Events

IGN reports that in June a card shop in Oregon suspended its Yu-Gi-Oh! tournaments after complaints about patrons' hygiene, citing Konami tournament guidelines requiring attendees to be clean and wear clean clothing.

Pokémon VGC player Donghun Youm posted on X that he vomited at the 2026 Baltimore Regional Championships because of a nearby player's odour, and that he and friends reported it to a judge. The post prompted discussion about hygiene rules; the Play! Pokémon Tournament Rules Handbook requires participants to maintain a socially acceptable level of hygiene, with removal possible for non-compliance.

Dexerto reports a PSA 10 2002 Legendary Collection reverse holo Pikachu sold for $780,000 and a PSA 10 2006 Holon Phantoms Gold Star Pikachu sold for $480,000. The overall record remains the Pikachu Illustrator sold to Logan Paul for $16.4 million in February.

A PSA 10 copy of the 2015 Pokémon Japanese XY Promo Art Academy Fujishima Pikachu, known as Raincoat Pikachu, sold on September 28 for $8.4 million including Fanatics' 20% buyer's premium after 64 bids. Only 100 copies were printed as a contest prize, and prior PSA 10 sales reached $12,600 in July 2024 and $19,200 in June 2025.

Coinbase announced on X that it will let users open digital packs on its platform, with each pull backed by a real physical card that can be vaulted or shipped. The company confirmed via reply that the feature involves Pokémon packs, but has not given a launch date, pricing, pull rates, supported regions, or whether The Pokémon Company is involved.

Pokémon VGC competitor Donghun Youm, winner of the 2023 Milwaukee Regional Championships, posted on X that a nearby player's smell at Baltimore Regionals made him vomit and prevented him and his friends from focusing during a round. He said they reported the issue to a judge; he did not name the player or state what action was taken.

IGN, citing PokéBeach, reports that McDonald's locations in the U.S. will include Pokémon card packs in Happy Meals from November 5 to December 9, 2026. The promotion is said to feature 15 cards distributed in four-card packs containing three regular cards and one holo. McDonald's has not confirmed the promotion.

Dexerto, citing PokeBeach, reports that a McDonald's x Pokémon Happy Meal promotion will run in the US from November 5 to December 9, 2026, tied to the franchise's 30th anniversary. Each Happy Meal is said to include a four-card Pokémon TCG pack with one holo and three non-holo cards, from a 15-card set with six confetti holofoil cards. Neither McDonald's nor The Pokémon Company has officially announced it.

Following the viral video of 12-year-old Pokémon fan Avery the Poké Kid pulling a 30th Anniversary Jirachi SIR card shortly before his death, collectors reported the card's price rising from around $70 to $100. Avery's family published a statement on his Instagram account saying they are not involved in or benefiting from any cards sold in his name and asking sellers to remove such listings.

The article states the latest Pokémon TCG expansion was released on September 16 and includes 30 rare Pikachu variants, with one appearing in every booster pack. The set is not named in the text.

A 72-year-old collector, Kent Kubasta, was sentenced in an Ohio court to 12 months of community control including 90 days of GPS monitoring after pleading no contest to illegal use of a tracking device on a Pokémon card delivery driver's van. He was also fined $500 plus court costs, a $25 monthly supervision fee, and ordered to have no contact with the driver.

IGN reports that the Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Knock Out Collection is available at Amazon for $48.42, containing a foil Eevee promo card, a coin and two 30th Celebration booster packs. Amazon has also restocked 30th Celebration Booster Bundles at $45, with restocks arriving in short waves.

Following the death of 12-year-old Pokémon content creator Avery the Poke Kid on September 18, 2026, whose final pack opening yielded a Jirachi Special Illustration Rare from the 30th Celebration set, secondary market prices for the card rose. Dexerto reports a completed eBay sale of $65 on September 20, with recent sales at $80 and $120 and listings between roughly $125 and $240. Collectors accused resellers of exploiting the death, including a $20,000 eBay listing that has since been removed.

Amazon has restocked the Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection—Series 3 at $39.99, above its original $14.99 MSRP. Series 3 is the final entry in the series and covers the nine starter Pokémon from Hoenn, Kalos and Paldea.

Amazon has restocked the Pokémon TCG: First Partner Illustration Collection—Series 3 at $33.99, coinciding with the Prime Big Deal Days event that began on October 6. Series 3 is the final entry in the series and covers the nine starter Pokémon from Hoenn, Kalos and Paldea.

IGN states that resale market prices for the 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box sit around $200, and lists the top 10 highest-value cards in the 30th Celebration set by TCGplayer median market price.

IGN reports that Target began an online restock of several Pokémon TCG products on September 25, 2026, including the 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box at $69.99, Pitch Black Booster Bundle at $31.99, Ascended Heroes Tech Sticker Collections at $19.99 and the Shrouded Fable Booster Bundle Box at $31.99. Amazon is also restocking the 30th Celebration Booster Bundle at $45 and the Elite Trainer Box at $89.99 via invite request.

Dexerto reports that Deluxe Pack: Mega (B4b), a limited-time expansion for Pokemon TCG Pocket, releases on September 29, 2026. Cards revealed in the trailer include Mega Charizard X ex, Mega Altaria ex, Mega Lucario ex, Copycat and Eevee, alongside returning B Series cards and alternate artwork. The total card count has not been confirmed.

IGN published a ranking of the 30 uniquely illustrated Pikachu cards in the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Collection, noting one is guaranteed in every booster pack. The article lists TCGplayer market prices for each card and links to various 30th Celebration products.

IGN reports Amazon has restocked Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration Booster Bundles at $45, compared with a roughly $122.64 market price on TCGplayer. Amazon is said to be shipping the bundles at the start of October and taking preorders until its allocation sells out, while 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Boxes remain invite-only at $89.99.

Avery the Poké Kid, a 12-year-old Pokémon influencer, died of pancreatic cancer on September 19, 2026. His parents posted a video of his final pack opening from the Pokémon 30th Anniversary release, in which he pulled a Jirachi SIR. Card artist Akira Egawa publicly responded on Twitter/X on September 23, 2026, saying she was moved to tears.

The article states Pokémon previously announced that participating retailers would distribute a Mewtwo card as a gift with a qualifying Pokémon TCG purchase beginning October 2, tied to the release of Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration.

Target is running a Pokémon 30th Anniversary Celebration on September 27 from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. local time at most stores, including giveaways, themed photos and a draw-your-own Pokémon card activity, while supplies last. Select stores will also demo Pokémon Pokopia on Nintendo Switch 2. Reports from a stock-tracking account suggest some stores will receive 30th Celebration tins and a Mewtwo promo card, possibly for the first 100 guests, but Target has not publicly confirmed the Mewtwo giveaway or the limit.

IGN states the upcoming Pokémon TCG set Mega Evolution — Delta Reign is due out on November 6, and that it revealed three new card designs from the set earlier in the week.

Kent Kubasta, 72, of Medina, Ohio, pleaded no contest in Wayne County Municipal Court to illegal use of a tracking device after police said he attached a GPS tracker to the vehicle of a woman who delivered Pokémon trading cards in order to monitor restocks. The driver discovered the tracker in June, according to Fox 8 News.

The article states the Pokémon TCG's newest set, 30th Celebration, was released on September 16.

A thief cut through the roof, a vent and a hallway wall of Player's Price TCG in Kerman, California, stealing more than 100 cards valued by the owner at $10,000-$20,000, including 20 graded slabs. Kerman Police arrested a 24-year-old Fresno man on September 20 on suspicion of possessing stolen property after community members helped identify the cards from posted security footage.

Dexerto reports that resellers discussing the Pokémon TCG 30th anniversary release on Reddit describe the set as overprinted with generous pull rates, limiting resale profit. PriceCharting data cited shows RGB chase cards topping around $4,000, roughly 11 cards above $110 ungraded, and Lugia and Charizard exceeding $1,000 as PSA 10s.

IGN revealed three cards from the upcoming Pokémon TCG set Mega Evolution — Delta Reign: Sprigatito (70 HP, Play Rough), Floragato (90 HP, Slash for 60 damage) and Meowscarada ex (320 HP, Magical Bullet for 120 damage plus 120 to a damaged benched Pokémon). The set is due to launch on November 6 with over 135 designs, including Mega Malamar, Mega Golurk and Mega Rayquaza.

IGN states that the next Pokémon Trading Card Game set, Mega Evolution — Delta Reign, will launch as soon as November.