Pokémon fans may have another collectible hunt waiting for them before the end of 2026. A new leak claims that McDonald’s is preparing a Pokémon Happy Meal promotion for November, complete with collectible Pokémon cards and additional goodies.
According to information reported by PokeBeach, the promotion is currently expected to begin in the United States on November 5 and continue until December 9, 2026.
The collaboration would arrive during Pokémon’s ongoing 30th-anniversary celebrations and could once again turn ordinary Happy Meals into highly sought-after collector items.
However, none of the leaked details should be considered official until McDonald’s or The Pokémon Company formally announces the promotion.
15 Pokémon Cards Reportedly Included
The centerpiece of the upcoming promotion is reportedly a 15-card Pokémon TCG collection.
Happy Meals are expected to include packs containing four cards, meaning collectors will need multiple packs if they want a chance at completing the entire collection.
Most of the cards are currently expected to be reprints rather than completely new Pokémon TCG cards.
There could be at least one particularly interesting exception.
The leak suggests that a McDonald’s-exclusive Pikachu card previously released only in Japan could potentially make its way into the promotion. Its inclusion has not been confirmed, however, so collectors should treat that detail as speculation for now.
If it does happen, the Pikachu card could easily become one of the most desirable items from the entire promotion.
Happy Meals Could Include More Than Cards
The promotion reportedly won’t stop with Pokémon cards.
Happy Meals could also include either a toy or something described as an “essential handbook.” Exactly what McDonald’s has planned remains unclear.
There is also speculation that the additional item could actually be a cardboard card display similar to accessories included during previous Pokémon promotions.
Whatever form it eventually takes, McDonald’s appears to be preparing more than simply throwing a Pokémon card pack into every Happy Meal.
Pokémon and McDonald’s Have Plenty of History
A Pokémon collaboration with McDonald’s certainly wouldn’t be unusual.
McDonald’s has repeatedly partnered with Pokémon over the years, particularly in the United States, where Happy Meal Pokémon cards have become a familiar sight during major promotional campaigns.
Other fast-food chains have occasionally joined Pokémon promotions as well, including KFC and Burger King.
Japan also received special Pokémon-themed burgers earlier this year, with designs inspired by the original Kanto starters Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle.
With Pokémon celebrating its 30th anniversary throughout 2026, another large McDonald’s campaign would fit comfortably alongside the franchise’s other anniversary activities.
And Then There Are the Scalpers
Of course, Pokémon cards appearing inside Happy Meals also means something considerably less exciting could return: scalping.
Previous McDonald’s Pokémon promotions attracted enormous demand from collectors, but they also attracted people buying large quantities simply to resell the cards.
The situation became particularly noticeable during the 2021 Pokémon Happy Meal promotion. Demand became intense enough that McDonald’s introduced tighter restrictions on purchases in an attempt to stop individuals from clearing out available stock.
Pokémon products continue to face similar problems today. Highly desirable cards, special collections, and limited releases can disappear extremely quickly, sometimes appearing on resale platforms shortly afterwards at inflated prices.
The Pokémon Company has attempted to fight some of these practices as well. Pokémon Center has previously canceled suspicious orders and taken action against automated purchases associated with bots.
Whether those measures will be enough for another McDonald’s promotion remains to be seen.
Hopefully Kids Can Actually Get Them This Time
Pokémon Happy Meals are supposed to be fun promotional items that introduce younger fans to Pokémon while giving existing collectors something inexpensive to chase.
That becomes considerably harder when someone decides they need 70 Happy Meals worth of cards sitting in their garage before lunchtime.
Purchase limits could therefore become important again if demand reaches the levels seen during previous promotions.
For now, collectors should remember that the November campaign remains based on leaked information. The reported dates, card selection, accessories, and possible exclusive Pikachu could still change before an official announcement arrives.
If the leak proves accurate, however, Pokémon fans in the United States should keep an eye on McDonald’s beginning November 5, with the promotion reportedly lasting until December 9.
And if you’re only after the Pikachu card, perhaps leave at least one Happy Meal for an actual kid.
