Pokémon TCG Release Dates 2026: UK Calendar
By Ben Slack, co-founder, Card & Ink · Last updated 17 August 2026. This is the UK release calendar for the Pokémon Trading Card Game in 2026, the 30th anniversary year of the TCG. We keep this page updated as dates are confirmed, so bookmark it if you're planning pre-orders, chasing a specific set, or timing a sale.
2026 English-language set calendar
| Set or product | Era | UK release date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ascended Heroes | Mega Evolution | 30 January 2026 | Released |
| Perfect Order | Mega Evolution | 27 March 2026 | Released |
| Chaos Rising | Mega Evolution | 22 May 2026 | Released |
| First Partner Illustration Collection (Series 2) | 30th Anniversary | 19 June 2026 | Released |
| Pitch Black | Mega Evolution | 17 July 2026 | Released |
| First Partner Illustration Collection (Series 3) | 30th Anniversary | 7 August 2026 | Released |
| 30th Celebration | 30th Anniversary | 16 September 2026 | Confirmed |
| 30th Celebration wave 2 — Booster Bundle, Binder Collection, Day & Night Mini Tins | 30th Anniversary | 2 October 2026 | Confirmed |
| 30th Celebration Battle Decks — Espeon ex and Umbreon ex | 30th Anniversary | 30 October 2026 | Confirmed |
| Mega Evolution — Delta Reign | Mega Evolution | 6 November 2026 | Confirmed |
| 30th Celebration premium wave — Ultra-Premium Collections, Ditto Premium Collection, Mew & Mewtwo Figure Collections | 30th Anniversary | 6 November 2026 | Confirmed |
| 30th Celebration ex Tins — Sylveon ex and Greninja ex | 30th Anniversary | 4 December 2026 | Confirmed |
Dates for sets more than a couple of months out can shift. The Pokémon Company typically confirms exact UK dates around the time pre-orders open, announced via the official Pokémon UK news page. One note on 30th Celebration: most sources give 16 September, though at least one tracker lists 18 September. Every other 2026 main set landed on a Friday, so we are running with 16 September and will update this page if it changes.
Correction, 17 August 2026: an earlier version of this page listed a set called “Storm Emerald” as expected in September. Storm Emeralda is the Japanese counterpart of the English release now confirmed as Mega Evolution — Delta Reign on 6 November. There is no separate September Mega Evolution set.
The big one: 30th Celebration (16 September 2026)
2026 marks 30 years of the Pokémon TCG, and the anniversary set is the largest product wave of the year. The headline facts: a 128-card main set rising to roughly 150–160 with secret rares; every card in the set is foil, so booster packs contain six cards rather than the usual ten; 30 different Pikachu cards each by a different illustrator, with one guaranteed in every pack; a 30-card “Classic Collection” of reprints spanning Base Set to modern, which are not tournament legal; and a new rarity called Futuristic Rare with artwork by Japanese artist YOSHIROTTEN.
Our full 30th Celebration UK buying and pre-order guide covers every product, the prices UK retailers are currently listing, what is officially confirmed versus what is leaked, and how to pre-order without paying reseller margin.
Also coming: Mega Evolution — Delta Reign (6 November 2026)
The last Mega Evolution set of 2026 arrives on 6 November, headlined by Mega Rayquaza ex. Card count and the product line-up have not been announced yet. If your budget has to stretch across both this and the anniversary line, it is worth planning that now rather than in late October.
Buying around a set launch: an honest note
Launch weeks bring hype, allocation limits and, unfortunately, scalping. A few things we tell our own customers: pre-order from retailers you trust at sensible prices rather than paying launch-week premiums; remember that most modern sets get reprint waves within months, which usually brings sealed prices back down; and if you're buying singles, the cheapest time is often two to four weeks after release once supply settles. We stock singles and graded cards from new sets shortly after each launch, every card condition-checked before listing.
Selling into set hype
Set launches move the whole market, not just the new cards. Renewed attention lifts demand for related older cards, especially around the 30th anniversary and its throwbacks to vintage sets. Worth knowing before you decide: the UK singles market has been cooling since spring 2026, with modern chase cards correcting off their spring peaks through the summer, while vintage and sealed vintage have held up better. If you're sitting on vintage holos, EX-era cards, full arts or graded cards, our guide to whether old Pokémon cards are actually worth anything walks through how to tell what you have. See how selling to Card & Ink works: outright sale or consignment.
FAQ
When is the next Pokémon TCG set released in the UK?
The next confirmed release is 30th Celebration on 16 September 2026, followed by a second wave of anniversary products on 2 October. First Partner Illustration Collection Series 3 (7 August 2026) is the most recent release to land.
When does the Pokémon TCG 30th anniversary set come out?
The main 30th Celebration release lands in the UK on 16 September 2026, following the First Partner Illustration Collections that ran from June to August. Further anniversary products follow on 2 October, 30 October, 6 November and 4 December.
What is the last Pokémon set of 2026?
Mega Evolution — Delta Reign on 6 November 2026 is the last main expansion of the year, headlined by Mega Rayquaza ex. The final scheduled products of 2026 are the 30th Celebration ex Tins on 4 December.
Do UK Pokémon TCG release dates differ from the US?
Main expansion dates are usually global, but stock allocation, pre-order timing and special-product availability can differ at UK retailers, which is why we track UK dates specifically on this page.
When is the cheapest time to buy singles from a new set?
Usually two to four weeks after release, once supply settles and early pull volume reaches the market. Launch-week singles carry a hype premium that fades for all but the scarcest cards.
Related guides
New to collecting or coming back after years away? Start with our condition guide, our UK grading guide (PSA vs ACE vs CGC), our ACE 10 vs PSA 10 explainer, and our guide to which formats hold value best.