Source: Niantic

Niantic announced on the 29th that it will host a series of special events in its real-world game 'Pokémon GO' to celebrate the upcoming Family Month in May and the 'Pokémon Mega Festa 2026,' a festival marking the 30th anniversary of Pokémon.

To commemorate the milestone 30th anniversary, the event is designed as a comprehensive festival featuring in-game benefits, offline exploration in the heart of Seoul, and online challenges where trainers can showcase their personal style.

First, the 'Growing Time' event, running exclusively in Korea and Japan until the 5th, offers various benefits, including double effectiveness for 'Lure Modules' and an increased chance of encountering 'Eevee' when using standard 'Lure Modules' or 'Incense' (excluding 'Daily Adventure Incense'). Additionally, completing Field and Timed Research tasks will grant special rewards, such as 'Tandemaus'.

On Children's Day, May 5, an in-game event commemorating 'Pokémon Run 2026' will be held from 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

Regardless of whether they have a 'Pokémon Run' ticket, anyone visiting the Ttukseom Hangang Park event site can participate in the in-game event. Attendees will receive free access to two exclusive Timed Research lines and powerful bonuses, including 10x XP from spinning new PokéStops, double Incense duration, and halved egg hatch distance, along with appearances from Pokémon like 'Pikachu', 'Magikarp', and 'Unown'.

Furthermore, the 'Pokémon Mega Festa 2026 Pokémon GO Seoul Stamp Rally' will run for one month, from May 1 to May 31, throughout the Seongsu-dong area in Seoul. Participants can collect special stamps by visiting and spinning the Photo Discs at six designated PokéStops, including the 'Pokémon 30th Anniversary Party Pop-up', 'Ditto Playground', and 'Seoul Forest Secret Forest'.

Completing the Stamp Rally allows players to encounter various Pokémon, including 'Bulbasaur', 'Charmander', and 'Squirtle' wearing party hats. During this period, a bonus of one additional 'Special Trade' will also be provided. Additionally, the 'Pokémon GO My Favorite Pokémon Challenge' will take place during the same period as the Stamp Rally.

To participate, use the 'What's Your Favorite' feature in the Pokémon GO app to take a photo with your favorite Pokémon, then upload it to the official Korean Instagram or X (formerly Twitter) account, tagging the official account and including the required hashtags (#MyFavoritePokémon, #PokémonGO).

Including yourself in the photo or coordinating your outfit to match the Pokémon increases your chances of winning. Thirty winners will be selected to receive personalized merchandise related to the Pokémon in their photo. More details can be found on the official blog.