Mobile gaming giant Niantic is ready to turn the page to the next chapter of its annual nostalgia trip. The developer has officially announced that the 2026 iteration of its massive community event will be Pokémon GO Tour: Kalos. Celebrating the sixth generation of Pokémon originally discovered in the Pokémon X and Pokémon Y titles on the Nintendo 3DS, the event is set to take place across late February and early March 2026.
While millions of players will participate globally from their local neighborhoods, Niantic is continuing its tradition of hosting massive real-world gatherings. This time around, Trainers will have two distinct destinations to choose from for the in-person experience: Tainan, Taiwan, and Los Angeles, California.
The In-Person Experience: Tainan and Los Angeles
For those willing to travel for their shinies, the festivities kick off on February 20 through February 22, 2026.
In Asia, the event heads to Tainan, Taiwan’s oldest city. The gameplay will be centered around the Tainan Metropolitan Park, promising a mix of “breathtaking history” and “delicious food” alongside the creature catching.
Simultaneously, the US leg of the tour lands in Los Angeles. Niantic is taking over the iconic Rose Bowl Stadium for the event, inviting players to “live out your Hollywood dreams” while exploring the city. Both locations will offer exclusive gameplay experiences before the event rolls out to the rest of the world the following weekend.
Global Gameplay and Shiny Debuts
If you can’t make it to the Rose Bowl or Taiwan, the Pokémon GO Tour: Kalos – Global event runs the following weekend, February 28 and March 1, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time each day.
As is standard for these events, the global experience is free for all players. Everyone can enjoy rotating habitats, themed “Central Village,” “Mountain Manor,” and “Coastal Laboratory”, which feature specific spawns like Froakie, Fennekin, and Chespin. Additionally, Raids will be packed with powerful Mega Evolutions, including Charizard X and Y, Lucario, and the Lati twins, rotating on an hourly schedule.
However, the real draw for collectors is the debut of several Shiny Pokémon. For the first time globally, Trainers can hunt for Shiny Klefki (the keychain Pokémon, finally unlocked for everyone), Shiny Hawlucha, and Shiny Honedge.
Paid Ticket Perks and Masterwork Research
While the base event is free, Niantic is offering a paid ticket via the Pokémon GO Web Store for those who want to maximize their haul.
The marquee bonus for ticket holders is access to Masterwork Research, which leads to an encounter with the Mythical Pokémon Shiny Diancie. Unlike standard timed tasks, Masterwork Research does not expire, allowing players to chip away at the requirements at their own pace.
Ticket holders also receive:
- Increased Shiny Odds: A boosted chance of encountering Shiny Pokémon in the wild.
- Furfrou Trims: Exclusive Timed Research that allows players to change Furfrou’s trim to styles usually restricted to specific regions, such as the Kabuki or Pharaoh trims.
- Snapshot Surprises: Daily encounters with Latias or Latios when taking photos.
Bonuses for Everyone
Even without a ticket, all players can take advantage of significant gameplay bonuses during event hours. Incubators will operate at half hatch distance, and trades will cost half the usual Stardust. Perhaps most importantly for the social players, the limit on Special Trades will be increased to six per day.
Trainers looking to finalize their travel plans or purchase tickets for the global event can find more details at the official event page.
