Pokemon Champions brings a full competitive calendar — ranked seasons, online cups, Mystery Gift windows, patch cycles, and the road to Worlds. This page is your single source for every date that matters. We verify each entry against official announcements from the Champions news portal and mark anything community-reported clearly. Bookmark it, check the lastmod date at the top, and you will never miss a registration window again.
Last verified: 2026-08-24
How to Read This Calendar
Before diving in, a quick note on how we categorize events:
- Ranked Seasons — the competitive ladder periods that determine your end-of-season rank and rewards.
- Online Competitions — official tournaments organized by The Pokemon Company, entered through the in-game menu.
- Mystery Gift Windows — limited-time codes or distribution events for in-game items, Pokemon, or cosmetics.
- Patch Days — major game updates that may shift the meta, change move legality, or adjust balance.
- Play Pokemon Circuit — Regional Championships, Midseason Showdowns, and the World Championships for players who compete in person.
Entries marked [COMMUNITY REPORTED] have not yet been confirmed by official channels. Entries marked [OFFICIAL] have a direct source from pokemon.com, the in-game news tab, or a verified press release.
What’s Live Now — Current Season and Events
Status: Updated August 24, 2026 [OFFICIAL]
Here is what is currently active in Pokemon Champions competitive play. All dates and windows are verified against official announcements on the Pokemon Champions news portal at champions-news.pokemon-home.com.
Ranked Battles Season M-5
Active: August 5, 2026, 02:00 UTC to September 9, 2026, 01:59 UTC
Season M-5 is the current ranked ladder period. This season follows Regulation Set M-B rules.
- Official source: champions-news.pokemon-home.com/en/page/803.html
- Format: Singles Battles under Regulation Set M-B
- Season end: September 9, 2026, 01:59 UTC
- What to do: Climb the ladder before the September 9 reset. Your final placement determines season rewards.
Regulation Set M-B
Active: June 17, 2026, 02:00 UTC to September 9, 2026, 01:59 UTC
Regulation Set M-B is the current ruleset governing competitive battles. This regulation was originally scheduled to end September 2, but was extended to September 9 (updated August 5, 2026).
- Official source: champions-news.pokemon-home.com/en/page/776.html
- Used for: Ranked Battles and official online competitions during this window
- See also: Our ranked explained guide for team building under M-B rules
2026 Worlds Commemorative Roster
Available: August 24, 2026, 02:00 UTC to September 9, 2026, 01:59 UTC
The 2026 Worlds Commemorative Roster is a special limited-time roster featuring 10 Pokemon: Charizard, Kangaskhan, Tyranitar, Mawile, Staraptor, Volcarona, Pyroar, Grimmsnarl, Gholdengo, and Archaludon.
- Official source: champions-news.pokemon-home.com/en/page/813.html
- Available through: September 9, 2026, 01:59 UTC
- Note: Dedicated tickets may be needed for certain special rosters (see official page for details)
Active Mystery Gift Distributions
Dragonite + 100 Quick Coupons
Claim Dragonite and 100 Quick Coupons from your mailbox in-game if you play before the deadline.
- Official source: champions-news.pokemon-home.com/en/page/718.html
- Claim by: Monday, August 31, 2026
- How to claim: In-game mailbox
Raichu + Raichunite X and Raichunite Y
Claim Raichu along with Raichunite X and Raichunite Y (Mega Evolution stones) through the in-game mailbox.
- Official source: champions-news.pokemon-home.com/en/page/773.html
- Distribution window: June 17, 2026, 02:00 UTC to September 2, 2026, 01:59 UTC
- How to claim: In-game mailbox
For a full list of active codes and distributions, see our Mystery Gift codes page.
Season Resets — What Happens to Your Rank
Understanding the reset schedule is as important as knowing the end dates.
Official reset behavior for Pokemon Champions: The exact mechanics of how ranks are reset between seasons have not been officially documented by The Pokemon Company as of this writing.
Patterns from similar titles (unconfirmed for Champions): In other Pokemon competitive titles, season resets have typically been soft resets rather than full wipes — players carry forward some placement advantage rather than starting from zero. However, the specific tier names, point thresholds, and reset placement for Pokemon Champions may differ entirely from those patterns.
We will update this section with verified numbers as soon as the first season reset is announced and documented on the official Champions news portal.
For a complete breakdown of what each rank tier means and how points are earned, visit our ranked explained guide.
Online Competitions — How They Work
Official online competitions in Pokemon Champions run through the in-game Competition menu. Each event has three phases:
- Registration window — you lock in your team and register. Missing this window means missing the competition entirely.
- Competition weekend — a set number of battles over one or two days.
- Results and rewards — rankings are posted and prizes are distributed within a few days of the event closing.
MCS August 2026: The Monthly Challenge Series for August 2026 concluded on August 24, 2026 at 01:59 UTC. Results and rewards will be distributed shortly. See our MCS August 2026 guide for details on the event format and rewards.
Where to watch for future announcements:
- The in-game news tab (most reliable for time-sensitive distributions)
- champions-news.pokemon-home.com
- This page aggregates official announcements
Mystery Gift Schedule — Codes and Distributions
Mystery Gifts are some of the most time-sensitive events in Pokemon Champions. A code announced on a livestream can expire within days. Our dedicated Mystery Gift codes page tracks every active and expired code with source dates — this section covers the broader schedule and types of distributions to expect.
Types of Mystery Gifts in Pokemon Champions:
| Type | How to Claim | Typical Window |
|---|---|---|
| Social media codes | In-game Mystery Gift menu > Enter Code | Days to weeks |
| Event distributions | In-game menu > Get via Internet | During event period |
| Purchase bonuses | Linked at time of purchase | Fixed expiry |
| Collaboration codes | Partner announcements | Typically short; varies by partner |
Known distribution schedule: No standing schedule has been confirmed. Based on the launch window, expect gifts to accompany major announcements, championships broadcasts, and patch releases.
Tip: The in-game Mystery Gift menu shows currently active distributions without requiring a code. Check it weekly even if you have not seen a code announced publicly.
Patch Calendar — When the Meta Shifts
Pokemon Champions patches directly affect competitive play. A balance patch can move Pokemon between viability tiers overnight, change held item interactions, or adjust speed values that ripple through the entire tier list.
Patch cadence: The Pokemon Company has not published a fixed patch schedule for Champions as of launch. Based on similar titles, expect:
- A significant balance patch roughly every 4-6 weeks during active ranked seasons
- Emergency hotfixes within days of any game-breaking exploit being discovered
- Ruleset updates that align with Regulation Set changes and the Play Pokemon circuit calendar
We maintain a running patch history at our patch notes hub with notes on what each update changed and which Pokemon moved up or down as a result.
How to handle patches competitively: After any balance patch, give the meta 1-2 weeks to settle before making sweeping team changes. The first read on who “won” the patch is often wrong. Check the patch notes hub for our post-patch meta analysis.
Play Pokemon Circuit — Road to Worlds 2026
For players who want to compete in person, the Play Pokemon circuit runs alongside the in-game ranked ladder. Points earned at regional events contribute to your qualification standing for the World Championships.
Key circuit dates (as of August 2026):
| Event Type | Typical Season Placement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regional Championships | Throughout the year | Multiple locations globally |
| Midseason Showdown | Mid-season | Smaller, more accessible |
| International Championships | Q3-Q4 | One per region (NA, EU, LATAM, Oceania) |
| World Championships | TBA | Official venue and date not yet confirmed |
Important: Exact dates and locations for 2026 Regionals, Internationals, and World Championships are announced by The Pokemon Company on a rolling basis at play.pokemon.com. Check the official Play Pokemon site for confirmed event listings.
Our Worlds 2026 guide covers the structure of the World Championships, how qualification works, and what to watch for if you are following the competition scene without competing.
Season Rewards — What You’re Playing For
End-of-season rewards are one of the primary motivators for climbing ranked. Pokemon Champions follows the established Pokemon competitive model of cosmetic-focused rewards tied to rank tier rather than prize money at the ladder level.
Expected reward categories:
- Titles — in-game display titles that persist across seasons (e.g., “Season 1 Master” style)
- Cosmetics — card sleeves, avatar items, or profile decorations specific to the season
- In-game currency — for use in the shop or team builder
- Commemorative badges — non-transferable seasonal achievement markers
The exact reward table for the current ranked season has not been published on the Champions news portal. We will publish the full reward table as soon as it is confirmed. Follow our season rewards page for the breakdown when it lands.
Seasonal Format Changes — Regulation Sets
Pokemon Champions competitive play is governed by Regulation Sets — each set defines which Pokemon are legal, what items can be held, and which rules govern battles. Format changes are significant because they can completely reshape which teams are viable.
Current regulation: Regulation Set M-B is the active ruleset (June 17 - September 9, 2026). See the “What’s Live Now” section above for official source details and our ranked explained guide for team building under M-B rules.
Regulation M-A (historical): The previous regulation set ran from April 8 to June 17, 2026. Details on that set’s restrictions can be found on the official Champions news portal (page 751).
For context on how game mechanics interact competitively, see our Terastal and Megas mechanics guide.
Future regulation sets: The Pokemon Company typically announces regulation changes 3-4 weeks before they take effect, allowing players time to adapt their teams. Check the official Champions news portal and this page for announcements.
Collaboration Events and Special Promotions
Pokemon Champions is a new game with a mobile component, which means collaboration events and special promotions are likely to be a recurring feature. No official collaboration calendar has been announced, but historically The Pokemon Company has run:
- Anime tie-in events — tied to the broadcast schedule of the Pokemon animated series
- Mobile game crossovers — especially with Pokemon GO given the mobile player overlap
- Retailer exclusives — codes or distributions exclusive to purchase at specific retailers
None of these are confirmed for Pokemon Champions. The game’s roadmap is still being revealed. We will add these to the calendar the moment they are announced.
How to Never Miss an Event
Events in Pokemon Champions move fast. A Mystery Gift code can expire before you hear about it from a friend. Here is the fastest setup to stay current:
- Bookmark this page — check the lastmod date at the top when you visit. If it changed, scan for updates.
- Follow @Pokemon on social media — most codes and competition announcements appear here first.
- Enable in-game notifications — the game’s news tab and push notifications (mobile) cover time-sensitive distributions.
- Check the in-game Competition menu weekly — registration windows open and close on a fixed schedule that is visible in-game even before external announcements.
- Use our daily checklist — our daily checklist guide walks through exactly what to check each session so nothing slips through.
Upcoming — What to Watch For in H2 2026
Based on The Pokemon Company’s typical competitive calendar structure and official confirmations, here is what is known and expected for the second half of 2026:
| Event | Date or Window | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Season M-5 End / Reset | September 9, 2026, 01:59 UTC | OFFICIAL |
| Regulation Set M-B End | September 9, 2026, 01:59 UTC | OFFICIAL |
| MCS August 2026 | Entry: Aug 14-24; Battles: Aug 21-24 | OFFICIAL |
| Dragonite + Quick Coupons claim deadline | August 31, 2026 | OFFICIAL |
| Raichu + Mega Stones distribution end | September 2, 2026, 01:59 UTC | OFFICIAL |
| Next ranked season start | After September 9 | Not yet announced |
| Next regulation set | After September 9 | Not yet announced |
| World Championships 2026 venue/date | TBA | Official confirmation pending |
| Holiday distribution / code | December 2026 | Historical pattern only |
This table will be updated as official dates are released.
FAQ
When does the current Pokemon Champions ranked season end?
Ranked Battles Season M-5 ends on September 9, 2026, at 01:59 UTC. This is the official end date confirmed by The Pokemon Company on the Champions news portal (page 803). The next season start date has not yet been announced.
How do I know when a new Mystery Gift code is live?
The fastest ways are: follow @Pokemon on social media, check the in-game Mystery Gift menu directly, and bookmark our Mystery Gift codes page at /posts/pokemon-champions-mystery-gift-codes-active-list-2026/.
Are there in-person Pokemon Champions tournaments in 2026?
The Pokemon World Championships 2026 are the flagship in-person event. Regional and Midseason Showdowns on the Play Pokemon circuit also include Pokemon Champions divisions. Check play.pokemon.com for regional event listings in your area.
What happens to my rank at the end of a season?
Season rewards (cosmetics, titles, currency) are distributed after the season closes. The exact reset behavior for Pokemon Champions has not been officially documented. Based on similar Pokemon competitive titles, ranked resets are typically soft resets rather than full wipes, but the specific mechanics may differ. Check the official Champions news portal and our ranked explained guide for details when they are confirmed.
Do online competitions cost anything to enter?
Official online competitions organized by The Pokemon Company are free to enter through the in-game menu. You register a team during the registration window, and battles are scheduled across a set competition weekend.
Can I join a competition if I just started playing?
Yes — most official online competitions are open to all players regardless of rank. Some higher-tier events may have rating requirements. Check the in-game competition details for any entry restrictions before the registration window closes.
What is the difference between a Season and a Regulation Set?
A Ranked Battles Season is the competitive ladder period — it determines your end-of-season rewards and resets on a schedule. A Regulation Set (like M-B) defines which Pokemon, items, and rules are legal during that period. The Monthly Challenge Series is the official name for recurring online competitions. These are three separate systems that run together.
Where do I find the official Pokemon Champions event schedule?
The official source is pokemon.com/us/pokemon-news and the in-game news tab. ChampsDex aggregates those dates here and marks each entry with its source and verification date so you always know how fresh the information is.
Will there be Pokemon Champions events at Pokemon GO Fest or similar festivals?
As of this writing, no cross-event schedule between Pokemon Champions and GO Fest has been announced. The game’s live-event roadmap is still being revealed. We will update this calendar the moment anything is confirmed.
How often does this calendar get updated?
This page is reviewed and updated at every patch, every ranked reset, and every time an official event is announced. The lastmod date in the page header reflects the most recent meaningful update. If something looks stale, drop a comment and we will verify it immediately.
