2026 Pokémon North America International Championships

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2026 Pokémon North America International Championships

Location	New Orleans, United States
Venue	Ernest N. Morial Convention Center
Dates	June 12-14, 2026
Supported games	VGC, TCG, GO, UNITE

VGC rules

Regulation set	Regulation Set M-A

TCG rules

Format	2026-27 Standard

GO rules

League	Great

UNITE rules

Map	Theia Sky Ruins

The 2026 Pokémon North America International Championships was held in New Orleans, Louisiana on June 12-14, 2026. It was the eighth Pokémon North America International Championships (NAIC) competition held in the United States, and the third held in New Orleans. The event held tournaments in Pokémon Champions, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE.

This was the third Play! Pokémon International Championships of the 2025-26 competitive play season and the final one before the 2026 Pokémon World Championships.

Contents

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Close table of contents

• (Return to top)
• Video Game Championships
  • Junior Division
  • Senior Division
  • Master Division
• Trading Card Game
  • Junior Division
  • Senior Division
  • Master Division
• Pokémon GO
• Pokémon UNITE
• Side events
• Distributions
  • Local distributions
    • Pokémon HOME
  • Broadcast rewards
    • Pokémon Champions
    • Pokémon UNITE
    • Twitch Drops
• Merchandise
  • Competitor kit
  • Pokémon Center
  • Booth pins
• Trailers
• References
• External links

Contents

Video Game Championships

In VGC, players competed according to their age division, divided into Juniors, Seniors, and Masters. The Masters tournament began on Friday, June 12, and the younger divisions began on Saturday, June 13.

Matches took place in Pokémon Champions under Regulation Set M-A and were all Double Battles with open team sheets. Matches consisted of best-of-three 20 minute games.

The tournament structure consisted of a series of Swiss rounds, with players accumulating a certain threshold of Match Points proceeding to Phase 2. These players continued playing Swiss rounds in Phase 2, and at the conclusion of the Swiss rounds players with match points equal to or greater than the 8th placed player in the post Swiss standings were placed in an asymmetrical single elimination bracket.

The top four finalists in each age division won a direct invite to the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in addition to cash prizes.

Junior Division

Damon Z. defeated Asher G. in Grand Finals, finishing the tournament with a 12-1 record.

Top Cut

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Championship match

Asher G.

Bye

Asher G.

2

Sebastian A.

2

Sebastian A.

Theo K.

Asher G.

2

Charlie B.

Charlie B.

Zachary T.

Charlie B.

2

Liam Y.

Magnus K.

Magnus K.

2

Asher G.

Cameron C.

2

Damon Z.

2

Noah C.

Cameron C.

2

Landon S.

Alessandro C.

Alessandro C.

Cameron C.

Claire S.

Damon Z.

2

Zoe F.

2

Zoe F.

Amelia R.

Damon Z.

2

Damon Z.

2

Senior Division

The first round of Top Cut in the Senior Division was skipped, as no additional players had match points equal to 8th place from Swiss. Conner P. defeated Matteo B. in Grand Finals, finishing the tournament with a 10-2 record.

Top Cut

Semifinals

Championship match

Matthew H.

Zoe-Anne V.

2

Zoe-Anne V.

Conner P.

2

Conner P.

2

Alex M.

Conner P.

2

Matteo B.

Matteo B.

2

Jamie S.

Matteo B.

2

Isaac M.

Isaac M.

2

Leland S.

Master Division

Francesco Pio Pero defeated Eric Rios in Grand Finals, finishing the tournament with a 15-2 record.

Top Cut

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Championship match

Ko Tsukide

Bye

Ko Tsukide

Chris Large

Shoma Honami

Shoma Honami

2

Shoma Honami

Adiren Hurley

2

Francesco Pio Pero

2

Marco Hemantha Kaldura Silva

Adrien Hurley

Dylan Matthews

Francesco Pio Pero

2

Francesco Pio Pero

2

Francesco Pio Pero

2

Dawei Si

Eric Rios

Bye

Dawei Si

Eric Rios

2

Eric Rios

2

Don Czech

Eric Rios

2

Wolfe Glick

Wolfe Glick

Bye

Wolfe Glick

2

Marcus Dion

2

Marcus Dion

Frederico Camporesi

Trading Card Game

In the TCG, players competed according to their age division, divided into Juniors, Seniors, and Masters. The Masters tournament began on Friday, June 12, and the younger divisions began on Saturday, June 13.

The 2026-27 Standard format was used, allowing all cards with regulation mark through Chaos Rising.

The tournament structure consisted of a series of best-of-three Swiss rounds, with players accumulating a certain threshold of Match Points proceeding to Phase 2. These players continued playing Swiss rounds in Phase 2, and at the conclusion of the Swiss rounds players with match points equal to or greater than the 8th placed player in the post Swiss standings were placed in an asymmetrical single elimination bracket.

The top four finalists in each age division won a direct invite to the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in addition to cash prizes.

Junior Division

Luke Giffen defeated Annabelle Oono in Grand Finals, finishing the tournament with a 12-2-1 record.

Top Cut

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Championship match

Theodor M.  Dragapult Blaziken

Bye

Theodor M.  Dragapult Blaziken

2

Marco E.  Seek Inspiration

2

Marco E.  Seek Inspiration

Lucas J.  Dragapult ex

Theodor M.  Dragapult Blaziken

Reed H.  Raging Bolt Ogerpon

Anabelle O.  Alakazam Dudunsparce

2

Bye

Reed H.  Raging Bolt Ogerpon

Anabelle O.  Alakazam Dudunsparce

2

Anabelle O.  Alakazam Dudunsparce

2

Finley L.  Mega Lopunny ex

Anabelle O.  Alakazam Dudunsparce

Lorenzo D.  Raging Bolt Ogerpon

Luke G.  Dragapult ex

2

Bye

Lorenzo D.  Raging Bolt Ogerpon

Santiago M.  Ogerpon Basic Box

Luke G.  Dragapult ex

2

Luke G.  Dragapult ex

2

Luke G.  Dragapult ex

2

Travis C.  Hydrapple ex

Asher T.  Seek Inspiration

Bye

Travis C.  Hydrapple ex

Asher T.  Seek Inspiration

2

Asher T.  Seek Inspiration

2

Beckett W.  Seek Inspiration

Senior Division

David Boehmler defeated Hikaru Handa in Grand Finals, finishing the tournament with a 12-1-2 record.

Top Cut

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Championship match

Cohen S.  Team Rocket's Honchkrow

Logan B.  Dragapult ex

2

Logan B.  Dragapult ex

2

Oliver M.  Dragapult ex

2

Oliver M.  Dragapult ex

Quinn S.  Dragapult Dusknoir

Logan B.  Dragapult ex

Noah P.  Dragapult ex

Hikaru H.  Raging Bolt Ogerpon

2

Hikaru H.  Raging Bolt Ogerpon

2

Hikaru H.  Raging Bolt Ogerpon

2

Luke S.  Dragapult ex

2

Luke S.  Dragapult ex

Deven R.  Ogerpon Basic Box

Hikaru H.  Raging Bolt Ogerpon

Roman G.  Dragapult Dusknoir

2

David B.  Team Rocket's Honchkrow

2

Nathan O.  Dragapult ex

Roman G.  Dragapult Dusknoir

Jonah B.  N's Zoroark ex

2

Jonah B.  N's Zoroark ex

2

Ryan F.  Dragapult Dusknoir

Jonah B.  N's Zoroark ex

David B.  Team Rocket's Honchkrow

2

David B.  Team Rocket's Honchkrow

2

Leonardo V.  N's Zoroark ex

David B.  Team Rocket's Honchkrow

2

Brian X.  Crustle Stall

2

Brian X.  Crustle Stall

Clinton Y.  Raging Bolt Ogerpon

Master Division

James Kowalski defeated Neddy Kosek in Grand Finals, finishing the tournament with a 16-1-1 record.

Top Cut

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Championship match

James Kowalski  Lillie's Clefairy ex

Bye

James Kowalski  Lillie's Clefairy ex

2

Miguel Angel Marin Herrera  Dragapult ex

2

Miguel Angel Marin Herrera  Dragapult ex

Tord Reklev  N's Zoroark ex

James Kowalski  Lillie's Clefairy ex

2

Justin Newdorf  Dragapult ex

Justin Newdorf  Dragapult ex

Bye

Justin Newdorf  Dragapult ex

2

Jon Webb  Dragapult Blaziken

Jon Webb  Dragapult Blaziken

Bye

James Kowalski  Lillie's Clefairy ex

2

Neddy Kosek  Dragapult Dusknoir

Neddy Kosek  Dragapult Dusknoir

Bye

Neddy Kosek  Dragapult Dusknoir

2

Caleb Rogerson  Dragapult ex

Juho Kallama  Mewtwo Spidops

Juho Kallama  Mewtwo Spidops

2

Neddy Kosek  Dragapult Dusknoir

2

Abaan Ahmed  Dragapult ex

Ross Cawthon  Seek Inspiration

Ross Cawthon  Seek Inspiration

2

Ross Cawthon  Seek Inspiration

2

Rahul Reddy  Crustle Stall

Rahul Reddy  Crustle Stall

Bye

Pokémon GO

In Pokémon GO, competitors were not divided into age brackets.

A limited meta Great League format was used, meaning only certain Pokémon with a CP of 1500 or less are allowed. As part of this limited meta, only Pokémon of the Fairy, Normal, Psychic, and Water types could be used. Shadow Pokémon were also explicitly allowed. The Dark, Grass, and Steel types, Mega Evolution, and the following specific Pokémon were banned:

Clefable

Wigglytuff

Poliwrath

Farfetch'd

Lickitung

Chansey

Furret

Chinchou

Lanturn

Lugia

Medicham

Claydol

Gastrodon

Lickilicky

Rotom

Wash Rotom

Cresselia

Jellicent

Diggersby

Dedenne

Carbink

Toxapex

Araquanid

Oranguru

Golisopod

Greedent

The tournament structure began with a double elimination pools phase on June 12. On June 13, the top two players from each pool then played in a double elimination bracket until the two finalists remained. The Grand Finals took place on June 14. All matches were best-of-three, except for Winners Finals, Losers Finals, and Grand Finals, which were best-of-five.

PsyRhino defeated TheTaurian22 in Grand Finals from the winners' bracket. The four finalists won a direct invite to the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in addition to cash prizes.

Winners Semifinals

Winners Final

Grand Final

Reset

P4T0M4N

1

PsyRhino

2

PsyRhino

3

TheTaurian22

2

TheTaurian22

0

PsyRhino

3

N/A

TzSteinar

0

TheTaurian22

2

N/A

Losers Quarterfinals

Losers Semifinal

Losers Final

TzSteinar

2

TheTaurian22

3

Jello2Good

1

TzSteinar

2

TzSteinar

0

P4T0M4N

2

P4T0M4N

1

Hdmvzkf

1

Pokémon UNITE

In Pokémon UNITE, teams were not divided into age brackets.

Matches were played on Theia Sky Ruins using a 5-vs-5 draft pick format with 3 bans. All matches until the Top 4 were played best-of-three with Rayquaza as the Boss Pokémon; Top 4 matches were best-of-five with Kyogre and Groudon as the Boss Pokémon in Games 2 and 3, respectively.

The tournament structure began with a round robin Group Stage on June 12. The top teams from the Group Stage proceeded to the single-elimination Bracket Stage on June 13. Grand Finals were held on June 14. Deep Cross Gaming defeated LuneX Gaming in a tiebreaker match for 3rd place and worlds qualification due to both finalists having already qualified. Dignitas defeated Evil Geniuses in Grand Finals to win the tournament.

Bracket Stage

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Championship match

Dignitas

Bye

Dignitas

2

Citadel Gaming

1

Rush Hour

0

Rush Hour

2

Dignitas

3

LuneX Gaming

LuneX Gaming

1

Bye

LuneX Gaming

2

DreamMax Aftermath

2

DreamMax Aftermath

1

nonparametric stratstics

0

Dignitas

3

Goofy Goobers

Evil Geniuses

1

Bye

Goofy Goobers

0

IX Gaming

1

Deep Cross Gaming

2

Deep Cross Gaming

2

Deep Cross Gaming

2

Fulcrum

Evil Geniuses

3

Bye

Fulcrum

0

Tuzzy E-Sports

1

Evil Geniuses

2

Evil Geniuses

2

Side events

Scheduled side events were held throughout the weekend. Many side events featured alternative formats and regulations, such as Gym Leader Challenge for the TCG and Little Cup for GO. In addition to the four main games, some events were held in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, Pokémon Legends: Z-A, and Pokémon TCG Pocket.

Four player pods using standard rulesets for the TCG, Champions, and GO were available on-demand.

Most side events awarded prize tickets that could be redeemed at a prize booth for booster packs and retired Pokémon Center merchandise.

Distributions

Local distributions

Pokémon HOME

This medal was distributed via NFC scan to all attendees throughout the event. Scanning a NFC tag would reward two medals, and a tag could be scanned once every 24 hours for multiple redemptions.

2026 Pokémon North America International
Championships Attendee

2026 Pokémon North America International Championships Attendee
Location	New Orleans, USA
Category	Other
Distributed	June 12 to 14, 2026

Broadcast rewards

Graphic overview of NAIC 2026 broadcast rewards

Pokémon Champions

Beginning June 2, 2026, players could redeem 500 Victory Points in-game by redeeming the code CHAMP10NSATNA1C in Mystery Gifts.

The code NA1CCHAMP was revealed to attendees on-site. It could be redeemed by anyone in Mystery Gifts to receive 22 Quick Coupons.

Both rewards were claimable in the player's Mailbox.

Pokémon UNITE

Players could redeem a NAIC Logo Sticker in-game by inputting the code NAIC2026 into Gift Exchange. This reward could then be claimed in the player's Mail.

Twitch Drops

Viewers on Twitch received the following Twitch Drops by watching the respective Twitch streams during the event.

Game	Drop icon	Content	Availability
		Blastoise	Watching the Pokemon channel during the 2026 North America International Championships with Twitch Drops enabled.
		12x Quick Coupons	Watching a partnered 2026 NAIC co-streamer with Twitch Drops enabled.
		Mega Blastoise–themed deck cosmetics and Mega Blastoise Avatar Jacket	Watching the PokemonTCG channel for 60 minutes during the 2026 North America International Championships.
		Two special illustration rare cards from Chaos Rising, Mega Dragalge ex and Roxie's Performance	Watching the PokemonTCG channel for 45 minutes during the 2026 North America International Championships.
		4× digital Chaos Rising booster packs	Watching the PokemonTCG channel for 30 minutes during the 2026 North America International Championships.
		Two Ultra rare cards from Chaos Rising, Emma and AZ's Tranquility	Watching a partnered co-stream for 45 minutes during the 2026 North America International Championships.
		NAIC Battle Bundle Elite Charged TM, Rare Candy XL, 25× Charged TMs and 25× Fast TMs	Watching the PokemonGO channel for 45 minutes during the 2026 North America International Championships.
		2026 NAIC GO Drops Special Timed Research featuring Seaking	Watching the PokemonGO channel for 30 minutes during the 2026 North America International Championships.
		Platinum Blastoise Boost Emblem	Watching the PokemonUNITE channel for 20 minutes during the 2026 Pokémon North America International Championships.

Merchandise

Competitor kit

Graphic of NAIC 2026 competitor kit

All competitors received a Mega Blastoise-themed competitor kit containing a cap, playmat, card sleeves, deck box, and pin. The kit also contained a special reverse holo print of Ultra Ball from Mega Evolution with a NAIC stamp.

Competitors who reached Top 8 also received a "Top 8" playmat. Champions received both a "Champion" playmat and another Ultra Ball promo with a "CHAMPION" stamp.

Pokémon Center

A pop-up Pokémon Center store was on-site from Thursday, June 11 to Sunday, June 14. In addition to merchandise typically available on the English Pokémon Center web store, merchandise exclusive to the 2026 International Championships was sold. Two distinct collections of exclusive merchandise were available, with one themed around Mega Evolution and the other in a comic book style. This exclusive merchandise had previously only been sold at the 2026 Europe International Championships.

The Mega Evolution collection consisted of:

• A playmat
• A double deck box
• Card sleeves
• A dice tray with damage counters and condition markers
• A deluxe dice box with metal damage counters, condition markers, and Mega Charizard X coin
• A plush Pikachu card display holder
• Three different pins featuring the event logo, Mega Charizard X, and Mega Charizard Y
• A pin display shoulder bag
• A backpack
• Two different hats featuring Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y
• Two different hoodies featuring Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y
• Five different t-shirts featuring the event logo and the Mega Evolutions of the fully-evolved Kanto first partner Pokémon

The comic book collection consisted of:

• A playmat
• A water bottle
• A magnet
• A pin
• A lanyard with three pins
• Two different hats
• A tank top
• Five different t-shirts

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The Pokémon Center required online reservations to enter. Most products were one-per-person, though this restriction was eased by the end of the weekend.

Booth pins

A pin of Espeon with TCG cards was available at the Play Lab. A pin of Ditto was available for playing the Pokémon Pokopia demo at Nintendo's booth. A pin of the Pokémon Champions logo was available for playing the game at both the Play Lab and the Nintendo booth.

Trailers

By @PlayPokémon

This video is not available on Bulbapedia; instead, you can watch the video on YouTube here.

External links

• Official website
• Competitor website
• Tournament listing on RK9
• Pokémon GO bracket on Challonge
• Pokémon UNITE bracket on Start.gg
• NAIC 2026 on Limitless TCG
• NAIC 2026 on Limitless VGC

Official Tournaments
Pokémon World Championships: Worlds / WCS TPCi / Play! Pokémon: NAIC • EUIC • LAIC Asia Championship Series: PUACL • PJCS • PTC • TWMBL • HKMBL MYMBL • THMBL • PHMBL • SGMBL • IDMBL Former competitions: OCIC

This article is part of both Project TCG and Project Games, Bulbapedia projects that, together, aim to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Trading Card Game and Video Game Championship Tournaments.