How to get Party Top Hat Pikachu in Pokemon GO, and can it be shiny?

Party Top Hat Pikachu in Pokemon GO makes its debut as part of the 2026 New Year celebrations in the mobile game. It will be available via different means from 10 am local time on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, until 8 pm local time on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

This article covers all the ways you can get Party Top Hat Pikachu in Pokemon GO.

How to get Party Top Hat Pikachu in Pokemon GO

• Wild encounters
• One-star raids
• Research
• Trade

Party Top Hat Pikachu in Pokemon GO (Image via TPC)

Wild encounters

Pikachu wearing a party-themed top hat will spawn in the wild as a rare encounter. Being an Electric-type, its spawn rates will be boosted by rainy weather. You can also attract it using Lure Modules and Incense.

Also read: Pokemon GO January 2026 infographic: Events, raid bosses, Spotlight Hours, and more

One-star raids

Party Top Hat Pikachu will be a 1-star raid boss from 10 am local time on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, until 8 pm local time on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

As a raid boss, Pikachu has 3,277 CP to its name and can easily be overcome using Ground-type attackers. Once you defeat it in battle, you'll get to catch it at the following CP ranges:

• No weather boost: 493 - 536 CP at level 20 (10/10/10 - 15/15/15 IVs)
• Weather boosted (Rainy): 616 - 670 CP at level 25 (10/10/10 - 15/15/15 IVs)

Research

Purchasing the New Year's 2026 Premium Timed Research for approximately $2 (or equivalent local pricing) and completing the tasks will give you 11 guaranteed encounters with the creature at level 15.

Also read: Pokemon GO Best Friends Forever Timed Research - tasks and rewards

Trade

If you are unable to capture Party Top Hat Pikachu in Pokemon GO on your own, you can ask an in-game friend to trade you this costumed version of the critter.

Can Party Top Hat Pikachu be shiny in Pokemon GO?

Yes, it is possible to find shiny Party Top Hat Pikachu in Pokemon GO. There is a 1-in-512 chance that the creature might be shiny every time you encounter it. This remains constant irrespective of the mode of encounter.

Also read: Pokemon GO shiny odds

To learn more about Pokemon GO, check out our other articles:

• Ditto disguises
• Buddy evolution Adventure Together guide
• Best Fast Attacks in Pokemon GO
• Sierra counters
• Cliff counters
• Arlo counters
• Giovanni counters
• Pokemon Type Calculator

🚨 Calculate the Pokemon type effectiveness to win battles with our newly launched Pokemon GO Type Calculator 🚨

Edited by Abhipsito Das