2026 is shaping up to be a monumental year for Pokémon fans. As the franchise celebrates three decades since the debut of Pokémon Red and Green on the Game Boy, The Pokémon Company has been pulling out all the stops—from high-profile collaborations with G-Shock and Adidas to exclusive anniversary merch on the Pokémon Center website. Now, a familiar fast-food partner is joining the party: McDonald's.
According to reports from CBR (via Oricon), McDonald's Japan has officially unveiled its Pokémon 30th Anniversary Happy Meal lineup, set to hit restaurants on August 7, 2026. The collection will feature a delightful assortment of toys spotlighting beloved mascots like Pikachu and Eevee, alongside various starter Pokémon and fan-favorites such as Snorlax. Among the toys are "Monster Ball Rollers"—where Pikachu and Eevee's tails wiggle as you roll them—plus a disk launcher, plastic card cases, and more.
The toys will be released in two waves in Japan, with the first dropping on August 7 and the second following on August 14. As of now, there's no official word on an international release, but given the global popularity of both Pokémon and McDonald's Happy Meals, fans outside Japan are hoping for a wider rollout.
This isn't the first time McDonald's and The Pokémon Company have teamed up. Over the years, the fast-food chain has distributed Pokémon trading cards—some exclusive to Japan, like the 2025 Pikachu #20/M-P Japanese Promo card—along with various toys and collectibles. This new anniversary set is sure to become a must-have for collectors and casual fans alike.
For those unfamiliar with the Pokémon universe, it's a world where humans and superpowered creatures called Pokémon coexist. At age ten, children can begin their journey with a partner Pokémon, aiming to become Pokémon Masters. The franchise extends far beyond video games, with a long-running anime that first aired in 1999, following Ash Ketchum and his trusty Pikachu. Ash's story concluded in 2022, paving the way for Pokémon Horizons, a new series set in the Paldea region with a fresh protagonist named Liko. The anime is available to stream on Netflix, and fans can also enjoy Captain Pikachu's recent crossover with Pokémon Sleep.
Beyond McDonald's, the anniversary year has been packed with exciting releases. The Pokémon Company has dropped its own 30th Anniversary products on the Pokémon Center website, and the Nintendo Switch version of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen was released as part of the celebration. Later this September, the highly anticipated 30th Anniversary Trading Card collection is scheduled to arrive, and Hatsune Miku has contributed new songs to the Project VOLTAGE collaboration, including "Kurosurodo" (Crossroad) by kz × TAKU INOUE, whose music video pays homage to all nine generations of Pokémon.
With so much happening, it's clear that Pokémon's 30th anniversary is a global celebration. Whether you're a longtime trainer or a newcomer, there's plenty to look forward to. And if you're in Japan this August, be sure to grab a Happy Meal to snag one of these adorable toys—they're bound to be a hit.
