Pokémon Go Fest 2026 activities, bonuses and start time

Go Fest 2026: Global is the biggest event in Pokémon Go this year, both in importance and the activities it holds. It is, after all, Pokémon Go's tenth anniversary. Best of all, however, this year's Go Fest Global is free for everyone! This means we can all enjoy every bonus, research quest and get some proper shiny hunting in. The highlight of this event though is the long awaited release of Mega Mewtwo X and Y.

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Best all, Go Fest 2026: Global is free for everyone! That's right for the first time every Pokémon Go player can enjoy everything Go Fest Global has to offer at no cost at all. This means you can enjoy every Habitat Hour, catch Zeraora via the Special Research quest and battle both Mega Mewtwo X and Y all free. That's just a glimpse at what's on offer during this year's Go Fest Global though, so take a look below to learn more.

The Go Fest 2026: Global event is running on Saturday 11th July and Sunday 12th July 2026 . The event will start at 10am (local time) and end at 7pm (local time) on both days .

Pokémon Go Fest 2026 activities

Here's a rundown of every activity running during Go Fest 2026: Global. Further along I've gone into more detail about the major aspects of the event and taken a separate look at the bonuses running throughout the event.

Global release of Mega Mewtwo X and Y in Super Mega Battles.

Zeraora Special Research quest.

A branching Timed Research quest themed around Mega Mewtwo X and Y.

Habitat Hours, with three different habitat hours running on both days.

Field Research Tasks themed around each habitat hour.

Global Challenges.

Three new costume Pikachus.

The Pikachu visor versions of the Kanto starters will be able to evolve.

Every previously released legendary Pokémon will be appearing in five-star raids, with the Pokémon themselves split across both days.

Some of the strongest Mega Evolutions will be appearing in Mega Raids.

All forms of Unown, along with Tropius and Bouffalant, will be Incense encounters.

A selection of bonuses will be running throughout both days. Check the dedicated section to learn more!

Mega Mewtwo X and Y

Let's start off with the most exciting news - the global release of Mega Mewtwo X and Y. Originally teased way back in 2021 when they appeared in the fifth anniversary art, Mega Mewtwo X and Y have been at the top of many players 'Most Wanted' lists for quite a while. It wasn't until May 2026 though when they would make their first in-game appearance during the Go Fest 2026: Tokyo event.

Go Fest 2026: Global will give everyone - yes, even you - the chance to add these incredibly powerful Mega Evolutions to their collections. If you can defeat them in a Super Mega Raid to earn their Mega Energy of course. Keep in mind that you'll need to collect two different types of energy - Mewtwo Mega Energy X and Mewtwo Mega Energy Y - so you'll have to do a fair amount of raiding if you want both.

The good news, however, is that any Mewtwo caught from a Super Mega Raid during the event will have at least one Mega Level already unlocked. There's also the chance you'll get lucky and catch one with either Mega Level 2 or 3 already unlocked too.

Mega Mewtwo X will be available on Saturday 11th July, while Mega Mewtwo X will be in Super Mega Raids on Sunday 12th July.

Image credit: Niantic

Research quests, including Zeraora Special Research

Two research quests will be released as part of Go Fest 2026: Global. The first is the Zeraora Special Research quest, which will lead to catching the mythical Zeraora. This quest won't have a deadline, so you can complete it at your own pace. If you've attended one of the in-person Go Fest events in either Tokyo, Chicago or Copenhagen this year then you'll receive Zeraora Candy from this quest rather than a second Zeraora.

The second quest is a branching Timed Research quest. Here you'll be able to choose between Mega Mewtwo X or Mega Mewtwo Y. Perfect for anyone who doesn't fancy battling them in the Super Mega Raids! Just remember - this quest will expire if you don't complete it before the deadline and you can't change your path choice after it's made.

Image credit: Niantic

Habitat Hours

It wouldn't be a Go Fest event without Habitat Hours, but they work a little differently compared to previous events. Rather than being themed around specific Pokémon, Go Fest 2026: Global's Habitat Hours are themed around specific types. Three types will be spotlighted during each Habitat Hour, which means you'll be able to encounter any Pokémon from these three types during said hour. (To be honest, I prefer the Pokémon-specific Habitat Hours. It lets me be a little more targeted with my catching.)

There will be six Habitat Hours in total: three on Saturday, three on Sunday. Let's take a look at when each one will run and which types will be spotlighted in them:

Saturday 11th July Sunday 12th July 10am to 1pm

(local time) Stormfire Peaks

Featured types: Electric

Fire

Ice Earthforged Domain

Featured types: Ground

Normal

Steel 1pm to 4pm

(local time) Astral Tides

Featured types: Ghost

Psychic

Water Verdant Anomaly

Featured types: Bug

Grass

Poison 4pm to 7pm

(local time) Dragonflight Summit

Featured types: Dragon

Flying

Rock Twilight Battlefield

Featured types: Dark

Fairy

Fighting

Global Challenges

A series of Global Challenges will run throughout Go Fest Global! Everyone will contribute to completing these challenges and doing so will unlock additional bonuses. Best of all, however, doing so will lead to unlocking future Ultra Unlock events. Nothing has been announced for these events at the time of writing, but one usually involves releasing a new Pokémon.

New costume Pokémon

With every Go Fest Global event comes a selection of new costume Pokémon. Let's start with the Pikachus! (Because there's always at least one Pikachu.)

Go Fest Global: 2026 sees the release of Team Instinct Hat Pikachu, Team Mystic Hat Pikachu and Team Valor Hat Pikachu. That's right! We're getting three Pikachus all themed around each of the Pokémon Go teams, which is very fitting since this Go Fest occurs shortly after the game's tenth anniversary.

Alongside these new Pikachus, you'll finally be able to evolve the Pikachu Visor forms of Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle. When you total all of those evolutions together, that equals six new Pikachu Visor Pokémon arriving during Go Fest: Global 2026! Just make sure you have enough Candy to spare to complete these evolutions.

Image credit: Niantic

Raids

Even with putting Mega Mewtwo X and Y to aside, raids are going to be packed during this year's Go Fest as every legendary released so far will be appearing in 5-Star raids. (With the exception of Mewtwo who can catch by defeating either Mega Mewtwo X or Y.) This also includes both Giratina Formes, Dialga and Palkia Origin Forme, all Incarnate and Therian Formes, every Deoxys Forme and every Drive for Genesect! If you're missing any legendary Pokémon or want to do some shiny hunting, then this is the event for you.

The legendary Pokémon will be split across both Saturday and Sunday. A selection of powerful Mega Evolutions will also be appearing in normal Mega Raids too on both days.

Here's a rundown of every Pokémon appearing in the Go Fest 2026: Global raids and when:

Incense encounters

If you use Incense during Go Fest: Global 2026, you'll have the chance of encountering any of the Unown forms, Tropius and Bouffalant. Just remember that this doesn't include Daily Adventure Incense.

Tropius and Bouffalant are both regionally exclusive Pokémon, so this is a great opportunity to add them to your Pokédex if you haven't had the chance to catch them in their natural habitats.

Though having every Unown form appear is even better! Unowns are very rare outside of events like Go Fest and, typically, only specific letters are given boosted rates during these events. Go Fest Global: 2026, however, is the perfect time to finish up your collection. I know there's a handful of specific Unown forms I need to hunt down and I wouldn't mind some more shiny Unowns either!