Summer’s last big Pokémon GO event is here, and it’s going out with a bang. Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale caps off the year’s GO Fest season with a full week of Mega Evolution content, a brand-new choose-your-path GO Pass, rotating habitats, and the return of Mega Mewtwo. Here’s the full breakdown.
When is the Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale?
The Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale is divided into the following mini-events
- GO Pass: Mega Finale: Available starting Monday, August 31, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. local time.
- Mega Ascension (lead-up event): Monday, August 31, at 10:00 a.m. to Friday, September 4, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. local time.
- GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale (main event): Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6, 2026, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time each day.
Choose Your Kalos Starter: Branching Timed Research
The Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale kicks off with a branching Timed Research story where Trainers pick one of the three Kalos starters:
- Chespin, which will lead to Mega Chesnaught (Grass/Fighting).
- Fennekin, which will lead to Mega Delphox (Fire/Psychic).
- Froakie, which will lead to Mega Greninja (Water/Dark).
The choice of a Kalos starter and the remaining Mega Evolution–focused journey will be available until the end of the Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale.
Whichever starter you choose determines your GO Pass rewards track and which Mega Evolution you’ll be working toward. Complete this Branching Timed Research to get GO Pass: Mega Finale, which will include rewards to help you Mega Evolve the Pokémon you chose.
The free GO Pass includes enough Mega Energy to Mega Evolve your chosen partner once, while GO Pass Deluxe holders can earn enough extra Mega Energy to push their partner’s Mega Level even higher. Trainers who bought the GO Pass Deluxe will earn additional rewards, including an increased chance to encounter certain Shiny event Pokémon and Mega Raid Bosses, additional Candy and Candy XL from Mega Raids, and bonus XP from Mega Raids.
GO Pass: Mega Finale Rewards Breakdown
The GO Pass runs August 31 to September 6 and has two tracks: the free path and GO Pass Deluxe (upgrade via the Pokémon GO Web Store for bonus items at no extra cost).
Key Major Milestone rewards
| Rank | Free Track | Deluxe Track |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Link Charge cap increase to 2,000 | Increased Shiny odds for your starter |
| 2 | Special Background encounter with your starter | Increased Shiny odds on 4★ Mega Raid bosses |
| 10 | Candy for your starter | Candy XL for your starter |
| 20 | Mega Energy for your starter | Mega Energy for your starter |
| 40 | Special Background encounter with your starter | Avatar shirt of your starter’s Mega Evolution |
| 60 | Mega Energy for your starter | Mega Energy for your starter |
| 70 | Special Background encounter with your starter | Increased Shiny odds in all wild encounters during event hours |
| 100 | Encounter with your starter’s final Evolution (Special Background) | Large Mega Energy bundle |
Progress continues past Rank 100 with repeat bonus rewards up to Rank 600. Deluxe holders also unlock exclusive avatar shirts (a Chesnaught, Delphox, or Greninja tee) matching whichever starter you picked.
Mega Ascension: The Lead-Up Week
Before the main event, a five-day Mega Ascension period ramps things up:
- Remote Raid Pass limit increased to 30 for the week
- A rotating Mega Raid boss appears each day
- Monday: Mega Victreebel, Mega Dragonite, and Mega Malamar.
- Tuesday: Mega Falinks
- Wednesday: Mega Skarmory
- Thursday: Mega Starmie
- Friday: Mega Raichu X/Y (Fri)
- Mega Latias and Mega Latios may also show up in raids throughout the week
- Pikachu, Bellsprout, Staryu, Dratini, Skarmory, Falinks, and the three Kalos starters (Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie) appear more often in the wild
- Mega Raid catches may come with the Mega Evolution–themed Special Background.
Mega Raids will make up the majority of raids during the Mega Ascension event. Seasonal Raid Bosses may also appear during this time.
Starting during the Mega Ascension event, when a Pokémon with a Mega Evolution–themed Special Background is Mega Evolved, its background will have additional effects for the duration of the Mega Evolution.
Mega Mewtwo Headlines the Weekend
The big draw for the main Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale weekend is Mega Mewtwo returning to Super Mega Raids:
- Saturday, September 5: Mega Mewtwo X
- Sunday, September 6: Mega Mewtwo Y
Pokémon caught from Mega Raids during Mega Ascension and the main The Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale weekend can come with a Mega Evolution–themed Special Background, and that background gets extra visual effects while the Pokémon is Mega Evolved.
Weekend-Only Bonuses
During the September 5–6 Mega Finale itself:
- No limit on Remote Raids
- All Mega-Evolved Pokémon get an extra CP boost
- GO Pass Deluxe holders get bonus Candy, Candy XL, and XP from Mega Raids, plus better Shiny odds on select Mega Raids and event encounters
Habitats and Raid Rotation (Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale Weekend)
There are eight total habitats during the weekend. Each day has four with each running twice. Every non-Mega Mewtwo Gym will host standard Mega Raids during the active habitat window.
Saturday, September 5
| Time | Habitat | Notable Mega Raids |
|---|---|---|
| 10–11 a.m. and 2–3 p.m. | Verdant Overgrowth | Mega Beedrill, Mega Victreebel, Mega Pinsir, Mega Abomasnow |
| 11 a.m.–12 p.m. and 3–4 p.m. | Mindworks Canal | Mega Alakazam, Mega Slowbro, Mega Starmie, Mega Medicham |
| 12–1 p.m. and 4–5 p.m. | Eerie Alley | Mega Gengar, Mega Houndoom, Mega Banette, Mega Malamar |
| 1–2 p.m. and 5–6 p.m. | Circuit Plaza | Mega Raichu X, Mega Ampharos, Mega Manectric |
Sunday, September 6
| Time | Habitat | Notable Mega Raids |
|---|---|---|
| 10–11 a.m. and 2–3 p.m. | Iron Frostworks | Mega Steelix, Mega Skarmory, Mega Aggron, Mega Glalie |
| 11 a.m.–12 p.m. and 3–4 p.m. | Battle District | Mega Sharpedo, Mega Camerupt, Mega Lopunny, Mega Falinks |
| 12–1 p.m. and 4–5 p.m. | Skyline Roosts | Mega Gyarados, Mega Aerodactyl, Mega Dragonite, Mega Altaria |
| 1–2 p.m. and 5–6 p.m. | Prism Promenade | Mega Raichu Y, Mega Sableye, Mega Mawile, Mega Audino |
Mega Mewtwo X and Y will appear at select Super Mega Raid Gyms in every one-hour window, alternating with the standard Mega Raid rotation above.
Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie will spawn in every habitat all weekend, along with a wide mix of habitat-themed wild encounters during each habitat.
Heads up: Daily Discoveries, Seasonal Mega Raids, Seasonal Five-Star Raids, Seasonal Shadow Raids, Seasonal Raid Hours, and Seasonal Spotlight Hours are all paused from August 31 through September 6. Mega Ascension and Mega Finale raids take over the raid pool entirely during that window.
Additional Information for the Mega Finale
- Additional Charged Attacks: Beginning with the Mega Finale, certain eligible Mega-Evolved Pokémon will gain access to an additional Charged Attack regardless of their current Mega Level.
- Armored Mewtwo Returns: For the two full days, Armored Mewtwo will take over five-star raids globally.
Quick Tips for Trainers
- Pick your starter early: the Timed Research choice locks in your GO Pass rewards path, so decide before August 31 if you can.
- Save Remote Raid Passes for the weekend: the unlimited Remote Raid window on September 5–6 is the best time to burn through a stockpile for Mega Mewtwo.
- Plan your Mega Mewtwo day: X is Saturday only, Y is Sunday only, so if you want both forms you’ll need to raid on both days.
- Group up: Super Mega Raids are tough. Use Pokémon GO’s in-app map or a find a local community Ambassador hosted event to find raid groups near you.
That’s the full picture for Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale.
Whether you’re chasing a Shiny Mega Mewtwo, working toward your Kalos starter’s final evolution, or just stacking XP during the bonus weekend, this event has a lot going on. Plan accordingly.
Source: Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale official event page
