McDonald's is set to bring back its highly anticipated Pokémon Happy Meal promotion in November 2026, coinciding with the franchise's 30th anniversary. The promotion, which is expected to run from November 5 to December 9, has historically drawn significant crowds and long queues at the fast-food chain.
News of the promotion's return, first reported by PokéBeach, indicates a standard set of 15 collectible cards will be available. These cards will come in booster packs of four, with three regular cards and one holographic card. While previous iterations have featured reprints from earlier sets, often distinguished by a small set symbol, some past batches have included unique holographic patterns.
Each Happy Meal will include one booster pack, along with a choice between a toy or a booklet. Notably, McDonald's in the UK has eliminated plastic toys from its Happy Meals, opting for cardboard alternatives.
The annual Pokémon and McDonald's collaboration often sparks considerable excitement, leading to instances of scalpers and collectors attempting to purchase large quantities of meals solely for the card packs. This can result in extended wait times for other customers and make it difficult for children to obtain the items. In Japan, a similar event in the past was reportedly abandoned due to the chaos it caused in stores.
Given the current high demand for the Pokémon Trading Card Game and the special 30th Anniversary celebrations, it remains to be seen how this year's promotion will unfold. Details regarding the specific cards or Pokémon featured, and whether they will directly tie into the 30th-anniversary theme, have not yet been announced. It is worth noting that the packs often contain relatively common cards, making the widespread frenzy sometimes seem disproportionate to the collectible value.