Pokémon TCG release timeline

English sets are released on the same day worldwide, so the UK date is the US date; side products sometimes slip by a week or two here. Each English set follows its Japanese source by about two months, which is why the right-hand column is a decent guide to what is coming. Dates are from The Pokémon Company; anything that has only come from leaks is marked unconfirmed.

Timeline

  1. EN 2027 unconfirmed Coming

    ex★ series

    Main expansion

    The series after Mega Evolution, teased by The Pokémon Company for 2027. Nothing else is known yet.

    Card count not announced

  2. EN Early 2027 unconfirmed Coming

    English Aura Seeker (name not announced)

    Main expansion

    The English set drawn from Japan’s Aura Seeker, with Mega Lucario Z ex at the top. Name and date are not announced; early 2027 is the pattern.

    Card count not announced · From Japan’s Aura Seeker

  3. EN Coming

    Delta Reign (ME6)

    Main expansion

    Mega Rayquaza ex leads the sixth main expansion, with Mega Golurk ex, Mega Malamar ex and Mega Golisopod ex new, three Legendary Stadium split cards and a Kyogre Illustration Rare as the Elite Trainer Box promo. Booster boxes, two Elite Trainer Boxes, bundles and Build & Battle boxes.

    103 + 36 = 139 cards (counts approximate until the set list is published) · prerelease 24 Oct – 1 Nov 2026 · From Japan’s Storm Emeralda

    • Mega Rayquaza ex TBC Mega Hyper Rare
    • Mega Rayquaza ex TBC Special Illustration Rare
    • Mega Golisopod ex TBC Special Illustration Rare
    • Mega Golurk ex TBC Special Illustration Rare
    • Zinnia’s Trust TBC Special Illustration Rare
  4. EN

    30th Celebration

    Anniversary set

    The anniversary set, out on the same day in Japan, the UK and everywhere else, which is itself a first. Every card is foil, Basic Energy included; every pack holds one of thirty Pikachu Rares; Mewtwo ex and Mew ex arrive in the new Futuristic Rare finish, and the thirty Classic Collection reprints keep their original numbers. No booster box and no loose packs: Elite Trainer Boxes, bundles, tins and a run of collections through to December.

    128 + 30 = 158 cards (+ 30 Classic Collection reprints + 3 RGB Mew) · From Japan’s 30th CELEBRATION

    • Mew, red, green and blue unnumbered RGB secret
    • Lugia (Classic Collection) 149/147 Classic
    • Charizard (Classic Collection) 4/102 Classic
    • Mew ex 152/128 Special Illustration Rare
    • Gengar ex 154/128 Special Illustration Rare
    • Pikachu ex 150/128 Special Illustration Rare
    • Mewtwo ex 157/128 Futuristic Rare
  5. EN

    Pitch Black (ME5)

    Main expansion

    Mega Darkrai ex headlines the fifth main expansion, with Mega Zeraora ex and Mega Chandelure ex beside it. The Zarude Illustration Rare became the Elite Trainer Box promo.

    84 + 36 = 120 cards · prerelease 4–12 Jul 2026 · From Japan’s Abyss Eye

    • Mega Darkrai ex 120/084 Mega Hyper Rare
    • Mega Darkrai ex 116/084 Special Illustration Rare
    • Mega Zeraora ex 114/084 Special Illustration Rare
    • Mega Chandelure ex 115/084 Special Illustration Rare
    • Morpeko ex 117/084 Special Illustration Rare
    • Gladion’s Final Battle 118/084 Special Illustration Rare
  6. EN

    Chaos Rising (ME4)

    Main expansion

    Mega Greninja ex and the Kalos cast of Pokémon Legends: Z-A, with Mega Floette ex, Mega Pyroar ex, Mega Dragalge ex and Mega Gallade ex. Ordinary reverse holos and no Ball patterns, so a friendly master set.

    86 + 36 = 122 cards · prerelease 9–17 May 2026 · From Japan’s Ninja Spinner

    • Mega Greninja ex 116/086 Special Illustration Rare
    • Mega Greninja ex 122/086 Mega Hyper Rare
    • Cinccino ex 119/086 Special Illustration Rare
    • Mega Dragalge ex 118/086 Special Illustration Rare
    • AZ’s Tranquility 120/086 Special Illustration Rare
    • Froakie 088/086 Illustration Rare
  7. EN

    Perfect Order (ME3)

    Main expansion

    The first set themed on Pokémon Legends: Z-A. Mega Zygarde ex leads, with Mega Starmie ex, Mega Clefable ex and Mega Skarmory ex; the Meowth ex Special Illustration Rare turned out to be the most wanted card in it.

    88 + 36 = 124 cards · prerelease 14–22 Mar 2026 · From Japan’s Munyx Zero

    • Meowth ex 121/088 Special Illustration Rare
    • Mega Zygarde ex 124/088 Mega Hyper Rare
    • Mega Zygarde ex 120/088 Special Illustration Rare
    • Mega Clefable ex 119/088 Special Illustration Rare
    • Rosa’s Encouragement 123/088 Special Illustration Rare
    • Clefairy 094/088 Illustration Rare
  8. EN

    Ascended Heroes (ME2.5)

    Special set

    The largest English set ever printed, drawn from MEGA Dream ex and the Start Deck 100 Battle Collection: 13 Mega ex, Tera ex, Trainer’s Pokémon for N, Lillie and Team Rocket, the first J regulation mark and the pop-art Mega Attack Rares. No booster box, no ordinary reverse holo: every common, uncommon and rare comes in an energy-symbol foil and a Ball-pattern foil.

    217 + 78 = 295 cards · From Japan’s MEGA Dream ex

    • Mega Gengar ex 284/217 Special Illustration Rare
    • Pikachu ex 276/217 Special Illustration Rare
    • Mega Dragonite ex 290/217 Special Illustration Rare
    • Mega Charizard Y ex 294/217 Mega Hyper Rare
    • Team Rocket’s Mewtwo ex 281/217 Special Illustration Rare
    • N’s Zoroark ex 286/217 Special Illustration Rare
  9. EN

    Phantasmal Flames (ME2)

    Main expansion

    Mega Charizard X ex headlines the second main expansion, with Mega Sharpedo ex, Mega Lopunny ex and the Dawn Special Illustration Rare.

    94 + 36 = 130 cards · prerelease 1–2 & 8–9 Nov 2025 · From Japan’s Inferno X

    • Mega Charizard X ex 130/094 Mega Hyper Rare
    • Mega Charizard X ex 125/094 Special Illustration Rare
    • Mega Charizard X ex 109/094 Ultra Rare
    • Rotom ex 126/094 Special Illustration Rare
    • Mega Sharpedo ex 127/094 Special Illustration Rare
    • Dawn 129/094 Special Illustration Rare
  10. EN (UK and EMEA 10 Oct 2025)

    Mega Evolution (ME1)

    Main expansion

    Mega Lucario ex and Mega Gardevoir ex bring Mega Evolution back, in a set drawn from both Japanese August sets and the Premium Trainer Box MEGA. The UK and the rest of EMEA had it two weeks after the rest of the world.

    132 + 56 = 188 cards · prerelease 13–14 & 20–21 Sep 2025 · From Japan’s Mega Brave and Mega Symphonia

    • Mega Lucario ex 188/132 Mega Hyper Rare
    • Mega Gardevoir ex 187/132 Mega Hyper Rare
    • Mega Lucario ex 179/132 Special Illustration Rare
    • Mega Gardevoir ex 178/132 Special Illustration Rare
    • Mega Venusaur ex 177/132 Special Illustration Rare
    • Lillie’s Determination 184/132 Special Illustration Rare

How to read the cadence: a main expansion lands about every eight weeks in Japan, with a special set or high-class pack between, and the English set made from it follows about two months later, so a Japanese release date is the best early sign of the English one. English sets that draw on two Japanese sets, as Mega Evolution and Ascended Heroes did, run larger than their sources.

Last checked 10 Oct 2026. Card pictures are our own copies; tap or press Enter on one to see it large. More guides: Guides.