30 years.
One day.
All foil.
The character card reveals for Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration, tracked as of today.
Celebration
Thirty years ago, the Pokémon Trading Card Game launched in Japan and changed how a generation collected cardboard. On September 16, 2026, that anniversary gets its own expansion, and for the first time in the franchise’s history it’s launching everywhere in the world on the exact same day. No more waiting weeks for Japanese exclusives to trickle overseas — every participating market opens packs together.
While the release date is still a month out, The Pokémon Company has been steadily peeling back the curtain on individual cards all summer, and the character reveals are giving collectors plenty to get excited about. Here’s a rundown of what’s been shown so far.
A brand-new rarity starring Mewtwo and Mew
The headline addition to this set is a rarity nobody has seen before: Futuristic rare. These cards are illustrated by acclaimed Japanese artist YOSHIROTTEN, whose style leans into bold, dreamlike visuals meant to evoke hope for what’s ahead rather than nostalgia for what’s behind.
The first two Futuristic rares revealed feature Mewtwo and Mew — fittingly the two Pokémon most tied to the franchise’s original mythology, now reimagined in a completely new visual language for the card game’s next chapter.
Thirty Pikachu, thirty artists
Every single 30th Celebration booster pack is guaranteed to contain one Pikachu card, and there are 30 different versions to chase, each drawn by a different illustrator. That roster reads like a who’s who of Pokémon art history.
More of the 30 are expected to be unveiled in the weeks leading up to launch.
Espeon, Umbreon, and friends
Beyond Pikachu and the new Futuristic rarity, the set leans heavily into illustration rare cards that capture Pokémon in slice-of-life moments across day and night. Espeon and Umbreon headline this group, shown going about their routines in artwork built around that light-and-dark, sun-and-moon contrast the two Eeveelutions are known for.
Each one gets the same painterly, scene-based treatment rather than a straightforward battle pose.
New ex cards join the roster
The set also introduces new Pokémon ex cards built specifically for this anniversary. Greninja ex and Sylveon ex are confirmed, and early teaser material additionally pointed to Umbreon ex and Salamence ex appearing in the lineup — giving competitive players a reason to care about this set beyond its nostalgia factor.
Familiar faces making a comeback
No 30th anniversary set would be complete without a nod to where it all started. The Classic Collection reprints 30 cards spanning the game’s three-decade history, each given a fresh foil treatment and a small “30” Pikachu stamp.
The headliner is the Base Set Charizard — arguably the most iconic card the franchise has ever produced — alongside a reprint of the Pikachu & Zekrom tag-team card. Worth noting for anyone chasing these as investments: these are 2026 reprints, not the original 1996–1999 prints, so while they’re likely to be the priciest cards in this set, they won’t carry anything close to the value of a genuine vintage Charizard.