Pokémon cards reportedly returning to McDonald’s Happy Meals for 30th anniversary
Pokémon trading cards may be returning to McDonald’s Happy Meals just in time to continue the franchise’s 30th anniversary celebration.
A new report from PokéBeach says McDonald’s will launch its next Pokémon Trading Card Game Happy Meal promotion in the United States on Nov. 5, 2026. The promotion is expected to continue through Dec. 9. McDonald’s and The Pokémon Company have not officially announced the promotion
If the report proves accurate, each Happy Meal will include a four-card Pokémon TCG booster pack containing one holo card and three non-holo cards.
There will reportedly be 15 cards to collect, including six printed with the special confetti holofoil finish associated with previous McDonald’s Pokémon promotions.
Nintendúo says indications are that the new promotion will eventually reach Spain. German Pokémon site PokeZentrum reports the international rollout but says dates outside the U.S. have not been confirmed.
PokéBeach also reports customers will be able to choose between a Pokémon toy and a “Pokémon Essential Handbook.” The toy could serve as a card display, although that detail has not been confirmed.
Which Pokémon cards could be in McDonald’s Happy Meals?
No reliable card checklist has surfaced yet. PokéBeach, which first reported the November dates and other details, specifically says it does not yet know which Pokémon will appear. McDonald’s Pokémon sets have traditionally consisted of reprints of existing cards.
Pikachu seems like a natural choice. The character is at the center of the Pokémon TCG’s official 30th Celebration expansion, with 30 different Pikachu illustrations appearing in the anniversary set. Pikachu was also one of the confetti holofoil cards in the previous McDonald’s Pokémon collection.
Other familiar Pokémon being highlighted in official 30th Celebration products include Eevee and Lucario, while Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres appear together as promotional cards in the 30th Celebration Poster Collection.
The previous 15-card McDonald’s collection included Charizard, Pikachu, Miraidon, Jigglypuff, Hatenna, Dragapult, Quagsire, Koraidon, Umbreon, Hydreigon, Roaring Moon, Dragonite, Eevee, Rayquaza and Drampa. Seven received the confetti holo treatment.
Courtesy of McDonald’s
Pokémon cards have been a recurring McDonald’s Happy Meal collectible for 15 years. The first U.S. Pokémon TCG Happy Meal promotion arrived in 2011, followed by nearly annual collections through 2019. After skipping 2020, the cards returned for Pokémon’s 25th anniversary in 2021, with additional collections following in 2022, 2023 and early 2025.
Pokémon McDonald’s Happy Meal dates
According to the report, the U.S. promotion is expected to run:
- Start date: Nov. 5, 2026
- End date: Dec. 9, 2026
- Cards: 15 to collect
- Per pack: Four cards — one holo and three non-holo
PokéBeach cautions that the information is preliminary and could change before the promotion begins. The site expects additional information to emerge over the next few weeks.
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