With Pokémon celebrating its 30th anniversary throughout 2026, there have been plenty of opportunities for fans to celebrate the characters, games and memories that have helped make the franchise such an important part of popular culture over the past three decades. And while new games, merchandise and special experiences have been a major part of the celebration, there is another familiar collaboration making its return just in time for the holiday season.
That’s right, Pokémon is heading back to McDonald’s!
The beloved franchise is once again teaming up with the fast-food giant for an all-new Happy Meal promotion, bringing a collection of Pokémon-themed toys and trading cards to participating restaurants across the United States beginning November 10.
And with the promotion expected to expand to more than 70 countries over the coming months, it looks like fans around the world will have an opportunity to join in on the fun.
For anyone who has followed the franchise over the years, Pokémon and McDonald’s certainly aren’t strangers to one another. The two brands have collaborated on numerous occasions, introducing special Happy Meal toys and trading cards that have become particularly popular among younger audiences and longtime collectors alike.
And this newest collaboration is taking a slightly different approach to the toys themselves.
Rather than featuring traditional Pokémon figures, the upcoming Happy Meal promotion will introduce a collection of 15 miniature Pokémon-themed boxes, each designed around the appearance of a different character. Featuring the familiar McDonald’s golden arches as their handles, the small collectibles resemble miniature versions of the Happy Meal packaging, complete with the faces of different Pokémon.
The promotion will also feature three different Happy Meal box designs showcasing Pikachu, Torchic and Umbreon, giving fans another opportunity to enjoy some familiar faces from across the franchise.
But the toys aren’t the only collectibles making their way into the new Happy Meals.
Each meal will also include two Pokémon Trading Card Game cards from a collection of 15 reprinted cards, continuing one of the most recognizable parts of the long-running partnership between McDonald’s and Pokémon.
And for trading card collectors, there is a little more to discover.
The cards will feature special McDonald’s numbering and stamps, with seven of the cards receiving a confetti holographic treatment. While the cards themselves are reprints rather than entirely new additions to the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the exclusive markings and holographic finishes give collectors another variation to add to their collections.
Interestingly, there has been some confusion surrounding exactly which Pokémon will be featured in the upcoming assortment.
While the official Pokémon website has shared a collection of 15 cards, promotional materials from McDonald’s and images circulating online have shown a different selection of characters.
Among the Pokémon featured in McDonald’s promotional materials are Pikachu, Palafin, Mimikyu, Chandelure, Decidueye and Tyranitar. Other cards appearing in reports surrounding the promotion include Zoroark, Wooloo, Snorlax, Eevee, Jirachi, Metagross, Absol, Hawlucha and Lucario.
However, with the different assortments not entirely matching the information shared through Pokémon’s official channels, it remains unclear whether all of these cards will be included in the United States promotion or whether some belong to other regional releases.
And considering the international scale of the collaboration, there is a possibility that different countries will receive slightly different assortments.
In fact, some regional differences have already been revealed. In Quebec, for example, participating McDonald’s locations are expected to offer a Pokémon sticker and a miniature booster pack containing four cards rather than the collectible Happy Meal toys.
What makes this collaboration particularly interesting is how it brings together two different parts of the Pokémon collecting experience.
For younger fans, the miniature boxes offer a simple way to collect some of their favorite characters, while the trading cards introduce another opportunity to discover the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Meanwhile, for longtime fans who grew up with previous McDonald’s promotions, the new release offers another collection connected to the franchise’s anniversary celebrations.
And with Pokémon continuing to reach new generations of audiences, these kinds of collaborations have become another way for children to discover the franchise outside of its video games and animated adventures.
Of course, with 15 different toys and 15 trading cards to collect, there will likely be plenty of fans hoping to find their favorites before the promotion comes to an end.
The new Pokémon Happy Meal promotion will begin at participating McDonald’s restaurants in the United States on November 10, 2026, with additional international launches planned through February 2027.
While an official end date for the United States promotion has not been confirmed, the collectibles will be available while supplies last. McDonald’s has also not announced any special Pokémon-themed food items accompanying the release.
For fans hoping to learn more about the upcoming collaboration, additional information is available through the official Pokémon website.
And as Pokémon continues celebrating 30 years of adventures, friendships and collecting, it looks like fans will have another reason to stop by McDonald’s this November.
After all, there are still plenty of Pokémon to collect, even when they come in the form of a Happy Meal!