Anaheim Welcomes Pokémon’s Elite: 2025 World Championships Full Event Guide

The culmination of a year-long, globe-spanning competitive circuit is here. From August 14 to August 17, 2025, the Pokémon world turns its eyes to Anaheim, California, as the most skilled trainers on the planet converge for the 2025 Pokémon World Championships. Hosted at the expansive Anaheim Convention Center, this event is more than just a tournament; it is a grand celebration of Pokémon culture, competition, and community. For the players who have battled through countless regional, international, and online events to earn their coveted invitations, this is the pinnacle. They will compete across four distinct disciplines—the Pokémon TCG, the Pokémon Video Game Championships (VGC), Pokémon GO, and Pokémon Unite for a share of a staggering combined prize pool of over $2,000,000.

Beyond the life-changing prize money, what is at stake is the ultimate title of Pokémon World Champion, a distinction that cements a player’s legacy in the annals of competitive Pokémon history. Winners will also receive a guaranteed invitation to defend their title at the 2026 World Championships, set to take place in San Francisco, California. The event recognizes the immense dedication of every participant; all qualified competitors receive an exclusive welcome kit packed with special merchandise, a testament to the achievement of simply reaching the world stage.

This championship weekend is designed as a two-pronged spectacle. For the thousands making the pilgrimage to Anaheim, it is an immersive fan festival filled with exclusive activities, shopping, and community gatherings. For the millions watching from home, it is a world-class digital broadcast, offering front-row seats to every critical match, expert commentary, and a trove of in-game rewards that bring the celebration directly into their favorite Pokémon games. Whether you are on the ground or on the stream, this guide will prepare you for every moment of the action.

Table 1: Master Event Schedule (All Times PT)

The Anaheim Experience: A Guide for On-Site Attendees

For those with a spectator badge making the journey to the Anaheim Convention Center, the World Championships offer an experience that extends far beyond the main stage competitions. This is your complete guide to navigating the venue, participating in fan activities, and making the most of your time in Anaheim.

Making Your Way Through The World’s Campus

The heart of the action is the Anaheim Convention Center, located at 800 W Katella Ave, Anaheim, CA 92802. To help attendees find their way, official campus and convention center maps are available on the Worlds website. Competitors and spectators are strongly encouraged to pick up their badges ahead of the main events, with a pre-scheduled pickup time available on Thursday, August 14, from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM PDT. Competitors will need to provide their name, Player ID number, and a form of identification to receive their badge.

Key locations within the convention center have been designated for specific activities:

• Hall A – Merchants and Partners: Open from Friday to Sunday, this hall is a marketplace where attendees can shop for TCG cards, apparel, plushies, and other merchandise from various vendors. It also serves as a showcase for official Pokémon partners to display their latest apps and games.
• Hall C – Pokémon TCG Art Showcase: This gallery will feature a curated collection of artwork from the newly released Scarlet & Violet—Black Bolt and Scarlet & Violet—White Flare TCG expansions. Fans can also participate in a “Draw Your Own Card” activity here.
• Hall D – Pokémon Center Pop-Up Store: The location for one of the event’s most popular attractions, the exclusive pop-up store.

Beyond the Main Stage

The “Worlds Experience” is a core part of the event, with a packed schedule of programming designed for all badged attendees.

• Panels and Workshops: The schedule features over a dozen panels covering a wide range of topics. Fans can hear directly from talented TCG artists like Shimaris Yukichi, Saboteri, OKACHEKE, and kantaro; delve into Pokémon history with Serebii; and get an exclusive preview of the Pokémon Center’s upcoming fall and Halloween collections. For a more hands-on experience, free workshops are available, including a Bandai Namco model kit workshop where you can build your own Pikachu souvenir and an art class with content creator Jamie Jo Art.
• Special Guests and Autographs: A massive roster of special guests will be in attendance, from TCG and Pokémon GO artists to world-famous content creators like Jaiden Animations and Leonhart. A dedicated Autograph Room will host signing sessions throughout the weekend. Attendance for these sessions is limited and requires pre-registration on the(https://worlds.pokemon.com/en-us/) for a chance to be randomly selected, so be sure to sign up for each session you wish to attend.
• Community and Collection: The event is a hub for collectors and traders. A designated Collect & Trade area allows fans to showcase their collections and trade official Pokémon items, including TCG cards, playmats, and plush. The beloved Pin Rally also returns, where attendees can trade official Pokémon pins with fellow fans and designated staff members to complete their collections.
• Side Events: For those with a competitive itch, numerous smaller side tournaments will run all weekend. Participation in these events earns tickets that can be exchanged for prizes like booster packs and plush at the prize wall. Additionally, the “Open” tournament offers a chance to get a head start on earning Championship Points for the 2026 season.

The Pokémon Center Pop-Up Store

A highlight for many attendees is the Pokémon Center pop-up store, which offers exclusive merchandise not available anywhere else. Located in Hall D, this is a must-visit destination.

• Access and Rules: Entry to the Pokémon Center is a separate experience from the main event. It is accessible to the public without a tournament badge, but it requires a reservation. Details on how to make a reservation were announced in July on the official Pokémon website. Be aware that the store is cashless and only accepts debit and credit cards. To ensure products are available to as many fans as possible, purchase limits may be in effect for certain items, and all sales are final.
• Exclusive Merchandise: The store is the only place to get the highly sought-after 2025 World Championships–exclusive plush, which this year feature Pikachu, Jigglypuff, Machamp, and Fennekin. Other exclusive and curated products include a Charizard Flamethrower Backpack, a Pokémon × Celio Magikarp Bucket Hat, TCG playmats, deck boxes, and apparel.
• Store Logistics: The store has a strict baggage policy: no suitcases or shopping bags are allowed in the store. Backpacks are permitted but must be fully zipped and worn on your back. While on-site shipping services are not provided, a FedEx store is conveniently located less than a block away inside the Anaheim Marriott hotel for those who wish to ship their purchases home.

Table 2: Pokémon Center Pop-Up Store Hours (All Times PT)

Essential Logistics: Travel, Food, and Policies

Proper planning is key to a stress-free weekend. Here is what you need to know about getting around, dining, and venue rules.

• Transportation: Anaheim provides several convenient options for getting to the convention center.
  • Public Transit: The Metrolink train system connects to the Anaheim ARTIC station. From there, the ART offers free service directly to the convention center for anyone with a valid Metrolink or Amtrak ticket. The ART system also connects the entire Anaheim Resort area, including hotels and other attractions like Disneyland.
  • Airport Shuttles: For those flying in, shuttle services like karmel connect and the John Wayne Airport Shuttle Association offer direct transportation from local airports (SNA, LAX, LGB) to the convention center and nearby hotels.
  • Parking: For those driving, multiple parking lots are situated around the convention center. A map of these lots is available on the convention center’s official website.
• Dining Guide: Anaheim is a certified “foodie city” with options for every palate and budget.
• Bag Policy: The bag policy for the Anaheim Convention Center can vary depending on the event. For example, the D23 Expo held at the same venue allowed bags up to 24″ x 15″ x 18″, while VidCon enforced a much stricter policy of only allowing small personal bags no larger than 12″ x 12″. The Pokémon Center pop-up store’s rules imply that standard backpacks are acceptable in that specific area. Given this potential for variation, attendees are advised to check for official signage and announcements from Play! Pokémon upon arrival. To ensure a smooth entry, the safest approach is to pack light and use a small bag that would comply with the stricter policies.

If You’re Catching the Action from Home

For the global Pokémon community unable to attend in person, The Pokémon Company has curated a world-class broadcast experience. This guide provides everything you need to follow the competition, claim exclusive rewards, and feel like you are part of the action from anywhere in the world.

The Official Broadcast Guide

Every major match from all four championship events will be livestreamed across dedicated (https://www.twitch.tv/pokemon) and (https://youtube.com/@Pokemon) channels, complete with expert commentary teams to break down the action. The broadcasts will run from Friday, August 15, through the finals on Sunday, August 17.

Table 3: Detailed Livestream Schedule (All Times PT)

Online Rewards: Twitch Drops and In-Game Codes

Watching the World Championships from home comes with a plethora of exclusive digital prizes for your favorite Pokémon games. This rewards system is designed to create an interactive viewing experience, encouraging fans to tune into multiple streams across the weekend. Some rewards are distributed via passwords revealed on stream, while others are earned through Twitch Drops, which require you to set up connections and watch for a specified amount of time.

Table 4: 2025 World Championships In-Game Rewards Summary

The Battle for the Crown:

To fully appreciate the skill on display, it helps to understand the strategies, storylines, and top contenders in each competition. Here is your expert preview of the battles ahead.

The Video Game Championships (VGC): Regulation G Showdown

The VGC tournament is defined by a fascinating tension between established, optimized power and creative counter-play. The current format has seen a few dominant team archetypes rise to the top, but the World Championships are notorious for rewarding players who can predict the meta and bring a surprise strategy.

The core narrative of this tournament will be whether the raw power of the format’s best teams can be overcome by a player with a brilliant meta call. The most consistent and powerful core all season has been the combination of Shadow Rider Calyrex and Zamazenta, a pairing that offers a devastating mix of special and physical offense. Its rise has been aided by the surprising resurgence of Smeargle, which provides critical support with moves like Fake Out, Follow Me, and the newly available Decorate, allowing Calyrex to set up and sweep. The other “public enemy” of the format is the duo of Ice Rider Calyrex and Miraidon, which presents a different but equally potent offensive threat. However, keep an eye out for dark horse picks. Experts and fans alike are speculating on the potential of underutilized restricted Pokémon like Terapagos, Kyogre, or Koraidon to make a surprise run.

Players to Watch: The field is stacked with talent. Keep an eye on Europe’s best, including NAIC winner Federico Camporesi and three-time International Champion Marco Silva, both from Italy. North America boasts former World Champion(https://www.youtube.com/c/wolfeyvgc) and consistent top performer Carson Confer. From Japan, watch for National Champion Yuma Kinugawa and the legendary Shohei Kimura.

Table 5: VGC Meta Snapshot

The Trading Card Game (TCG)

The TCG World Championships will be the first major international event to feature the new Black Bolt and White Flare sets and the impact has been significant. While no entirely new deck has emerged to dominate the format, the new cards have fundamentally shaken up the existing top tiers. Victory will likely go not to the player with the “best” deck on paper, but to the one who has most deeply understood the new, subtle interactions and can navigate a field of unpredictable matchups.

Gardevoir ex, already a powerhouse, gains a terrifying new tool in Jellicent ex, whose Oceanic Curse Ability can lock opponents out of playing Item cards, crippling setup-reliant decks. Gholdengo ex, once seen as a fun but inconsistent deck, has been elevated to top-tier status with the help of Genesect ex for improved consistency and the return of the Air Balloon tool card, which solves its mobility issues. Meanwhile,(https://limitlesstcg.com/decks/290) variants have more options than ever, with some players including the new Hilda Supporter card or teching in Chi-Yu to counter the rise of Gholdengo ex.

Players to Watch: Look for strong performances from North American International Champion(https://limitlesstcg.com/players/338) (Gardevoir ex) and other top finishers from that event. Players from Japan, who have had more time to practice with the new set, are also expected to make a deep run.

Table 6: TCG Meta Snapshot

Pokémon GO: Global Battlers and a Worldwide Celebration

The(https://pokemongolive.com/post/world-championships-event-2025/) is a unique event where the high-stakes esports tournament is mirrored by a massive in-game celebration for all players. The tournament itself will feature the world’s best battlers, including international stars like Argentina’s MartoGalde, a bronze medalist from last year who has dominated the circuit this season. The competition will follow a tense double-elimination bracket format, where one loss sends a player to the lower bracket and a second means elimination.

Simultaneously, all Pokémon GO players can participate in the world championships in-game events from Friday, August 15, at 10:00 AM to Sunday, August 17, at 8:00 PM local time. This event features:

• Costumed Pokémon: The debut of Pikachu wearing a stylish varsity jacket, with a chance to find a Shiny one.
• Special Raids and Encounters: Raids will feature competitive Pokémon like Lapras and Dusclops, while wild encounters will include Mankey, Paldean Wooper, and Fuecoco.
• GO Battle Weekend: A major highlight for PvP fans, this bonus-filled weekend offers 4× Stardust from win rewards and increases the maximum number of battle sets per day from five to a whopping 20, for a total of 100 battles daily.
• Paid Timed Research: For US$5.00, players can access exclusive Timed Research that rewards encounters with powerful Pokémon like Guzzlord, Carbink, and Azumarill, plus a Premium Battle Pass and 25,000 Stardust.

This symbiotic relationship between the esports event and the in-game celebration makes the entire player base aware of the competitive scene while providing a direct way for them to participate in the festivities.

Pokémon UNITE: The Rise of a True Esport

The Pokémon Unite world championship is structured like a traditional, high-stakes esports event, showcasing The Pokémon Company’s commitment to building it as a premier competitive title. With its own $500,000 prize pool, including a $100,000 grand prize for the champions, the tournament is designed for maximum drama and excitement.

The format will see 29 of the world’s best teams begin their journey on Day 1 in a round-robin Group Stage. Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the grueling 16-team, single-elimination Bracket Stage on Day 2. The pressure will be immense, as a single loss in this stage ends a team’s championship run. By the end of Saturday, only two teams will remain. They will face off on Championship Sunday in a climactic, best-of-five Grand Final to determine the 2025 Pokémon UNITE World Champions. Viewers can follow the full brackets and team rosters on the official tournament page on start.gg.

The Final Countdown Starts Now

As the first matches draw near, here is a final checklist to ensure you are fully prepared for an unforgettable weekend of Pokémon action.

For On-Site Attendees:

• Confirm Reservations: Double-check your reservation time for the Pokémon Center pop-up store.
• Plan Your Bag: Given the potential for varying bag policies, pack light and use a small backpack to ensure smooth entry. Confirm the official policy on-site.
• Map Your Journey: Plan your transportation route in advance, whether using public transit like Metrolink and ART or driving and parking. Download the convention center map to your phone.
• Check the Schedule: Review the schedule for panels, workshops, and autograph sessions you want to attend. Remember that autograph sessions require pre-registration and random selection.

For At-Home Viewers:

• Link Your Accounts: Connect your Pokémon Trainer Club account to your Twitch account to be eligible for Twitch Drops.
• Set Reminders: Review the broadcast schedule and set alarms for the finals and streams you don’t want to miss.
• Keep the Rewards Guide Handy: Have the rewards summary table ready so you know which streams to watch, for how long, and when to look for passwords.

The stage is set, the players are ready, and a weekend of thrilling competition and joyous celebration awaits. In just a few days, four new World Champions will be crowned, their names etched into Pokémon history. Whether you are in the arena in Anaheim or watching from across the globe, get ready to witness the very best.