The closing ceremony of the North America International Championships in New Orleans brought a full look at the merchandise and promo cards heading to the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco. The event runs in August at the Moscone Center, with Championship Sunday taking place at Chase Center, and it pulls together the best players from the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Video Game Championships, Pokémon GO, and Pokémon UNITE.
Quick answer: If you cannot attend Worlds or PokémonXP, you can still get this year’s Worlds Pikachu promo card by joining a Worlds Celebration event at a local Play! Pokémon store, or by ordering from Pokémon Center.
Three 2026 Worlds promo cards and how to get each one
This year’s lineup includes three promo cards, and each one is tied to a different way of taking part in the event. The artwork leans into San Francisco landmarks, with the Paradise Resort card showing Psyduck, Klawf, and Spheal tumbling down the city’s famous Lombard Street.
| Promo card | How to get it |
|---|---|
| Paradise Resort Stadium | Included in the competitor Welcome Kit at Worlds |
| Worlds-stamped Pikachu (battling Gardevoir) | Worlds Celebration events at local Play! Pokémon stores, or a Pokémon Center order |
| Ascended Heroes Rayquaza (PokémonXP stamp) | Exclusive to Worlds and PokémonXP attendees |
The Pikachu card features a San Francisco-inspired background and shows Pikachu facing off against Gardevoir, last year’s winning Pokémon. The Rayquaza card is a reprint of the Ascended Heroes version carrying a PokémonXP stamp, and it is handed out at both the main event and the new fan expo.
Two Pikachu plushies: Worlds and PokémonXP
For the first time, there are two collectible Pikachu plushies instead of one. The San Francisco Worlds Pikachu is sold at the on-site Pokémon Center, continuing the tradition of an exclusive Worlds plush each year.
The second plush is a space-themed Pikachu created for PokémonXP, the new fan expo running during Worlds weekend. This celebratory PokémonXP Pikachu will be available at Pokémon Center, giving attendees a second electric companion to take home.
What’s inside the 2026 competitor Welcome Kit
Every competitor receives a Welcome Kit built around the San Francisco Pikachu design. The same artwork appears across the full set of gear, so the kit works as both practical tournament equipment and a keepsake.
- Playmat
- Deck box
- Card sleeves
- Lunchbox
- Backpack
- Nintendo Switch screen cleaner
- Paradise Resort promo card
Players who win their division get an additional Champions line kit. That set features white and gold variants of the San Francisco design, plus a unique baseball cap and a jacket reserved for World Champions.
PokémonXP exhibitors and partners
PokémonXP is debuting alongside Worlds this year as a dedicated fan expo. Confirmed exhibitors and partners include LEGO, Jazwares, and Crocs, raising the possibility of collaboration previews during the August event.
Where the next NAIC moves after New Orleans
The 2026 NAIC was the final running of the event in New Orleans, where it had been held for three years. The North America International Championships will move to Chicago for the 2027 season.
For now, the San Francisco World Championships remain the last major stop on the 2026 competitive calendar. Full details on the Worlds Pikachu card and the rest of the merchandise are posted on the official Pokémon news page, and more announcements are expected closer to the event.
