2026 Pokémon Championship Series: Full Schedule, Rule Changes & Rewards

In This Article

1. 2026 Pokémon Championship Series Overview
2. Format & Rules Changes
3. Updated Worlds Invite System
4. 2026 Regional Championship Schedule
5. 2026 International Championships
6. Travel Awards & Ace Trainer Returns
7. VGC Hardware Policy
8. Conclusion

2026 Pokémon Championship Series Overview

The 2026 Pokémon Championship Series is packed with exciting updates for competitive Trainers. From expanded Regional Championships and returning International stops to tweaked formats and fresh reward programs, there’s a lot to get ready for this season!

Format & Rules Changes

Key updates for 2026 include:

• Extra Swiss round: All divisions with 65+ players now play one additional Swiss round.
• TCG overtime change: Instead of +3 turns after time is called, players now get one turn each.
• Top Cut limits: Asymmetric Top 8 is now capped at 16 players, down from 32.

These changes apply across TCG, VGC, and Pokémon GO tournaments, creating a more consistent and competitive experience at Regional, International, and Worlds events.

Updated Worlds Invite System

Players can qualify for the 2026 Pokémon World Championships through two primary paths:

• Championship Points: Top-ranking players in each region earn invites based on CP thresholds.
• Premier Event results: Top finishers at Regionals, Internationals, and Worlds secure direct invites (e.g., 1st at Regionals, Top 4 at Internationals).

Notably, players cannot stack invites—qualifying through one path makes them ineligible to earn additional ones.

2026 Regional Championship Schedule

The upcoming season is full of global Regional and Special Championship events. Here’s the full list of confirmed dates:

• Sept 13–14, 2025: Frankfurt, Germany
• Sept 13–14, 2025: Monterrey, Mexico
• Sept 19–21, 2025: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
• Oct 10–12, 2025: Milwaukee, WI, USA
• Oct 11–12, 2025: Belo Horizonte, Brazil
• Oct 25–26, 2025: Lille, France
• Nov 1–2, 2025: Gdańsk, Poland
• Nov 14–16, 2025: Las Vegas, NV, USA
• Nov 15–16, 2025: Buenos Aires, Argentina (Special Championship)
• Nov 29–30, 2025: Stuttgart, Germany
• Jan 24–25, 2026: Mérida, Mexico
• Jan 24–25, 2026: Birmingham, UK
• Jan 24–25, 2026: Auckland, New Zealand (Special Championship)
• Feb 7–8, 2026: Santiago, Chile
• Mar 28–29, 2026: Seville, Spain (Special Championship)
• Apr 4–5, 2026: Querétaro, Mexico
• May 16–17, 2026: Utrecht, Netherlands
• May 23–24, 2026: Lima, Peru (Special Championship)

For the first time, the Netherlands will host a Regional Championship instead of a Special Event. This means players will now need to purchase tickets, as opposed to free entry in previous years.

2026 International Championships

These high-stakes events feature major CP and prize payouts, including $25,000 for first-place Masters finishers:

• Nov 21–23, 2025: Latin America International – São Paulo, Brazil
• Feb 13–15, 2026: Europe International – London, UK
• Jun 12–14, 2026: North America International – New Orleans, LA

Travel Awards & Ace Trainer Returns

Pokémon GO players will see expanded travel support, including:

• $1,000 Travel Stipends to offset trip costs
• Full Travel Awards for top performers

The Ace Trainer program is also returning. Players who earn 200 Championship Points will receive a special reward—last year’s reward was a promo card. The exact reward for 2026 has yet to be revealed.

VGC Hardware Policy

For now, the original Nintendo Switch remains the only permitted console for official VGC tournaments. Whether the Nintendo Switch 2 will be allowed in the 2026 season is still unknown.

Conclusion

The 2026 Pokémon Championship Series is shaping up to be one of the most competitive and rewarding seasons yet. With sweeping rule adjustments, new destinations like Utrecht stepping into the spotlight, and fresh incentives for all formats, there’s never been a better time to train, travel, and compete. Let the countdown to Championship Points—and Worlds—begin!