January 2026 Community Day: Grookey

January's Community Day on Sunday 18 January features Grookey, which can be shiny and, from this month, can appear with a yearly Special Background. Evolving Thwackey during or shortly after the event gives a Rillaboom with Frenzy Plant, and Rillaboom can now also learn Drum Beating. Trainers who check in at a Community Ambassador event get Timed Research with extra Grookey encounters.

Event bonuses

• 3× Stardust for catching Pokémon
• 2× Candy for catching Pokémon
• 2× chance of Candy XL from catching Pokémon for Trainers level 31 and up
• Incense lasts three hours (except Daily Adventure Incense)
• A surprise when taking snapshots
• Evolve Thwackey during the event or up to four hours after it to get Rillaboom with the Charged Attack Frenzy Plant
• Rillaboom can learn the Charged Attack Drum Beating from the event onwards (Trainer Battles: 60 power and lowers the opponent's Attack by one stage; Gyms and raids: 115 power)
• Field Research rewarding Stardust, Ultra Balls and Grookey encounters, some of which may have a Special Background
• Timed Research for checking in at a Community Ambassador event, with Grookey encounters that have a Special Background and premium items
• From 14:00 to 21:00:
  • Lure Modules last one hour, with Grookey very likely to appear at PokéStops with a regular Lure Module, keeping its higher shiny chance and possible Special Background
  • One extra Special Trade, for up to three that day
  • 50% less Stardust for trades