The excitement is building as the 2026 Pokémon World Championships approach in San Francisco, California, from August 28th to 29th. This year promises a special treat for fans: a brand-new, exclusive merchandise drop at its pop-up Pokémon Center. This isn’t just any event; it marks both Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary and the first-ever official Pokémon fan convention! The Pokémon Company is pulling out all the stops with this year’s collections, and we’ll give you an exclusive first look.
A Steiff Pikachu Like No Other
Before diving into everything else, take a good look at this Steiff 2026 Pokémon World Championships Exclusive Pikachu. This isn’t the stuffed toy company’s first foray into the world of Pikachu, having previously released one in 2015 and another just this July to celebrate Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary. However, this Steiff Pikachu is truly unique – it’s the first accessorized edition! We can’t be certain of the materials or price yet, but previous Pikachu renditions were made of premium mohair and sold for around $400.
Senior director of Pokémon Center and e-commerce Cindy Ruppenthal explains: “As one of the standout items for this year, fans can only receive it via voucher — meaning, those booking a store reservation can opt in to enter the selection process to purchase fan-favorite items.”
Three Distinct Merch Lines
Just like last year’s Pokémon World Championships in Anaheim, California, PokémonXP and the Pokémon World Championships this year feature three distinct merch lines.
Ruppenthal said: “To celebrate this year’s San Francisco location, Pokémon Center will be releasing three product lines — the PokémonXP Line, the 2026 Pokémon World Championships Line, and the San Francisco Line.”
PokémonXP Line: Blast Off with Style
The PokémonXP line heavily features blue space-themed items. The previously revealed female Pikachu, dressed in clothing fit for a star-exploring astronaut (identified by her heart-shaped tail!), takes center stage. A goggles- and jetpack-wearing Charizard accompanies space Pikachu as a co-mascot of this line, featured in its own figure, wall art, and more. I personally love the dark shirt with Charizard on it, but am predicting the pastel blue bomber jacket decorated with on-theme patches and the baseball jersey will be among the most popular clothing items. Finally, don’t miss the Rocket backpack, one of the most unique items revealed so far.
When asked about the space theme, Ruppenthal explained that “Out of This World” was the driving concept behind both the designs and experiences this year – hoping that together, PokémonXP and the 2026 World Championships deliver a weekend that takes fans “somewhere truly out of this world.”
Glow in the Dark: Umbreon Takes Center Stage
To further embrace the space theme, the PokémonXP line features exciting glow-in-the-dark items featuring the oft-adored Umbreon and otherworldly Elgyem. They seem like they’d be right at home with the glow-in-the-dark stars I had on my ceiling when I was a kid.
Ruppenthal said that this is Pokémon Center’s first-ever glow-in-the-dark collection, and the eye-catching designs light up in the dark after first being exposed to a light source, like sunlight, an LED flashlight, or a UV blacklight.
Ruppenthal also revealed another new concept debuting this year: Lava flow glitter pins, which feature liquid in the actual pins to add depth. The Charizard pin from this collection is one of those.
Pokémon World Championships Line: A Regal Pikachu
The World Championships line features a regal-looking male Pikachu plush with a champion’s cape and crown, who also appears on a variety of items like shirts, bags, hats, TCG accessories, and more. Greninja is highlighted in this line, appearing alongside the kingly Pikachu on the double deck box, and on its own collectible pin, light-up display, and hat. The Worlds line is primarily an orange-red hue, and you’ll find the classic Pokémon World Championships logo and the 2026 San Francisco logo on many of these items.
San Francisco Line: A Local Twist
The San Francisco line features eclectic, colorful line drawings. I personally love the busy playmat with so many little things to discover. The cream-colored ringer tee is a cute departure from the classic t-shirt, and its matching Krabby hat makes for a nice set, too.
Ruppenthal explained: “The San Francisco Line reimagines the city through a Pokémon lens, blending the PokémonXP ‘Out of This World’ design theme with iconic San Francisco architecture transformed by Pokémon-inspired elements.” Fans can look for Poké Ball details on the Painted Ladies, a Gigantamax Duraludon-inspired variation of the Transamerica Pyramid, Poké Ball-inspired cable cars, and a Technical Machine (TM).
“Fans can also discover Pokémon woven through the playmat design, including Pikachu, Vileplume, Krabby, Ditto, Umbreon, Espeon, Latias, Latios, Jirachi, and many more — adding even more Pokémon-inspired details for fans to discover,” Ruppenthal said.
Bonus “Mix”: The Best of Both Worlds
Ruppenthal said: “Inspired by the bright and vibrant spirit of the city, each unique line captures the energy and character of San Francisco while bringing a distinctly Pokémon twist.” And because this is a milestone year, fans may even spot exclusive items featuring a mix of both the PokémonXP Line and the 2026 Pokémon World Championships Line…”
This “mix” line (not a distinct line) has items that commemorate both events and the location, all in one. Expect both the bold blues of PokémonXP and the fiery reds of the Pokémon World Championships with design-inspo from the San Francisco line. The keychain has charms for all three line logos and both mascot Pikachu, the pin-set has both mascot Pikachu and the San Francisco-inspired cable car and Pokémon-ified Painted Ladies.
One standout item in this collection is the collectible coins set, which comes with nine coins, each with a different Pokémon featured in the merch this year.
Reyn Spooner Returns!
Finally, we’re once again getting a new Reyn Spooner collection, a now annual tradition started at the 2024 Pokémon World Championships in Honolulu. Fitting, considering the brand is designed in Hawaii. You can find Reyn Spooner collab items at the online Pokémon Center store now, but these particular aloha shirt, hat, and bag designs will be exclusive to the event in San Francisco. I have one of the 2025 Pokémon World Championships Reyn Spooner tote bag from Anaheim, and I love it.
It’s the perfect beach bag, deep with lots of internal pockets, a clip for your keys, and a big zipper to keep everything secure. I’m currently using it to store my overflow of deckboxes and bulk cards, which means I have an excuse to get this one to dedicate to outdoor activities.
What Else is Coming?
Previously, The Pokémon Company revealed the two Pikachu mascot, Charizard, and Kirlia plushies. Bear Walker also revealed there will be two new skateboards this year, one for PokémonXP and one for the Pokémon World Championships. We assume you’ll need to opt into the drawing to receive a voucher to be able to buy the Bear Walker Skateboards, like you did at Worlds in Anaheim last year.
A Glimpse of What’s to Come
Ruppenthal said that the store design “seamlessly blends both events, while also celebrating the city’s unique character, iconic landmarks, and local charm through a Pokémon-inspired lens.”
Each line will also have “its own moment to shine.” You’ll need a PokémonXP / Pokémon World Championships badge to get into the Pokémon Center pop-up, and you’ll also need to have signed up for a timeslot. However, there will be a “Worlds at Home” online-only “shopping experience” beginning August 26th, Ruppenthal said, but it’s a mystery to what exactly that will entail.
Last year, there was a code to get the Worlds Promo Card with purchase Worlds Promo Card with purchase, and a different code to get the collectible Worlds Coin with at least a $50 purchase Worlds Coin with at least a $50 purchase. There was also a new line of products that simultaneously launched online and at the Pokémon Center pop-up–the Sweetheart Diner collection.
You can also get your hands on the 2026 Worlds Pikachu promo card 2026 Worlds Pikachu promo card by participating in a Worlds Celebration Tournament at Play! Pokémon Store events — either VGC with Pokémon Champions or the TCG — from August 21st to 29th.
Pokémon XP and the 2026 Pokémon World Championships are just around the corner, and we’ll be there! In the meantime, for more on Pokémon, check out some of the coolest and rarest Pokémon items in IGN staff’s collections coolest and rarest Pokémon items in IGN staff’s collections (including mine, which is a lot of old Worlds merch), and why the 2026 Pokémon North American International Championship is moving from New Orleans 2026 Pokémon North American International Championship is moving from New Orleans.
Catch me on socials @ShinyCaseyD, and at Worlds!
Source: IGN
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