McDonald's has officially confirmed the return of its Pokémon Happy Meal promotion, set to launch in November 2026 for most regions. This collaboration brings back a fan-favorite promotion, featuring a collection of 15 special Pokémon cards and, for the first time in nearly a decade, actual toys.
The promotion will see Happy Meals distributed in distinctive yellow boxes designed to resemble Pikachu's head. Each box will contain two randomly selected Pokémon cards. These cards are reprints of popular Pokémon characters such as Jirachi, Snorlax, Eevee, and Pikachu, featuring artwork from notable artists like Kodama, Miki Kudo, and DOM. Historically, these McDonald's card reprints have been released with a holofoil finish.
Adding to the excitement, the Happy Meal will include mini plastic toys shaped like iconic Pokémon characters, including Squirtle, Charmander, and Bulbasaur. These toys represent a departure from the card-only offerings of recent years.
The Pokémon Happy Meal will roll out globally in phases. The United States, Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, New Zealand, and Spain will begin receiving the promotion in November 2026. Most other territories will see the launch in December, with Ireland and the U.K. starting in February 2027.
McDonald's and Pokémon have collaborated since 2011, with recent marketing campaigns generating significant buzz. The fast-food chain has previously experienced overwhelming demand and instances of customers purchasing large quantities of Happy Meals solely for the prizes, sometimes discarding the food. To manage this, McDonald's has implemented policies allowing customers to purchase the toy separately from the Happy Meal.