémon (2,026 Stardust)
• Win a raid (2,026 Stardust)

There's also daily Field Research you'll get for logging in that rewards you with premium items, as long as you have the space for a new research task:

• Catch 15 Pokémon (1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense)
• Spin 5 PokéStops or gyms (1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense)
• Send 5 gifts to friends (1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense)
• Transfer 15 Pokémon (1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense)
• Power up Pokémon 10 times (1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense)

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Pokémon Go 'New Year's 2026' event boosted spawns

These Pokémon will spawn more frequently during the event period, according to Niantic's blog:

• Bulbasaur (party hat)
• Pikachu (party top hat)*
• Jigglypuff (ribbon)
• Hoothoot (New Year's outfit)

We've also noticed the following spawning:

• Charmander (party hat)
• Squirtle (party hat)
• Wurmple (party hat)

*There is an "increased chance" of finding this shiny in the wild as part of the event.

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Pokémon Go 'New Year's 2026' event raid targets

The following changes to the raid schedule will take place as part of the event:

One-star raids

Three-star raids

Five-star raids

Pikachu (party top hat)*

Raticate (party hat)

Blacephalon

Wurmple (party hat)

Nidorino (party hat)

Gengar (party hat)

Wobbuffet (party hat)

*These Pokémon have an "increased chance" of being shiny when raided.