Pokémon GO is closing out 2025 with a festive celebration as Winter Holiday Part 1 begins on December 18. Even though the year is nearly over, players still have plenty of opportunities to chase rare encounters, collect themed rewards, and enjoy seasonal bonuses. The event arrives at the end of a year filled with major additions, including new Pokémon debuts such as Tarountula, Spidops, Dipplin, and Hydrapple, as well as the Trainer level cap increase from 50 to 80.
Winter Holiday Part 1 continues that momentum with new costumed Pokémon, special eggs, raid battles, seasonal avatar items, and the return of an upgraded GO Pass.
New Costumed Pokémon Arrive for the Holidays
Festive Sudowoodo, Charjabug, and Vikavolt Debut
Running from Thursday, December 18 at 10:00 a.m. to Wednesday, December 24 at 10:00 a.m. local time, Winter Holiday Part 1 introduces three new costumed Pokémon:
- Sudowoodo wearing holiday attire
- Charjabug wearing holiday attire
- Vikavolt wearing holiday attire
Players can encounter festive Sudowoodo and Charjabug in the wild, with a chance for them to appear shiny. To obtain a holiday-themed Vikavolt, players must catch a costumed Charjabug and evolve it using 100 Grubbin Candy while near a Magnetic Lure Module.
Wild Encounters and Egg Hatches
Seasonal Encounters in the Wild
Winter-themed Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild during the event. These include:
- Swinub
- Snorunt
- Spheal
- Festive Sudowoodo
- Festive Charjabug
Some encounters may appear as shiny versions.
7 km Eggs Feature Exclusive Holiday Hatches
Eggs collected and hatched during the event can contain seasonal and costumed Pokémon, including:
- Pichu wearing a festive hat
- Cubchoo wearing a holiday ribbon
- Smoochum
- Cryogonal
- Snom
These eggs provide another path to obtaining rare or costumed Pokémon during the event window.
Seasonal Raid Battles
Players can take on special three-star raids featuring:
- Sudowoodo wearing holiday attire
- Hisuian Avalugg
- Charjabug wearing holiday attire
These raids offer additional chances to catch the new seasonal variants.
New Avatar Items Arrive
For fans who enjoy customizing their Trainer look, Winter Holiday Part 1 adds two avatar items inspired by the event’s featured Pokémon:
- Charjabug Bag
- Sudowoodo Holiday Sweater
Both items will remain available in the in-game store even after the event ends.
GO Pass: Winter Holiday 2025
Free and Paid Tracks Return
The Winter Holiday GO Pass runs from December 18 at 10:00 a.m. to December 29 at 8:00 p.m. local time. Similar to previous passes, it offers both free and paid reward tracks.
Free Rewards Include:
- Encounter with Snom
- Encounters with event-themed Pokémon
- Stardust
- XP
- Poke Balls
- Candy
- Additional seasonal rewards
GO Pass Deluxe Rewards Include:
- Snom Beanie for Avatars
- More encounters with themed Pokémon
- Premium Battle Passes
- Rare Candy XL
- Candy XL
- Additional premium rewards
Milestone bonuses unlock as players progress through Pass tasks, providing a steady flow of rewards throughout the event.
More Holiday Content Still on the Way
Winter Holiday Part 1 concludes on December 24, but this isn’t the end of the seasonal celebrations. Winter Holiday Part 2 is expected to follow shortly afterward, bringing even more opportunities to catch special Pokémon, earn rewards, and enjoy the last events of the year. With 2026 approaching, the Pokémon GO community still has plenty to look forward to.
