Pokemon GO New Year 2026 overview: Best tips and tricks, hunt-worthy shinies, and more

The Pokemon GO New Year 2026 event kicked off at 10 am local time on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, and will end at 8 pm local time on Sunday, January 4, 2026. Party Top Hat Pikachu makes its debut during the event, while other costumed critters return. Blacephalon, the Fire- and Ghost-type Ultra Beast, also gets access to its signature move Mind Blown during this event.

This article covers the features and bonuses of the Pokemon GO New Year 2026 event and tells you how to make the most out of it.

Pokemon GO New Year 2026 event features and bonuses

Features

Wild encounters

• Party Hat Bulbasaur [shiny available]
• Party Hat Charmander [shiny available]
• Party Hat Squirtle [shiny available]
• Ribbon Jigglypuff [shiny available]
• New Years Hat Hoothoot [shiny available]
• Party Hat Wurmple [shiny available]
• Party Top Hat Pikachu [rare encounter, shiny available]

Raids

One-star raids

• Party Hat Wurmple [shiny available]
• Party Top Hat Pikachu [shiny available]

Three-star raids

• Party Hat Raticate [shiny available]
• Party Hat Nidorino [shiny available]
• Party Hat Gengar [shiny available]
• Party Hat Wobbuffet [shiny available]

Five-star raids

• Blacephalon [shiny available]

Mega raids

• Mega Swampert [shiny available]

Featured attack

Blacephalon encountered after five-star raids during the event will know the Charged Attack Mind Blown.

• Trainer Battles: 90 power and a guaranteed chance to decrease the user’s defense.
• Gyms and raids: 130 power

Also read: Is Blacephalon with Mind Blown good in Pokemon GO PvP and PvE?

Bonuses

• 2× XP from Raid Battles
• 2× Stardust from Raid Battles
• Increased chance to encounter Shiny Party Top Hat Pikachu
• One additional Raid Pass per day from spinning Photo Discs at Gyms (for a daily total of two) [ticketed players only]

Additionally, there will be free and paid research tasks offering Stardust, Lucky Eggs, Incense, and encounters with Party Top Hat Pikachu.

Best tips and tricks for Pokemon GO New Year 2026

Do the following things to make the most out of Pokemon GO New Year 2026:

• Catch costumed Pokemon: Lots of new and old costumed creatures are available during this period. You can add them to your collection.
• Participate in raids: Completing raids will give you more XP and Stardust. This can be further increased using Lucky Eggs and Star Pieces.
• Get Mind Blown Blacephalon: Mind Blown is a strict improvement to Blacephalon's previous moveset.

Best shinies and PvP picks for Pokemon GO New Year 2026

Best shinies

• Blacephalon
• Party Top Hat Pikachu
• Ribbon Jigglypuff
• Party Hat Charmander

Best PvP picks

• Party Hat Squirtle
• Party Hat Charmander
• Ribbon Jigglypuff

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