PokémonXP announced at World Championships

PokémonXP will run alongside the 2026 world championships in San Francisco with panels workshops and an arena experience.

PokémonXP Debuts at World Championships in San Francisco

During this year's World Championships in San Francisco the organizers announced PokémonXP a new companion event set to run alongside the 2026 championships. PokémonXP will take place on August 28 2026 at the Moscone Center with an arena experience planned for Championship Sunday at the Chase Center. Passes go on sale September 17 2025. The official site describes PokémonXP as a gathering with panels workshops special guests exclusive merchandise and a Pokémon Center pop up.

The move signals a new era for franchise events where tournaments are paired with experiential festivals. It aims to deepen fan engagement beyond the scoreboard and expand revenue streams for organizers and local venues. The risk is that ticket demand could outpace supply or lead to crowding and transportation headaches.

If successful it could set a template for other franchises seeking to turn championships into multi day gatherings. The real test will be balancing accessibility and exclusivity while preserving the core appeal of the competition.

Highlights

Time will tell how this experiment shapes the future of fan gatherings