Overview
ex★ is the name of the next Pokémon Trading Card Game series. It was announced on 31 August 2026 at the closing ceremony of the 2026 Pokémon World Championships, and it follows the Mega Evolution series.
The announcement was a logo and a short teaser featuring Raikou, Entei and Suicune. No set name, release date, card or game mechanic has been announced.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Series Name | ex★, written ex Star in English coverage |
| Announced | 31 August 2026, at the Pokémon World Championships |
| Pokémon Teased | Raikou, Entei, Suicune |
| First Set | Not announced |
| Release Date | Not announced |
| Card Mechanic | Not announced |
| Replaces | The Mega Evolution series |
★ What Is Confirmed
The series name and logo, the announcement date, and the three Pokémon in the teaser. Nothing else — including how ex★ cards will work, and whether the beasts are the first cards or only the first Pokémon shown.
This page is updated as details are revealed. Follow @Bills_Archive for updates.
Reading the Name
The logo is the word ex in lower case followed by a star. English coverage writes it ex★, ex Star or exStar. All three mean the same series.
Both halves have TCG history. Lower-case ex has marked the game’s headline rare Pokémon since the Scarlet & Violet series began in 2023, and before that in the original EX era of the early 2000s. The star was used in that same EX era on Gold Star cards.
Whether ex★ is a new card mechanic, a rarity, or only a series name has not been said. Series names do not always describe a mechanic — Sword & Shield and Scarlet & Violet took their names from the games.
When the ex★ Series Starts
No date has been announced. The Mega Evolution series runs until at least 19 February 2027, and ex★ follows it.
| Set | Region | Date | Series |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30th Celebration | Worldwide | 16 September 2026 | Anniversary set |
| Aura Seeker | Japan | 27 November 2026 | Mega Evolution |
| MEGA x MEGA Parade | Japan | 19 February 2027 | Mega Evolution (High Class Pack) |
| First ex★ set | TBC | TBC | ex★ |
⚠ Start Dates Are Unconfirmed
Coverage tying the ex★ launch to a 2027 video game release is inference. Nothing in the reveal named a set, a date or a game.
No English ex★ product has been announced. For how the Japanese and English schedules line up, see the Japanese to English set map.
The last dated Mega Evolution set MEGA x MEGA Parade — 19 February 2027Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Pokémon TCG ex★ series?
ex★ is the name of the next Pokémon Trading Card Game series, announced on 31 August 2026 at the Pokémon World Championships. It follows the Mega Evolution series. Only the name, the logo and a teaser have been released.
Is it ex★, ex Star or exStar?
All three refer to the same series. The logo is the word ex followed by a star symbol. English coverage writes it as ex Star because the star cannot always be typed.
When does the ex★ series release?
No release date has been announced. The Mega Evolution series runs at least until MEGA x MEGA Parade on 19 February 2027 in Japan, so ex★ begins after that.
Which Pokémon were shown in the ex★ teaser?
Raikou, Entei and Suicune — the three Johto legendary beasts. They were shown as promotional renders, not as cards.
What is the first ex★ set called?
No set name has been announced, in Japanese or English.
Will ex★ cards be a new mechanic?
Nothing has been announced about how ex★ cards work. A series name does not always describe a card mechanic.