The Dancing in the Moonlight event promises to be a magical celebration that will have trainers looking up at the night sky. However, this event is only available for Pokémon GO Trainers in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
The Dancing in the Moonlight event brings a celestial theme centered around the iconic fairy-type Pokémon, Clefairy. If you love nocturnal Pokémon, unique encounters, and great in-game bonuses, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
Dancing in the Moonlight Event Dates and Regional Availability
Timing is everything in Pokémon GO. The event officially kicks off on Wednesday, September 23, at 10:00 a.m. and runs through Sunday, September 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. local time in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.
Make sure to mark your calendars and check your local time zones so you don’t miss out on the nocturnal festivities!
This is one of several local events happening in Pokémon GO.
Featured Pokémon and Special Spawns
The core theme of the Dancing in the Moonlight event is night-time creatures and lunar associations, giving certain fan-favorite Pokémon a chance to shine under the moonlight.
Daily Clefairy Surges
During the event period, Clefairy will appear in massive numbers in the wild for a brief five-minute window at 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. each day. Keep your Poké Balls ready, because if you are lucky, you might even encounter a Shiny Clefairy!
Moonlight O’Clock Spawns
In addition to the daily Clefairy surges, the Dancing in the Moonlight event features a unique “Moonlight O’Clock” mechanic. At 12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m. daily, a curated lineup of Pokémon will appear in large numbers in the wild for five minutes. The featured Pokémon include Clefairy (featuring a Special Background), Jigglypuff, Teddiursa, Skitty, Munna, and Bunnelby
Just like with the standard surges, lucky trainers will have a chance to encounter the Shiny variants of these featured species.
Timed Research Opportunities
No Pokémon GO event is complete without dedicated research tasks to keep trainers engaged and rewarded. The event celebration features two consecutive Timed Research opportunities.
Keep in mind that trainers must completely finish the first Timed Research before they are able to progress to the second.
First Timed Research Details
Completing the tasks for the first set of research will yield some fantastic rewards to help boost your inventory and Pokédex: 1,000 XP, 1,000 Stardust, Teddiursa, Skitty, Lunatone, Bunnelby, Clefairy with a Special Background and more exciting rewards!
Note: This first Timed Research is scheduled to expire on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
Second Timed Research Details
Once you unlock and complete the second Timed Research tier, you can look forward to even more encounters, including sn encounter with Clefairy with a Special Background, encounters with Teddiursa, Skitty, or Bunnelby, and additional bonus items
Important Reminder: Be sure to complete your Timed Research tasks and claim all of your rewards within three days of receiving them so you don’t miss out.
Event Bonuses
To make your gameplay even more rewarding while hunting down moonlit spawns, Niantic is offering a special bonus throughout the duration of the event:
2× Catch XP: Double the experience points for catching Pokémon means it is the perfect time to drop Lucky Eggs, practice your excellent throws, and level up your account quickly.
Tips for Maximizing Your Event Experience
To get the absolute most out of the Dancing in the Moonlight event, consider keeping these strategies in mind:
Track the O’Clock Windows: the special spawn windows only last for five minutes at specific hours (12:00 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.). Set alarms on your phone so you don’t lose track of time.
Stock Up on Supplies: With double Catch XP active and plenty of wild spawns to clear out, make sure your Item Bag is well-stocked with Poké Balls, Great Balls, Ultra Balls, and Incense before the event begins.
Prioritize Your Timed Research: Timed Research requires sequential completion and has strict expiration guidelines (especially the 3-day claim window after receiving rewards) Try to knock out your objectives as early as possible.
Hunt for Special Backgrounds: The Clefairy variants featuring Special Backgrounds will make for amazing additions to your collection or prime trading material with friends who couldn’t participate.
Get Ready to Explore Safely
As always, the Pokémon GO team reminds all trainers to remain mindful of their surroundings, respect local laws, and follow guidance from local health authorities while playing.
Prepare your gear, clear out your Pokémon storage, and get ready to dance under the moonlight later this September!
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