October in Pokémon Go ushers in the annual Halloween event, split into two parts with the second half extending into November. This year's spooky season also brings back powerful Pokémon through five-star Legendary and Mega Evolution raids. Players can also anticipate various other events, including Spotlight Hours and Max Battles.
October 2026 Event Schedule
The month kicks off with the Harvest Festival event, running from September 29 to October 5, featuring Applin Picking and a Taken Over segment. October 3rd hosts a Gigantamax Cinderace Max Battle Day. The World Space Week event runs from October 4 to October 10, followed by a Zorua Community Day on October 10. The Fall Marathon: Buddy Trek event takes place from October 13 to October 19, with a Sandile Hatch Day on October 16. A Dynamax Max Battle Day is scheduled for October 24. The Halloween 2026 event begins on October 27 and concludes on October 31, featuring a Super Mega Raid Day on the final day of the month.
Legendary and Mega Raid Lineup
The Legendary five-star raid schedule begins with Xerneas from September 30 to October 6, followed by Yveltal from October 7 to October 13. Dialga will be available from October 14 to October 20, and Palkia from October 21 to October 27. The month concludes with Giratina Origin Forme appearing in raids from October 28 to November 3. Giratina Origin Forme is recommended for its effectiveness as a Ghost-type attacker.
Mega Raids will feature Mega Victreebel from September 30 to October 6, followed by Mega Blastoise from October 7 to October 13. Mega Dragonite is available from October 14 to October 20. From October 21 to October 27, both Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y will be present. The schedule wraps up with Mega Sableye from October 28 to November 3. Players can obtain Mega Energy for these Pokémon and encounters with their regular forms from Mega Raids.
Max Battle and Spotlight Hour
In Max Battles, players can encounter Sobble from September 28 to October 4, followed by Sizzlipede from October 5 to October 11. Rookidee will be available from October 12 to October 18, and Sneasel from October 19 to October 25. Sableye concludes the Max Battle schedule from October 26 to November 1. The Stufful Spotlight Hour on October 15, offering double Transfer Candy, is highlighted as particularly beneficial due to Stufful's high evolution candy cost.
Spotlight Hours in October include Seedot on October 1 (double Catch XP), Elgyem on October 8 (double Catch Candy), Stufful on October 15 (double Transfer Candy), Morelull on October 22 (double Catch Stardust), and Gastly on October 29 (double Evolution XP).
Shadow Raids
Shadow Incarnate Forme Thundurus will be available in five-star Shadow Raids until October 6. It will be succeeded by Shadow Incarnate Forme Landorus, which will be present until November 3. Both of these Shadow Legendaries can be encountered in their shiny forms. Remote Raid Passes can now be used for Shadow Raids, though preparation for these encounters is advised.