Pokémon World Championships and PokémonXP Draw Over 50,000 Fans to San Francisco

The 2026 Pokémon World Championships and the first-ever PokémonXP fan convention are attracting over 50,000 fans to San Francisco from August 28 to 30, 2026, according to event organizers.

The Moscone Center will host most activities, including competitions for Pokémon video games, the Trading Card Game, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE, while the championship finals are scheduled for August 30 at Chase Center.

Fans from around the world are gathering to trade collectibles and engage in fan activities ahead of the event. Trey Holt of Austin, Texas, highlighted its global appeal, saying, "This is pretty international. People are flying in from all over."

Katherine Davey, a fan attending, noted the community aspect, saying, "It's basically like a huge gathering." She also expressed excitement about PokémonXP's fan-focused panels and workshops.

Dave Tran, a competitive player, said, "Super excited. Finally coming to SF which is great." The event offers a range of activities, including scavenger hunts, trading opportunities, and fan panels, expanding beyond competitive play.

San Francisco hotels are preparing for the influx, with Christina Rea, director of sales and marketing at the W San Francisco, stating, "We will be completely sold out with Pokémon attendees." She added, "There's going to be 50,000 attendees from all over the world coming in so a truly international showcase for San Francisco."

Complementing the event, San Francisco will host four Pokémon-themed drone light shows. The first takes place at Oracle Park on August 27 during Pokémon Worlds Night, featuring a drone show visible over McCovey Cove and surrounding areas after the baseball game. This show is followed by three free drone light shows from August 28 to 30 at the Ferry Building along the Embarcadero.

The drone shows are part of The Pokémon Company's tradition of using advanced light displays to celebrate major events, with past shows in Singapore and Yokohama featuring large fleets of synchronized drones forming iconic Pokémon characters in the sky.

Merchandise exclusive to the event is available at the Pokémon Center pop-up in San Francisco. Senior director Cindy Ruppenthal described three distinct product lines: PokémonXP, the 2026 Pokémon World Championships, and the San Francisco line, each offering unique themed apparel and collectibles. Notably, a premium Pikachu plush made by Steiff, the inventors of the Teddy Bear, will be available by voucher reservation.

The city also offers free activities for those without event tickets, including a public screening of Pokémon: Detective Pikachu at Union Square on August 28 and a Pokémon-themed drone show at Oracle Park featuring a first pitch thrown by 2025 World Champion Luke Whittier on August 27.