The Pokémon franchise is set for arguably the biggest year ever, with the 30th anniversary celebrations coming alongside major releases, significant changes to the competitive scene, and there’s likely to be even more on the horizon.
After the success of Pokémon Legends: Z-A last year, a boom in the TCG hobby, and two releases already confirmed for the year ahead with Pokopia and Pokémon Champions, 2026 is set to be a big one, and Pokémon EUIC displayed the very best that the franchise has to offer.
Across four action-packed days in London for Pokémon EUIC, here are the main takeaways I learned from the event.
Pokémon’s Growth Shows No Signs of Stopping
Pokémon’s boom in the past decade, following the release of Pokémon Go, has been well-documented, and excitement for the franchise has reached fever-pitch levels heading into the 30th anniversary. However, it’s clear that this isn’t the height of the peak.
The attendance at Pokémon EUIC was over 17,000, including over 7,000 competitors, numbers that dwarf the Pokémon World Championships attendance from London 2022. Around a third of ExCel London was taken over by Pokémon, and there’s still plenty of room to grow.
With the VGC format moving to Pokémon Champions, lowering the barrier of entry as the title will also be available on mobile devices, and the Pokémon games venturing into new genres, Pikachu and the gang are here to stay.
Pokopia Could Be The Next Pokémon Go-Like Hit
The release of Pokopia is now just a few weeks away, and the latest entry in the Pokémon franchise blew me away in my hands-on preview, showing it can have the same sort of momentum that Pokémon Go did a decade ago.
Pokémon Go was a title that spread like wildfire across the world, bringing new fans into the Pokémon franchise, and Pokopia has the ability to do the same. With an Animal Crossing-like approach and a clear cozy vibe, new gamers could be attracted, and diehard fans will also be thrilled with the experience.
The Pokémon Company has not been afraid to venture into new genres and try out new things in recent years, and fans can reap the benefits.
LEGO Pokémon Sets Are Incredible
Ever since the first reveal of the debut LEGO Pokémon sets, it was clear that they were going to make waves, but having now seen the sets in person, they completely blew my socks off.
There are no stickers on the sets, with the eyes and any other accents all printed directly to the bricks, showing a more premium approach to the set. Of course, with the high prices of LEGO, fans will expect the very best, and this is exactly what they are getting.
It’s not long now until the LEGO Pokémon sets will arrive in the hands of fans worldwide, and I can’t wait to see what other sets are on the horizon this year.
Competitive Pokémon is Much Tougher Than I Imagined
I’ve always been more of a collector in the world of Pokémon, both in the games, hunting down everything needed to fill out my Pokédex and in the world of the TCG, and I truly had no idea just how tough the competitive scene truly is.
The tactical approaches in the VGC scene were far beyond what I could envision, with competitors always trying to be two steps ahead, and my head was spinning with the knowledge those in the TCG had. Add in the quick reactions of those playing UNITE and Go, and it was incredible to witness.
Esports continues to grow and will have greater prominence in the years to come, and Pokémon will certainly have a big part to play.
Pokémon World Championships Is A Bucket List Addition
The one major thought that stuck with me throughout the weekend at EUIC and since I returned home is that I need to attend a World Championship, and I’ve got my eyes on San Francisco in August.
I loved every single second of Pokémon EUIC, and attending such a huge event has immediately led to attending Worlds jumping into my bucket list.
I highly recommend that any Pokémon fan look to attend one of the major events, and to keep an eye out for Pokémon Play! Schedules, to meet other members of the community and have an experience you’ll remember for the rest of your lives.
Nothing Beats The Pokémon Community
There’s no denying there’s a lot of negativity often spread around Pokémon, particularly on the TCG side of things, and the difficulty getting your hands on sealed product, but there was zero sign of this at EUIC.
Instead, the weekend was filled with moments that show the very best of the Pokémon community. One parent of a competitor in the Junior TCG category told me about how other parents rallied to help create a replacement deck after an initial one was lost, ensuring they wouldn’t have to exit the tournament. While the original deck was found, the new deck, including cards from a variety of languages, showed the very best of the community.
Throughout the entire event, everyone I spoke to was welcoming, there was absolutely no gatekeeping, and every attendee was there to share their love of the Pokémon franchise.
Did you attend Pokémon EUIC in London? What did you think about the event? Share your thoughts in the Insider Gaming Discord.
For more Pokémon, take a look at all the winners from EUIC 2026, and check out the platform details for Pokopia.
