NAIC wrapped in New Orleans this weekend, and the closing ceremony was where the news landed. For the competitive scene, the big item is the move to Chicago's McCormick Place in 2027. For collectors, the promo cards matter more. The Pokémon Company showed the full lineup heading to the World Championships in August, and four cards stand out.
Worlds runs 28–30 August 2026 in San Francisco. The first PokémonXP, a fan festival, runs alongside it on a shared ticket. This is what each card is, who gets it, and how hard it will be to find.
Everything revealed at the NAIC closing ceremony
The venue change was the headline, but the card news got the bigger reaction. The Pokémon Company showed the 2026 Worlds Welcome Kit for competitors, which includes a deck box, sleeves, a playmat and other items. It also revealed the Champion's line awarded to World Champions, the returning Paradise Resort competitor card, and both the Worlds and PokémonXP promo cards. There was also a first look at the PokémonXP exhibitor list. Confirmed partners include LEGO, Santa Cruz, Crocs, Funko, Stern Pinball, Build-A-Bear, Jazwares, Bandai Spirits and Sideshow, with more still to be announced. Attendees will also be able to buy the first PokémonXP Pikachu plush at Pokémon Center.
Four promo cards came out of the ceremony, and they sit at very different rarity levels: Paradise Resort (competitors only), the PokémonXP Rayquaza (badged attendees), the Worlds Pikachu (wide release), and the Winner-stamped Pikachu (division winners only).
2026 Paradise Resort promo card
Paradise Resort is a regular fixture at Worlds. It is a commemorative card given to competitors, redesigned each year around the host city. The 2024 version marked Honolulu and the 2025 version marked Anaheim, so the 2026 card is the San Francisco edition.
Because it goes to competitors rather than general retail, it is usually the hardest of the standard Worlds promos to get if you are not playing on the main stage. Past Paradise Resort cards have held solid prices on the secondary market, so non-attendees should expect to pay up for this one after the event.
2026 PokémonXP Rayquaza promo card
This is the new one. With PokémonXP launching this year, there is a PokémonXP-stamped Rayquaza tied to the festival and Worlds weekend. Every badged attendee at PokémonXP and the World Championships gets a copy.
The art comes from the Ascended Heroes set. Rayquaza has been one of the most in-demand Pokémon across the Mega Evolution era, and this stamped version is locked to a single event. It is also the first PokémonXP print, and it will not be reprinted.
Rayquaza has been one of the hobby's hottest names through the Mega Evolution sets. This stamp is exclusive to the event and will not be reprinted, so supply is capped at whatever attendance allows.
2026 Worlds Pikachu promo card
The Worlds Pikachu is the easiest of the four to get and one of the most collected promos each year. The print always references the previous season's Masters-division winning deck. For 2026 that means Gardevoir, a nod to the 2025 World Champion deck, with San Francisco in the background.
Distribution varies by country. The main route for people not attending is a Worlds Celebration at a local Play! Pokémon Store, where taking part earns you the card. As in past years, a Pokémon Center code release around August is also likely for the wider market.
The "Winner"-stamped Pikachu variant
The Winner-stamped Pikachu is the chase card. It started in 2025 and returns this year. The art is the same as the standard promo, but it adds a "Winner" stamp in the corner and a Play! Pokémon watermark behind the card text. Only the winner of each age division (Junior, Senior and Masters) at a Worlds Celebration tournament receives one, so very few exist.
Last year's version showed how thin supply gets. The 2025 Winner Pikachu has sold for hundreds of dollars, and sealed copies have been listed higher. If 2026 follows the same plan, expect a small number per store and strong demand for them.
How to get each promo card
Eligibility for each card is below. Regional details are still coming out, so treat the wider-release routes as the expected pattern from previous years rather than confirmed plans for 2026.
| Card | How to get it | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Paradise Resort | Awarded to Worlds competitors | Hard |
| PokémonXP Rayquaza | Badged PokémonXP / Worlds attendees | Hard |
| Worlds Pikachu | Worlds Celebration events, plus likely retail / Pokémon Center code | Easy |
| Winner Pikachu | Win your division at a Worlds Celebration tournament | Very hard |
2026 Worlds promo card FAQ
How do I get the 2026 Worlds Pikachu promo card?
Take part in a Worlds Celebration at a local Play! Pokémon Store to earn the standard Worlds Pikachu. As in previous years, a Pokémon Center code release around August is also expected for people not attending the event.
What is the 2026 PokémonXP Rayquaza promo card?
It is a Rayquaza promo carrying a PokémonXP stamp, given to badged attendees of PokémonXP and the 2026 Pokémon World Championships. The artwork is based on the Rayquaza from Ascended Heroes, and it is the first PokémonXP promo card.
How do you get the Winner-stamped Pikachu?
Win your age division (Junior, Senior or Masters) at a Worlds Celebration tournament. The card carries a "Winner" stamp and a Play! Pokémon watermark, and the print run is very small.
When and where are the 2026 Pokémon World Championships?
Worlds takes place 28–30 August 2026 in San Francisco, California, with the first PokémonXP fan festival running alongside it on a shared ticket.
The PokémonXP Rayquaza and the Winner Pikachu are the two to prioritise. Both are tied to the event, one is a first print and the other has a tiny run. The standard Worlds Pikachu is the card most collectors will actually own, and Paradise Resort stays the competitor-only card that is tough to find afterward. We will update this page as official distribution details are confirmed.