Pokémon GO Fest, the flagship annual live event celebration for Pokémon GO, hosted three major events across the globe this summer with fans and players (also known as Trainers) walking, exploring, completing challenges, battling in raids, meeting other players, and participating in themed experiences — in record-breaking numbers — as the game approaches its 10th anniversary celebration.
Part outdoor festival, part citywide scavenger hunt, Pokémon GO Fest once again transformed host cities into immersive playgrounds for Trainers, who gather in a central park or outdoor venue to enjoy exclusive gameplay, special encounters, live entertainment, community activities and shared experiences. Trainers can explore local landmarks, neighborhoods and cultural hotspots and discover event-exclusive Pokémon and experience the city through the lens of Pokémon GO.
Since its debut in 2017, just one year after the game’s monumental launch, Pokémon GO Fest has grown into one of the largest live gaming events in the world.
Alongside Pokémon GO Tour — which is an annual in-person celebration focused on specific regions and generations of Pokémon, Pokémon GO Wild Area — which are exploration and battle-focused gameplay experiences — and smaller regional Pokémon GO Community Ambassador events and celebrations, Pokémon GO Fest is the game’s flagship global festival.
Recent editions have attracted hundreds of thousands of ticketed participants and millions of players, and this year’s events in host cities Tokyo, Chicago, and Copenhagen didn’t disappoint, drawing massive attendance and engagement numbers and demonstrating how Pokémon GO brings together real-world communities like nothing else. In fact, 2026 was the first year all three Pokémon GO Fest events sold out since the event series moved to a three city format.
In total, more than three million players took part across Tokyo, Chicago and Copenhagen. For comparison, the cumulative attendance across all 2022 FIFA World Cup games was 3.4 million.
Six couples even got engaged at Pokémon GO Fest: Chicago and Pokémon GO Fest: Copenhagen in surprise proposal experiences during the event.
Pokémon GO Fest: By The Numbers
Pokémon GO Fest — Tokyo (May 29 - June 1)
+ Largest ticketed Pokémon GO event in history
+ More than 115,000 ticketed attendees visited Tokyo Waterfront Park
+ More than 1.7 million players opened Pokémon GO and played across Tokyo during GO Fest week
The event also featured dozens of Pokémon-themed attractions, photo opportunities and live mascot performances.
Pokémon GO Fest — Chicago (June 5-7)
+ Largest ticketed Pokémon GO event in US history
+ 90,000 tickets for the main event at Grant Park sold out
+ More than 700,000 players participated across Chicago across the three-day event
For the first time, Pokémon GO built out a brick and mortar retail experience that included a Chicago-exclusive apparel collaboration with 100 Thieves featuring Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y.
The event also hosted dozens of Pokémon GO content creators and community personalities, giving fans opportunities to meet some of the most recognizable figures in the Pokémon GO community.
Pokémon GO Fest — Copenhagen (June 12-14)
+ First-ever sold-out Pokémon GO Fest event in Europe
+ 60,000 tickets for the main event at Fælledparken sold out
+ More than 600,000 players participated across Copenhagen across the event
During the event, more than 78M Pokémon were caught across all of Copenhagen.
What press and fans are saying
Fans and press weighed in on the event with coverage spanning the globe. A few highlights:
“As someone who attended Pokemon GO Fest — Chicago this year, it was genuinely heartwarming. Between families exploring Grant Park together, matching outfits everywhere I looked, and the surprise proposals, the event felt like a massive community gathering built around connection.” - The Gamer
“I am already waist deep in Pokemon GO thanks to the bonding experience it has created for my son and me, but Pokemon GO Fest showed a side of the game that I knew existed but hadn’t fully experienced firsthand. At a time when the world can feel uninviting and cold, being in Chicago was invigorating. The weekend of events offered plenty to do and a diverse set of experiences, but it truly was the community that made it memorable.” - Game Rant
“From costumes to engagements, Pokémon fans are not holding back their excitement for GO Fest 2026 in downtown Chicago!” - NBC Chicago
“Early summer is a very busy time in Pokémon GO, and trainers have tons of events, raids, and other activities to keep themselves busy for the next four weeks.” - VICE
“The festival is a unique way of bringing together fans in person who already can connect virtually through the game.” - Chicago Sun-Times
“Pokémon GO Fest is a perfect vehicle for tourism.” - Chicago Tribune
“Rain or shine, I had the most amazing time at Pokémon GO Fest Chicago! … This amazing Pokémon community always makes it worth it 🩷 Thank you to everyone who helped make it so special!!” - @Stephosaurawr
What’s next?
Pokémon GO Fest — Global
Fans can look forward to Pokémon GO Fest 2026 — Global, a worldwide event, taking place in game for nine hours local time on July 11 and July 12. The event features bonuses, increased chances of encountering Shiny Pokémon and more, and for the first time in history, it’s free for all Trainers logged in during the event weekend.
Pokémon GO City Safari
Pokémon GO also recently announced Pokémon GO City Safari locations for 2026. Whether you’re a resident of the host city or a first-time visitor, Pokémon GO City Safari takes Trainers across a city, from historic landmarks to local favorites, to get a taste of the city with Pokémon GO by your side. This format allows Trainers to enjoy the citywide experiences at their own pace, catching Pokémon and making friends with other Trainers along the way.
These events are coming to Boston; Brisbane, Australia; Lisbon, Portugal; Marseille, France; Munich, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27, from 10 AM to 6 PM local time.