Pokémon fans have another reason to visit McDonald’s this November. A new Pokémon Trading Card Game promotion is reportedly arriving as part of the franchise’s 30th anniversary celebrations. However, this year’s collaboration will introduce something that collectors haven’t seen in years.
Alongside collectible Pokémon cards, McDonald’s is bringing back physical Pokémon toys inspired by its iconic Happy Meal boxes. The promotion will feature 15 different toys and 15 trading cards, giving fans plenty to collect before the end of 2026.
New information has also revealed updated release dates for several countries, correcting earlier reports about when the promotion would begin.
McDonald’s Pokémon Promotion Begins in November 2026
According to the latest reports, the Pokémon Happy Meal promotion will begin in Canada on November 3, followed by Australia on November 5 and the United States on November 10.
The Canadian promotion is expected to continue until December 7, while Australia’s event will end on December 9. American customers will have until December 14 to collect the available Pokémon merchandise.
Earlier reports suggested that the American promotion would begin on November 5. However, updated information indicates that this date belongs to the Australian launch instead.
The collaboration is also expected to reach additional countries, although their release dates remain unknown. Unfortunately, there is currently no confirmed launch date for the Netherlands or other European markets.
Pokémon Happy Meals Will Feature 15 Collectible Toys
One of the biggest surprises is the return of physical Pokémon toys. For the first time since 2018, McDonald’s is reportedly including plastic Pokémon collectibles alongside its trading card promotion.
Each toy resembles a miniature Happy Meal box designed around a particular Pokémon. The collection features familiar characters such as Pikachu, Eevee, Charmander, Bulbasaur, Squirtle, Umbreon and several others.
The toys also serve a practical purpose for collectors. Their backs function as card displays, allowing fans to showcase their Pokémon trading cards.
This combination makes the upcoming promotion particularly interesting. Instead of receiving only trading cards, customers can collect matching Pokémon-themed merchandise that doubles as a display accessory.
Pokémon TCG Cards Return With a Different Format
The upcoming collaboration will also feature a collection of 15 Pokémon TCG cards. However, there is an important difference compared to previous McDonald’s promotions.
Rather than receiving the traditional four-card booster pack, customers will reportedly receive two random Pokémon cards with each collectible toy.
The cards will feature existing Pokémon TCG artwork with special McDonald’s numbering, rather than an entirely new selection of original illustrations.
Several Pokémon have already appeared in reports about the upcoming card collection. These include Metagross from Temporal Forces, Palafin from Obsidian Flames and Hawlucha from Scarlet & Violet.
The complete card collection remains unknown, and details about holographic variants have not yet been revealed. Previous McDonald’s promotions typically included six holographic cards featuring a distinctive confetti-style finish.
Whether the 2026 collection will continue that tradition remains to be seen.
Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary Makes This Promotion Special
The timing of the collaboration is hardly surprising. Pokémon has celebrated its 30th anniversary throughout 2026, with special merchandise, trading card releases and other anniversary activities.
McDonald’s has maintained a long-running relationship with the Pokémon franchise. Its Happy Meal promotions have become popular among younger fans and longtime collectors alike.
However, that popularity has occasionally created problems. Previous Pokémon promotions attracted resellers who purchased large quantities of Happy Meals specifically for the collectible cards.
The 2025 Japanese Pokémon promotion attracted particular criticism after reports emerged of customers discarding uneaten food while attempting to obtain valuable promotional cards.
With another anniversary collection approaching, McDonald’s could face similar demand. The addition of collectible toys may make the upcoming promotion even more attractive to fans.
Will the Pokémon Happy Meal Promotion Come to Europe?
For European Pokémon fans, the biggest unanswered question concerns availability.
Although the promotion is expected to expand beyond Canada, Australia and the United States, no specific European release schedule has been confirmed.
That means fans in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom will need to wait for additional information before planning a visit to their local McDonald’s.
The reported dates, toy designs and card details also remain subject to change until McDonald’s or The Pokémon Company provides a full official announcement.
Nevertheless, the return of Pokémon trading cards alongside physical collectible toys could make this one of the more memorable McDonald’s collaborations of 2026.
With Pokémon’s anniversary celebrations approaching their conclusion, fans may have one more opportunity to expand their collections before the year ends.
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