McDonald's Pokémon cards 2026: Happy Meal promotion for the 30th anniversary

What is known about the McDonald's Pokémon cards 2026?

The news comes from an exclusive report by PokéBeach, the best-known English-language site for news about the Pokémon Trading Card Game. Almost all other media refer to this report. As of early October 2026, there had been no official announcement from McDonald's or The Pokémon Company.

Based on the reports so far, the promotion looks like this:

• US period: 5 November to 9 December 2026
• Scope: 15 different cards, as in the promotions since 2022
• Pack: so far 4 cards per Happy Meal, 1 of them a holo card with the typical confetti effect
• Holo cards: usually 6 of the 15 cards
• Extra: according to the report, a choice between a Pokémon toy and a Pokémon handbook
• Card list: not yet known

So far, all McDonald's sets have consisted of reprints of well-known cards with their own symbol. For the 25th anniversary in 2021, every card also carried the anniversary logo in the artwork. It is not yet known whether the 2026 cards will get a 30th anniversary logo.

Are there Pokémon cards at McDonald's in Switzerland too?

There is no information for Switzerland yet. PokéBeach only writes that the promotion is also coming to other countries and that the dates there may differ. Nothing has been confirmed for Germany and Austria either.

A look back gives reason for hope: for the 25th anniversary, McDonald's Pokémon cards were available in Switzerland from 3 June 2021, around four months after the launch in the USA. The “Match Battle” promotion ran in Switzerland from 4 August to 14 September 2022. For the 2023 and 2025 promotions, however, only Germany and Austria are documented, not Switzerland.

All McDonald's Pokémon card promotions compared

The first McDonald's Pokémon cards appeared in Japan in 2002. In the West, Pokémon cards have been part of the Happy Meal since 2011. Until 2019, it was a single holo card each time, usually from a set of 12 cards. Since 2021, there have been small packs of 4 cards. The graphic shows how big the sets of the Western promotions were.

Japan 2002: the oldest and most valuable McDonald's cards

Long before the first Happy Meal in the West, there were McDonald's Pokémon cards in Japan. From 26 January to 24 February 2002, McDonald's Japan sold the “Minimum Pack” from the e-Card era with its meals. Each pack contained 6 cards: 3 Pokémon and the 3 matching basic Energy cards, plus damage counters and a paper coin. In total, there were only 6 fixed pack variants.

• 18 Pokémon cards from 001/018 to 018/018, including Chikorita, Cyndaquil, Totodile, Charmander, Squirtle and Pikachu
• 6 holo Pokémon: Chikorita, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu, Slowpoke and Larvitar, each with a matching holo Energy
• 6 basic Energy cards without a number, as holo and as regular cards
• Plus promo cards: on the weekends during the promotion, there were also promo cards such as Tyrogue 023/P

These cards are now over 24 years old, were handed out for only a few weeks and only in Japan, and often went straight into children's hands. Well-preserved copies are sought after accordingly. According to analysed eBay sales on PriceCharting, an ungraded holo Pikachu from 2002 cost around 300 US dollars in March 2026, and with PSA 10 it was several thousand dollars. Squirtle and Charmander in top grade were at a similar level.

McDonald's promo cards kept appearing in Japan later on as well, for example between 2003 and 2007 and in 2012 with Meloetta. At Pokémon Fes in July 2014, every Happy Set came with one of 5 cards: Pikachu 064/XY-P as well as Chespin, Fennekin, Froakie and Hawlucha. Pikachu 064/XY-P also exists with other sponsor logos, and the variant with the McDonald's logo is the one collectors look for most.

2021: the rush for the 25th anniversary

The 2021 anniversary promotion is still the best known to this day. With 24 starter Pokémon and Pikachu, each as a regular and as a holo card, it was bigger than all the sets before it. In the USA, resellers bought up entire stacks of Happy Meals. One buyer is said to have taken 450 packs from a single restaurant, after which some restaurants introduced a limit of 5 packs per day. Shortly after the launch, the holo Pikachu was offered for around 110 US dollars. In Germany, too, the first restaurants were sold out after a few days.

Things went similarly in Japan in 2025: each Happy Set came with the Burger Pikachu and a random second card. Despite a limit of 5 Happy Sets per person, the promotion was over after a few days, and McDonald's Japan publicly apologised for the rush. For the 2026 promotion, many fans are therefore hoping for more stock and clear rules per customer.

What are McDonald's Pokémon cards worth?

McDonald's cards are printed in large quantities. That is why most of them are worth just a few Swiss francs, and the price spike at the start of a promotion rarely lasts long. The cards that become interesting are mainly holo cards of popular Pokémon, older sets with a small print run and cards in perfect condition.

The values from 2012 onwards are Cardmarket trend and average prices from early October 2026 for cards in good condition; the value for Japan 2002 comes from eBay sales (PriceCharting, March 2026). All values fluctuate strongly because there are only a few sales per card.

Graded cards are worth more. A card graded by PSA in top grade can fetch many times the price of an ungraded card, especially with older Japanese McDonald's promos. We show you how to estimate the value of your cards yourself in our guide What is my Pokémon card worth?.

Would you like to have a special card from your collection graded? With our PSA service, you can easily send in your cards from Switzerland. Grading takes at least 120 and up to 180 working days.

30 years of Pokémon: the Happy Meal promotion as part of the celebration

The Pokémon cards at McDonald's are only one part of the anniversary. The Pokémon Trading Card Game was released in Japan in 1996 and celebrates its 30th birthday in 2026. The anniversary expansion 30th Celebration was released on 16 September 2026, and the second wave follows from 2 October. Premium products such as the Ultra-Premium Collection and the Ditto Premium Collection arrive on 6 November, one day after the start of the Happy Meal promotion in the USA.

You can find all products in the series, the languages and the dates in the Pokémon 30th Anniversary Release Guide and in our category Pokémon 30th Anniversary. We tell you how it all began in How long have Pokémon cards been around?.

Tips for collectors: how to protect your Happy Meal cards

Many McDonald's cards end up straight in a trouser pocket or in the children's room. If you want to collect them, keep a few things in mind:

• Protect them right away: Holo cards scratch easily. Put them in a card sleeve right after opening and, if needed, in a toploader.
• Keep packs sealed: Unopened packs are popular with collectors because the contents are untouched.
• Collect the full set: A complete set with all holo cards is usually worth more than single cards.
• Watch out for fakes: With popular promotions, fake cards and resealed packs soon turn up. You can read what to look out for in Spotting fake Pokémon cards.
• Store them properly: dry, dark and without pressure. You will find all the tips in Storing Pokémon cards.

And don't forget: the Happy Meal promotion is aimed first and foremost at children. Anyone who buys entire stacks of Happy Meals spoils the fun for others.

Frequently asked questions