Background (GO)
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A background (Japanese: 背景 Background) is an image displayed behind a Pokémon when viewing its summary in the Pokémon Box. By default, all Pokémon display an animated background based on their primary type. Lucky Pokémon and Shadow Pokémon override the type background with a gold or dark blue background, respectively.
Certain Pokémon caught during events can also receive a Location Background[1][2] (also known as a Location Card[3][4]), to commemorate the real-life location where the event took place, or a Special Background, to commemorate an aspect of the event or the Pokémon. If a Pokémon has a Location or Special Background, when viewing the Pokémon's summary, the background will periodically fade between the type/Lucky background and the Location/Special Background.
Trades involving a Pokémon with a Special Background will count as a Special Trade.
Filters
- Main article: Pokémon Box (GO)#Search queries
Players can filter their Pokémon Box to search for Pokémon with certain backgrounds with the following filters:
luckyfor Lucky Pokémonshadowfor Shadow Pokémonbackgroundfor Pokémon with a Location Background or a Special Backgroundlocationbackgroundfor Pokémon with a Location Backgroundspecialbackgroundfor Pokémon with a Special Background
List of backgrounds
Standard
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Lucky -
Shadow
Locations
Except where noted, all of these backgrounds required purchasing a local event ticket. Pokémon with a 
icon can only be obtained with the corresponding background through Evolution.
| Background | Location | Eligible Pokémon | Guaranteed? | Source | Availability Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA |  
|
No | Raid Battles | February 18–19, 2023 |
|
Jeju Island, South Korea |  
|
No | Raid Battles | July 28–30, 2023 |
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Osaka, Japan |    
|
No | Raid Battles | August 4–6, 2023 |
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London, England |
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No | Raid Battles | |
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New York City, New York, USA |
|
No | Raid Battles | August 18–20, 2023 |
|
Seoul, South Korea |          
|
Yes | Special & Timed Research | October 7–8, 2023 |
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Barcelona, Spain |
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Yes | Special & Timed Research | October 13–14, 2023 |
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Mexico City, Mexico |
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Yes | Special & Timed Research | November 4–5, 2023 |
|
Los Angeles, California, USA |    
|
No | Raid Battles | February 17–18, 2024 |
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Bali, Indonesia |
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No | Raid Battles | March 2–3, 2024 |
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Tainan, Taiwan |
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Yes | Special & Timed Research | March 9–10, 2024 |
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Surabaya, Indonesia |
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No | Raid Battles | May 11–12, 2024 |
|
Sendai, Japan |       * *
|
No | Raid Battles | May 30–June 2, 2024 |
 
|
Yes | Special Research | |||
|
Madrid, Spain |  **
|
No | Raid Battles | June 14–16, 2024 |
|
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Yes | Special Research | |||
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New York City, New York, USA |  **
|
No | Raid Battles | July 5–7, 2024 |
|
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Yes | Special Research | |||
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Honolulu, Hawaii, USA | 
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No | Raid Battles, Field & Timed Research (no ticket required) | August 16–20, 2024 |
|
Yogyakarta, Indonesia |
|
No | Raid Battles | August 24–25, 2024 |
|
loanDepot Park, Miami, Florida, USA |  
|
Yes | Raid Battles | September 7, 2024 |
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T-Mobile Park, Seattle, Washington, USA |
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Yes | Raid Battles | September 13, 2024 |
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Jakarta, Indonesia |
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No | Raid Battles | September 21–22, 2024 |
|
|
Yes | Special & Timed Research | |||
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Incheon, South Korea |  
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No | Field & Special Research | September 27–29, 2024 |
|
Fukuoka, Japan |
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No | Raid Battles | November 16–17, 2024 |
   
|
No | Max Battles | |||
|
Los Angeles, California, USA |     * *
|
No | Raid Battles | February 21–23, 2025 |
|
New Taipei City, Taiwan | **
|
No | Raid Battles | |
|
Yeouido, South Korea |   
|
No | Field Research[5] | March 30–April 8, 2025 |
| Yes | Timed Research[5] | March 30–April 13, 2025 | |||
|
Osaka, Japan |
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Yes | GO Stamp Rally | April 13–October 13, 2025 |
|
Osaka, Japan |         
|
Yes | GO Stamp Rally | |
|
Osaka, Japan |   *  *
|
No | Raid Battles | May 29–June 1, 2025 |
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No | Max Battles | |||
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Jersey City, New Jersey, USA | **
|
No | Raid Battles | June 5–8, 2025 |
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No | Max Battles | |||
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Paris, France | **
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No | Raid Battles | June 12–15, 2025 |
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No | Max Battles | |||
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Anaheim, California, USA | 
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No | Raid Battles | August 15–17, 2025 |
|
Nagasaki, Japan |  
|
Yes | Timed Research | November 7–9, 2025 |
| No | Raid Battles | ||||
| |||||
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No | Max Battles | |||
| Yes | Special Research |
Special
Except where noted, all of these backgrounds did not require purchasing an event ticket. Pokémon with a icon can only be obtained with the corresponding background through Evolution. Pokémon with a 
icon or a 
icon can be obtained with the corresponding background as a Shadow Pokémon or a Dynamax Pokémon, respectively. Pokémon with a 
icon can be obtained with the corresponding background as a Shiny Pokémon.
| Background | Name | Eligible Pokémon | Guaranteed? | Source | Availability Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Ultra Wormhole |   **
|
No | Raid Battles | July 8–14, 2024 |
| Yes | Timed Research[a] | August 26, 2024–December 31, 2025 | |||
|
Radiance |
|
Yes | "GO Fest 2024: The Dusk Settles" Special Research (ticketed) | July 14, 2024 |
|
Umbra |
|
Yes | ||
|
Wormhole Radiance |
|
Yes | Fusing a Necrozma with the Ultra Wormhole background and a Solgaleo with the Radiance background | Anytime |
|
Wormhole Umbra |
|
Yes | Fusing a Necrozma with the Ultra Wormhole background and a Lunala with the Umbra background | |
|
Team Valor |  
|
Yes | Triumph Together Timed Research: Fight with Valor | August 26–31, 2024 |
| GO Pass: Candela's Quest for Victory | June 9–15, 2026 | ||||
| GO Pass Deluxe: Candela's Quest for Victory | |||||
 
|
No | Raid Battles | February 23, 2026 | ||
|
No | ||||
| No | February 28–March 1, 2026 | ||||
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Team Instinct |   
|
Yes | Triumph Together Timed Research: Trust Your Instinct | August 28–31, 2024 |
| GO Pass: Spark's Caretaking Quest | June 2–8, 2026 | ||||
| GO Pass Deluxe: Spark's Caretaking Quest | |||||
|
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No | Raid Battles | February 23, 2026 | ||
|
No | ||||
| No | February 28–March 1, 2026 | ||||
|
Team Mystic | 
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Yes | Triumph Together Timed Research: Studied Yet Mystic | August 29–31, 2024 |
| GO Pass: Blanche's Quest for Knowledge | May 26–June 1, 2026 | ||||
| GO Pass Deluxe: Blanche's Quest for Knowledge | |||||
|
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No | Raid Battles | February 23, 2026 | ||
|
No | ||||
| No | February 28–March 1, 2026 | ||||
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GO Wild Area 2024 |
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No | Raid Battles | November 23–24, 2024 |
|
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No | Max Battles | |||
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Community Day December 2024 |                                 
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No | Field Research | December 21–22, 2024 |
| Yes | Community Day Continued Timed Research December 2024 | ||||
| Yes | "December Community Day 2024" Special Research (ticketed) | ||||
           
| |||||
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Dual Destiny |   
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No | Field Research | January 5, 2025 |
| Yes | "Meowgical Occasion" Special Research | ||||
| Sprigatito Community Day Continued Timed Research | |||||
   
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No | Field Research | January 25, 2025 | ||
| Yes | "Community Day Classic: Ralts" Special Research | ||||
| Ralts Community Day Continued Timed Research | January 25–February 1, 2025 | ||||
   
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No | Field Research | February 9, 2025 | ||
| Yes | "Bug Report" Special Research | ||||
| Karrablast & Shelmet Community Day Special Background Timed Research | February 9–16, 2025 | ||||
|
Enigma |                            
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Yes | Enigma Field Research | February 21–23, 2025 (ticketed) February 27–March 2, 2025 |
    
|
Yes | ||||
| Yes | Tour Pass | ||||
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Black Version |          
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No | Raid Battles | February 24–March 1, 2025 |
        
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Yes | Pokémon Presents '25 x GO Tour Timed Research | February 27–March 9, 2025 | ||
| **
|
No | Raid Battles | March 1–2, 2025 | ||
| Raid Battles | February 27–March 1, 2026 | ||||
| Yes | Timed Research[b] | April 17–December 31, 2025 | |||
   
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No | Raid Battles | February 27, 2026 | ||
|
White Version | 
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No | Raid Battles | February 24–March 1, 2025 |
|
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Yes | Pokémon Presents '25 x GO Tour Timed Research | February 27–March 9, 2025 | ||
| **
|
No | Raid Battles | March 1–2, 2025 | ||
| Raid Battles | February 27–March 1, 2026 | ||||
| Yes | Timed Research[b] | April 17–December 31, 2025 | |||
|
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No | Raid Battles | February 27, 2026 | ||
|
Black & White |
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Yes | Fusing a Kyurem with the Black Version background and a Zekrom with the White Version background | Anytime |
|
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Yes | Fusing a Kyurem with the White Version background and a Reshiram with the Black Version background | |||
|
Might & Mastery |   
|
No | Field Research | March 8, 2025 |
| Yes | "Crocapella" Special Research | ||||
| Fuecoco Community Day Special Background Timed Research | March 8–15, 2025 | ||||
  
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No | Field Research | March 22, 2025 | ||
| Yes | "Community Day Classic: Totodile" Special Research | ||||
| Totodile Community Day Special Background Timed Research | March 22–29, 2025 | ||||
  
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No | Field Research | April 27, 2025 | ||
| Yes | "Community Sundae: Vanillite" Special Research | ||||
| Vanillite Community Day Special Background Timed Research | April 27–May 4, 2025 | ||||
  
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No | Field Research | May 11, 2025 | ||
| Yes | "Pawmi & You" Special Research | ||||
| Pawmi Community Day Special Background Timed Research | May 11–18, 2025 | ||||
  
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Yes | "Might and Mastery" Special Research | May 21, 2025 | ||
     
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Yes | Final Strike: GO Battle Week Timed Research | May 21–27, 2025 | ||
  
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No | Field Research | May 24, 2025 | ||
| Yes | "Community Day Classic: Machop" Special Research | ||||
| Machop Community Day Special Background Timed Research | May 24–31, 2025 | ||||
|
Delightful Days |
|
Yes | GO Pass: June | June 3–July 1, 2025 |
  
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No | Field Research | June 21, 2025 | ||
| Yes | "Jangmo-o Yeah!" Special Research | ||||
| Jangmo-o Community Day Special Background Timed Research | June 21–28, 2025 | ||||
|
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Yes | GO Pass: July | July 1–August 5, 2025 | ||
        
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No | Field Research | July 5–6, 2025 | ||
| Yes | "Community Day Classic: Eevee" Special Research | ||||
| Eevee Community Day Special Background Timed Research | July 5–12, 2025 | ||||
|
No | Raid Battles | July 15–20, 2025 | ||
  
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No | Field Research | July 20, 2025 | ||
| Yes | "A Splash of Style" Special Research | ||||
| Quaxly Community Day Special Background Timed Research | July 20–27, 2025 | ||||
|
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Yes | Gigantamax Journey Timed Research | July 22–August 24, 2025 | ||
|
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Yes | GO Pass: August | August 5–September 2, 2025 | ||
  
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No | Field Research | August 30, 2025 | ||
| Yes | "Little Bird, Big Dreams" Special Research | ||||
| Rookidee Community Day Special Background Timed Research | August 30–September 6, 2025 | ||||
|
Ancients Recovered* | 
|
No | Raid Battles | June 23–27, 2025 |
| Yes | Ancients Recovered Timed Research: Legendary Giants | ||||
    
|
No | Raid Battles | |||
| Yes | Ancients Recovered Timed Research: Legendary Giants | ||||
| Yes | GO Pass: Ancients Recovered | June 23–29, 2025 | |||
|
GO Fest 2025: Shield* | *
|
No | Raid Battles | June 28, 2025 |
|
GO Fest 2025: Sword* | *
|
No | Raid Battles | June 29, 2025 |
|
9th Anniversary | 
|
Yes | Coin Bag, Field Research, & 9th Anniversary Party Timed Research | July 1-6, 2025 |
|
Dark Skies |                                          
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No | Max Battles | August 18–24, 2025 |
        
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No | Max Battles | August 23–24, 2025 | ||
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Tales of Transformation |
|
Yes | GO Pass: September | September 2–October 7, 2025 |
 * * *     
|
No | Field Research | September 14, 2025 | ||
| Yes | Flabébé Community Day Special Background Timed Research | September 14–21, 2025 | |||
     
|
No | Field Research | September 14, 2025 | ||
| Yes | "Flower Power" Special Research | ||||
|
|
Yes | GO Pass: October | October 7–November 4, 2025 | ||
  
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No | Wild Encounters & Field Research | October 12, 2025 | ||
| Yes | "Solosis Cell-ebrations" Special Research | ||||
  
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Yes | Pokémon Legends: Z-A Timed Research | October 16–20, 2025 | ||
|
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Yes | GO Pass: November | November 4–December 2, 2025 | ||
  
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No | Wild Encounters, Field Research, & Team GO Rocket Grunt Battles | November 30, 2025 | ||
| Yes | "Pecking Order" Special Research | ||||
|
Pokémon Concierge | 
|
Yes | Pokémon Concierge: Pool Party Timed Research & Pokémon Concierge Bonus Timed Research | September 9–14, 2025 |
| No | Wild Encounters & Field Research | ||||
|
Pokémon Astronomical Observatory |    
|
Yes | Field Research | November 1, 2025–January 12, 2026 |
|
GO Wild Area 2025 |       **
|
No | Raid Battles | November 10–14, 2025 |
|
|
No | Raid Battles | November 15–16, 2025 | ||
|
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No | Max Battles | |||
|
Community Day 2026 |   
|
No | Wild Encounters & Field Research | January 4, 2026 |
| Yes | "Piplup Parade" Special Research | ||||
|
|
No | Wild Encounters, Field Research, & Max Battles | January 18, 2026 | ||
| Yes | "Grooving with Grookey" Special Research | ||||
   
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No | Wild Encounters, Field Research, & Team GO Rocket Grunt Battles | February 1, 2026 | ||
| Yes | "Icy and Spicy" Special Research | ||||
|
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No | Wild Encounters, Field Research, & Max Battles | March 14, 2026 | ||
| Yes | "Hoppily Ever After" Special Research | ||||
  
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No | Wild Encounters & Field Research | April 11, 2026 | ||
| Yes | "A Ton of Tinkatink" Special Research | ||||
  
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No | Wild Encounters & Field Research | May 9, 2026 | ||
| Yes | "Don't Hog the Spotlight" Special Research | ||||
  
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No | Wild Encounters, Field Research, & Team GO Rocket Grunt Battles | May 16, 2026 | ||
| Yes | "Field Notes: Deino" Special Research | ||||
  
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No | Wild Encounters & Field Research | June 20, 2026 | ||
| Yes | "Chill Out, Frigibax!" Special Research | ||||
|
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No | Wild Encounters, Field Research, & Max Battles | July 4, 2026 | ||
| Yes | Special Research | ||||
 
|
No | Wild Encounters & Field Research | August 16, 2026 | ||
| Yes | Special Research | ||||
|
Gold Version |  
|
No | Raid Battles | February 24, 2026 |
|
|
No | Raid Battles | |||
| No | February 28–March 1, 2026 | ||||
|
Silver Version |
|
No | Raid Battles | February 24, 2026 |
|
|
No | Raid Battles | |||
| No | February 28–March 1, 2026 | ||||
|
Ruby Version |  
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No | Raid Battles | February 25, 2026 |
|
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No | Raid Battles | |||
| No | February 28–March 1, 2026 | ||||
|
Sapphire Version |
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No | Raid Battles | February 25, 2026 |
|
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No | Raid Battles | |||
| No | February 28–March 1, 2026 | ||||
|
Diamond Version |    
|
No | Raid Battles | February 26, 2026 |
|
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No | Raid Battles | |||
| No | February 28–March 1, 2026 | ||||
|
Pearl Version |
|
No | Raid Battles | February 26, 2026 |
|
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No | Raid Battles | |||
| No | February 28–March 1, 2026 | ||||
|
Pokémon X |     
|
No | Raid Battles | February 28–March 1, 2026 |
        
|
Yes | A Beautiful Day to Celebrate! Timed Research | February 27–March 8, 2026 | ||
|
|
Yes | "An X-ceptional Yarn" Special Research | February 28–March 1, 2026 | ||
| No | Raid Battles | ||||
|
Pokémon Y |
|
No | Raid Battles | February 28–March 1, 2026 |
|
|
Yes | A Beautiful Day to Celebrate! Timed Research | February 27–March 8, 2026 | ||
|
|
Yes | "An X-ceptional Yarn" Special Research | February 28–March 1, 2026 | ||
| No | Raid Battles | ||||
|
Mega Evolution | 
|
Yes | GO Pass: Road to Kalos | February 23–March 1, 2026 |
         
|
No | Mega Raids | February 28–March 1, 2026 | ||
 
|
Super Mega Raids | ||||
|
Festival of Colors 2026 |  
|
No | Raid Battles & Wild Encounters | March 4–8, 2026 |
| Yes | Festival of Colors 2026 Timed Research | ||||
|
Pokémon Pokopia |   
|
No | Wild Encounters | March 10–16, 2026 |
| Yes | Pokémon Pokopia Timed Research | ||||
|
|
Pokémon Pokopia Collection Challenge 1 | ||||
|
|
Pokémon Pokopia Collection Challenge 2 | ||||
 
|
No | Raid Battles | |||
| Yes | Field Research | ||||
|
LEGO Pokémon |
|
Yes | LEGO Stamp Rally | June 12–14, 2026 |
| LEGO Store Copenhagen Timed Research | |||||
| LEGO Stamp Rally | August 3–September 30, 2026 | ||||
| Timed Research | |||||
| No | Raid Battles | ||||
| 10th Anniversary |
|
No | Coin Bag & Golden Lure Module | July 4-6, 2026 | |
| Yes | 10th Anniversary Party Timed Research | ||||
|
GO Fest 2026 |              ****** 
|
No | Raid Battles | July 6–12, 2026 |
|
|
Mega Raids | ||||
      
|
July 11–12, 2026 | ||||
|
GO Fest 2026: Mewtwo* | 
|
Yes | GO Pass Deluxe: Road of Legends | July 6–12, 2026 |
| No | Super Mega Raids | July 11–12, 2026 |
Trivia
- Since the type backgrounds only display depending on a Pokémon's primary type:
- The Dark-type and Steel-type backgrounds were unused until the release of most Generation II Pokémon on February 16, 2017.
- The Flying-type background was unused until the release of Tornadus on February 4, 2020.
Notes
- ↑ Due to an issue on July 13, 2024 (Day 1 of GO Fest Global), the Ultra Wormhole Special Background was not available from remote raids.[6] Niantic compensated affected players by providing Timed Research with encounters with guaranteed Ultra Wormhole Special Backgrounds.[7] The number and type of encounters depended on the remote raids the player participated in on Day 1,[8] equal to the number of Special Backgrounds they would have received.[9]
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Due to an issue on March 3, 2025, the Black Version and White Version Special Backgrounds were not available from remote raids. Niantic compensated affected players by providing Timed Research with encounters with guaranteed Black Version and White Version Special Backgrounds. The number and type of encounters depended on the remote raids the player participated in on March 3, equal to the number of Special Backgrounds they would have received.[10]
References
- ↑ Inbound from Ultra Space—Ultra Beasts alight ahead of Pokémon GO Fest 2024: Global!
- ↑ Pokémon GO City Safari: Jakarta
- ↑ Catch Pokémon with Location Cards at Pokémon GO Tour: Hoenn – Las Vegas
- ↑ Pikachu’s Indonesia Journey: Bali – Pokémon GO
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Pokémon GO" 2025 봄꽃축제 이벤트가 여의도에서 펼쳐집니다!
- ↑ NianticHelp on Twitter
- ↑ NianticHelp on Twitter
- ↑ NianticHelp on Twitter
- ↑ NianticHelp on Twitter
- ↑ NianticHelp on Twitter
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This article is part of Project Sidegames, a Bulbapedia project that aims to write comprehensive articles on the Pokémon Sidegames. |