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All events > New Year’s 2026

Pikachu (Party Top Hat)

New Year’s 2026

Start
Finish
Status
The event has now finished.

Pokémon GO marks the new year from 31 December to 4 January with party-costumed Pokémon in the wild and in raids, fireworks in the sky and Blacephalon that know Mind Blown in five-star raids. Raids are the focus, with double XP and Stardust and a better chance of a shiny Pikachu in a party top hat. A paid Timed Research adds an extra daily Raid Pass, and from this event onwards Lucky trades are easier to get.

Event bonuses

  • 2× XP and 2× Stardust from raids
  • Increased shiny chance for Pikachu wearing a party top hat, in the wild and in raids
  • Blacephalon caught after five-star raids know the Charged Attack Mind Blown (90 power with a guaranteed drop in the user’s Defence in Trainer Battles; 130 power in Gyms and raids)
  • Fireworks decorate the sky
  • Event Field Research tasks that reward Stardust
  • One bonus daily Field Research task each day you log in, rewarding a Lucky Egg or an Incense (only if you have three or fewer active Field Research tasks at your first login of the day)
  • Permanent change starting with this event: the limit on guaranteed Lucky trades rises from 35 to 45, and a Pokémon that has been in a Trainer’s storage since 2020 is guaranteed to become Lucky when traded, until that limit is reached

Paid Timed Research

  • One extra Raid Pass a day from spinning Photo Discs at Gyms (two a day in total)

In the wild

Pikachu (Party Top Hat) Pikachu (Party Top Hat) ✦ Shiny
Encounter Max CP
Wild (up to level 30) 804
Weather boosted (up to level 35) 871

Pikachu evolves from Pichu for 25 Candy, and into Raichu for 50 Candy, then temporarily into Mega Raichu X or Mega Raichu Y.

Bulbasaur (Party Hat) Bulbasaur (Party Hat) ✦ Shiny
Encounter Max CP
Wild (up to level 30) 955
Weather boosted (up to level 35) 1,035

Bulbasaur evolves into Ivysaur for 25 Candy, then into Venusaur for 100 Candy.

Jigglypuff (Ribbon) Jigglypuff (Ribbon) ✦ Shiny
Encounter Max CP
Wild (up to level 30) 620
Weather boosted (up to level 35) 672

Jigglypuff evolves from Igglybuff for 25 Candy, and into Wigglytuff for 50 Candy.

Hoothoot (New Year’s Hat) Hoothoot (New Year’s Hat) ✦ Shiny
Encounter Max CP
Wild (up to level 30) 580
Weather boosted (up to level 35) 629

Hoothoot evolves into Noctowl for 50 Candy.

In raids

Pikachu (Party Top Hat) Pikachu (Party Top Hat) ✦ Shiny
Encounter Min CP 100% IV
Caught (level 20) 493 536
Weather boosted (level 25) 616 670

Top counters

  1. Primal Groudon Mud Shot / Precipice Blades
  2. Mega Garchomp Mud Shot / Earth Power
  3. Landorus (Therian Forme) Mud Shot / Sandsear Storm
  4. Deoxys (Attack Forme) Zen Headbutt / Psycho Boost
  5. Mega Mewtwo Y Confusion / Psystrike
  6. Mega Heracross Fury Cutter / Earthquake
Blacephalon Blacephalon
Encounter Min CP 100% IV
Caught (level 20) 1,797 1,884
Weather boosted (level 25) 2,246 2,355

Top counters

  1. Dawn Wings Necrozma Psycho Cut / Moongeist Beam
  2. Mega Gengar Lick / Shadow Ball
  3. Primal Kyogre Waterfall / Origin Pulse
  4. Primal Groudon Mud Shot / Precipice Blades
  5. Mega Chandelure Hex / Ominous Wind+
  6. Mega Greninja Water Shuriken / Hydro Cannon
Wurmple (Party Hat) Wurmple (Party Hat) ✦ Shiny
Encounter Min CP 100% IV
Caught (level 20) 296 330
Weather boosted (level 25) 370 413

Top counters

  1. Mega Rayquaza Air Slash / Dragon Ascent
  2. Blacephalon Incinerate / Mind Blown
  3. Mega Delphox Fire Spin / Mystical Fire+
  4. Mega Blaziken Fire Spin / Blast Burn
  5. Mega Charizard Y Fire Spin / Blast Burn
  6. Mega Chandelure Fire Spin / Overheat
Raticate (Party Hat) Raticate (Party Hat) ✦ Shiny
Encounter Min CP 100% IV
Caught (level 20) 930 989
Weather boosted (level 25) 1,163 1,236

Top counters

  1. Mega Lucario Force Palm / Aura Sphere
  2. Mega Mewtwo X Counter / Dynamic Punch+
  3. Mega Blaziken Counter / Aura Sphere
  4. Keldeo (Resolute Form) Low Kick / Secret Sword
  5. Mega Gallade Low Kick / Sacred Sword
  6. Mega Falinks Counter / Brick Break+
Nidorino (Party Hat) Nidorino (Party Hat) ✦ Shiny
Encounter Min CP 100% IV
Caught (level 20) 743 796
Weather boosted (level 25) 929 995

Top counters

  1. Deoxys (Attack Forme) Zen Headbutt / Psycho Boost
  2. Mega Mewtwo Y Confusion / Psystrike
  3. Mega Alakazam Confusion / Psychic
  4. Primal Groudon Mud Shot / Precipice Blades
  5. Mega Gallade Confusion / Psychic
  6. Mega Gardevoir Confusion / Psychic
Gengar (Party Hat) Gengar (Party Hat) ✦ Shiny
Encounter Min CP 100% IV
Caught (level 20) 1,566 1,644
Weather boosted (level 25) 1,958 2,055

Top counters

  1. Deoxys (Attack Forme) Zen Headbutt / Psycho Boost
  2. Mega Mewtwo Y Confusion / Psystrike
  3. Dawn Wings Necrozma Psycho Cut / Moongeist Beam
  4. Mega Alakazam Confusion / Psychic
  5. Mega Gengar Lick / Shadow Ball
  6. Primal Groudon Mud Shot / Precipice Blades
Wobbuffet (Party Hat) Wobbuffet (Party Hat) ✦ Shiny
Encounter Min CP 100% IV
Caught (level 20) 532 586
Weather boosted (level 25) 665 733

Top counters

  1. Mega Gengar Lick / Shadow Ball
  2. Dawn Wings Necrozma Shadow Claw / Moongeist Beam
  3. Mega Chandelure Hex / Ominous Wind+
  4. Mega Beedrill Bug Bite / Fell Stinger+
  5. Mega Absol Snarl / Brutal Swing
  6. Mega Heracross Fury Cutter / Megahorn

Research encounters

Pikachu (Party Top Hat) Pikachu (Party Top Hat) ✦ Shiny
Encounter Min CP 100% IV
Research reward (level 15) 369 402

Pikachu evolves from Pichu for 25 Candy, and into Raichu for 50 Candy, then temporarily into Mega Raichu X or Mega Raichu Y.

Shop

  • Paid Timed Research (US$1.99): 2 Premium Battle Passes, 3,000 Stardust and encounters with Pikachu wearing a party top hat; rewards must be claimed by 4 January at 20:00 local time. Can be gifted to friends at Great Friends level or above; not available for PokéCoins.
  • Blacephalon Boots (avatar item), still available after the event

Web Store only

  • New Year’s 2026 Ultra Ticket Box (US$1.99): the event ticket and one Lucky Egg

Also running

Palkia
GO Pass: December
2nd Dec 2025
 Piplup
January 2026 Community Day Classic: Piplup
4th Jan

Source: the official announcement on pokemongo.com. Published .