Pokémon GO's Lunar New Year 2026 event runs from Tuesday, February 17, at 10:00 a.m. to Saturday, February 21, at 8:00 p.m. local time. The event leans heavily into Lucky Pokémon trading bonuses and gives players another window to hunt Shiny Gimmighoul — one of the more elusive shinies in the game due to its limited availability outside of specific events.
Quick answer: The event's biggest draws are increased Lucky Pokémon and Lucky Friend rates during trades, boosted Shiny odds for Blitzle, Darumaka, and Gimmighoul, and PokéStops that can turn gold without a Golden Lure Module.
Event bonuses active February 17–21
Four bonuses run for the full duration of the event. The Lucky Pokémon trade boost and Lucky Friends boost are the headliners — if you've been stockpiling Pokémon for trades, this is the window to cash them in. Interact with Best Friends daily to maximize your chances of triggering Lucky Friend status.
| Bonus | Details |
|---|---|
| Lucky trade boost | Increased chance that traded Pokémon become Lucky |
| Lucky Friends boost | Higher chance of becoming Lucky Friends after interacting with Best Friends |
| Gold PokéStops | PokéStops may turn gold without needing a Golden Lure Module |
| Shiny rate boost | Increased chance to encounter Shiny Blitzle, Shiny Darumaka, and Shiny Gimmighoul |
The gold PokéStops are worth noting because they're one of the few ways to collect Gimmighoul Coins outside of connecting to a Nintendo Switch game. Spinning a gold PokéStop drops coins that count toward evolving Gimmighoul into Gholdengo. Previous Lunar New Year events had some issues with gold PokéStops not functioning correctly, so keep an eye out for any in-game fixes if stops aren't behaving as expected.
Wild spawns and shiny-boosted Pokémon
The wild encounter pool is themed around the Year of the Fire Horse. Ponyta and Galarian Ponyta are the most on-the-nose picks, while Fuecoco rounds out the Fire-type representation. Blitzle and Darumaka appear as rarer wild spawns with boosted shiny rates — they won't show up as frequently as Ponyta or Fuecoco, so use Incense to increase your chances.
| Pokémon | Type | Shiny available? | Shiny rate boosted? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ponyta | Fire | Yes | No |
| Galarian Ponyta | Psychic | Yes | No |
| Fuecoco | Fire | Yes | No |
| Blitzle | Electric | Yes | Yes |
| Darumaka | Fire | Yes | Yes |
| Gimmighoul | Ghost | Yes | Yes |
Gimmighoul doesn't spawn in the wild the same way other Pokémon do. It typically appears through the Coin Bag mechanic tied to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet connectivity, or via gold PokéStops and Field Research during events like this one. The Gimmighoul encountered during this event should not have a costume, meaning you can evolve them into Gholdengo — a meaningful distinction since costumed Gimmighoul from past events couldn't evolve.
Field Research and Collection Challenge
Event-themed Field Research tasks will be available from PokéStops throughout the event. Completing them rewards encounters with event-themed Pokémon, though the specific tasks haven't been detailed in advance. A catch-focused Collection Challenge also runs during the event, rewarding Stardust and an encounter with an event-themed Pokémon upon completion.
Paid Timed Research for US$1.99
A purchasable Timed Research ticket is available for US$1.99 (or the local currency equivalent). The ticket can also be gifted to any friend you've reached Great Friends status or higher with. Purchases are non-refundable, and the ticket cannot be bought with PokéCoins.
Completing the paid research rewards:
- 200 PokéCoins
- Two Lucky Eggs
- One Incense
- Encounters with Blitzle and Darumaka
All tasks and rewards from this Timed Research must be completed and claimed before the event ends on Saturday, February 21, at 8:00 p.m. local time. If you miss the deadline, unclaimed rewards are lost.
Lunar New Year Ultra Ticket Box
A separate bundle called the Lunar New Year Ultra Ticket Box is available through the Pokémon GO Web Store for US$1.99. It includes the event Timed Research ticket plus five Ultra Balls. If you're planning to buy the ticket anyway, grabbing it through the Web Store gets you the Ultra Balls at no additional cost.
Making the most of the four-day window
The Lucky trade and Lucky Friend bonuses are the real draw here, especially for players building a Lucky Pokédex or preparing high-IV Pokémon for competitive use. Stack your trades during this window — coordinate with friends to open gifts and trigger interactions daily so you have the best shot at Lucky Friend status before the event ends.
For shiny hunters, Gimmighoul is the standout target. Its shiny form has only been available during limited windows, and the boosted rate during this event makes it one of the better opportunities to find one. Keep spinning gold PokéStops and completing Field Research to maximize your Gimmighoul encounters. The event wraps up on February 21 at 8:00 p.m. local time — no extensions have been announced, so plan accordingly.