Pokemon set release dates for 2026 start with Ascended Heroes on January 30 and end, so far, with Mega Evolution—Delta Reign on November 6 in English, and the Japanese sets that Bulbapedia pairs with them came out 56 to 70 days earlier in four of the six pairs. The 30th Celebration is the exception: the English set and Japan’s M6a share one release day, September 16, 2026.
The English release dates come from pokemon.com and the Japanese dates from pokemon-card.com. Bulbapedia’s list of Japanese expansions (snapshot September 15, 2026) supplies the reported Japanese-to-English pairings.
Japanese expansion packs M4, M5 and M6 contain five cards each; the English Chaos Rising booster pack contains ten cards plus one Basic Energy and one code card. USD figures convert at ¥154/USD, approximate.
- Six English expansions have official 2026 dates on pokemon.com: January 30, March 27, May 22, July 17, September 16 and November 6.
- Delta Reign (November 6, 2026) is announced, not released; the pokemon.com news article is dated August 20, 2026.
- Japan’s 2026 sets are M3 (January 23), M4 (March 13), M5 (May 22), M6 (July 31) and M6a (September 16), each with an official pokemon-card.com page.
- The Japanese 30th CELEBRATION Card Set × 9 has an official October 16, 2026 release date.
- The M6 Storm Emeralda box is listed with a Sealed option at ¥11,165 (~$72).
- 30th Celebration and Japan’s M6a share the September 16, 2026 release date.
- Delta Reign is announced for November 6, 2026; the Japanese 30th CELEBRATION Card Set × 9 is dated October 16, 2026.
Pokemon Set Release Dates 2026: English and Japanese Side by Side
Every English date in the table is printed on the set’s own pokemon.com page. The Japanese dates are printed on the official pokemon-card.com pages (30th CELEBRATION on the 30th-anniversary site). The pairing column follows Bulbapedia’s list of Japanese expansions (snapshot September 15, 2026); these are attributed counterparts rather than official declarations that the sets are identical.
| English set (as printed) | English date | Japanese source set (per Bulbapedia) | Japanese date | Days, JP to EN | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mega Evolution—Ascended Heroes | January 30, 2026 | M2a MEGAドリームex (MEGA Dream ex) | November 28, 2025 | 63 | EN date official; pairing reported |
| Mega Evolution—Perfect Order | March 27, 2026 | M3 ムニキスゼロ (Nihil Zero) | January 23, 2026 | 63 | EN date official; pairing reported |
| Mega Evolution—Chaos Rising | May 22, 2026 | M4 ニンジャスピナー (Ninja Spinner) | March 13, 2026 | 70 | EN date official; pairing reported |
| Mega Evolution—Pitch Black | July 17, 2026 | M5 アビスアイ (Abyss Eye) | May 22, 2026 | 56 | EN date official; pairing reported |
| 30th Celebration | September 16, 2026 | M6a 30th CELEBRATION | September 16, 2026 | 0 | Both dates official; same-day release stated by pokemon.com |
| Mega Evolution—Delta Reign | November 6, 2026 | M6 ストームエメラルダ (Storm Emeralda) | July 31, 2026 | 98 (EN not yet released) | EN date official, announced; pairing reported |
Days are plain subtraction of the two printed dates. Official = printed on a Pokemon Company page. Reported = a third-party statement (here Bulbapedia’s pairing, snapshot September 15, 2026). The English pages print set sizes as “Over N” cards, so exact set sizes are left out of the table.
Japanese vs English Release Timeline: Day Counts and Pack Differences
Four of the six pairs above show Japan first by 56, 63, 63 and 70 days. The sixth, Delta Reign, would be 98 days after Storm Emeralda if Bulbapedia’s pairing holds, and it has not released yet. The Pokemon Company has not published a statement about how many sets come out per year or how long the English release trails the Japanese one, so the day counts describe these pairs and nothing more.
How the release gap works
Bulbapedia’s wording for the Perfect Order pairing is that “Perfect Order includes cards released in the Japanese Nihil Zero expansion,” and for Chaos Rising that it “includes cards released in the Japanese Ninja Spinner expansion.” These are Bulbapedia’s closest English counterparts.
For a comparison of what changes between the two languages beyond the date, see our Japanese vs English Pokemon cards guide.
Japanese and English packs are built differently
The official product pages give the pack contents and Japanese pack MSRPs. Japanese number formats come from the official card database; the English Chaos Rising number format is attributed separately to Limitless.
| Product | Pack price (yen, tax included) | Cards per pack | Number format |
|---|---|---|---|
| M3 Nihil Zero (Japan) | ¥180 | 5 | Main set of 80 cards |
| M4 Ninja Spinner (Japan) | ¥180 | 5 | Base /083, secret cards 084–120 (for example 120/083) |
| M5 Abyss Eye (Japan) | ¥200 | 5 | Base /081, secret cards 082–118 (for example 118/081) |
| M6 Storm Emeralda (Japan) | ¥200 | 5 | Main set of 76 cards |
| M6a 30th CELEBRATION (Japan) | ¥360 | 6 | Enhanced 30th-anniversary special |
| Chaos Rising (English booster pack) | Not stated on the official pages | 10, plus 1 Basic Energy and 1 code card | Limitless (September 30, 2026): nnn/086; secret cards 087–122 |
M5 is the first Mega-era expansion pack at ¥200; the earlier ones were ¥180. A Chaos Rising booster display holds 36 booster packs according to tcg.pokemon.com, and the same page lists Illustration Rares and Special Illustration Rares for the English set. The Japanese secret tiers on M4 and M5 are AR, SR, SAR and MUR in the official Japanese card database. Limitless gives Chaos Rising’s base denominator as /086, while the official English product page states only “Over 120” cards.
2026 Month by Month: What Released and When
All six English sets of 2026 carry the Mega Evolution Series label on pokemon.com.
January 2026: M3 Nihil Zero (Japan) and Ascended Heroes (English)
Japan’s M3 ムニキスゼロ (Nihil Zero) came out on January 23, 2026 as an expansion pack. One week later, on January 30, the English Mega Evolution—Ascended Heroes arrived. pokemon.com prints “Over 290” cards for it, and the tcg.pokemon.com product copy calls it a special Mega Evolution expansion, unlike the main-series sets that follow. Bulbapedia’s closest Japanese equivalent for Ascended Heroes is M2a MEGAドリームex, the high-class pack released on November 28, 2025 at ¥550 for 10 cards per pack. The M3 cards are on our M3 card-list page, the M2a cards on our M2a card-list page.
March 2026: M4 Ninja Spinner (Japan) and Perfect Order (English)
M4 ニンジャスピナー (Ninja Spinner) released in Japan on March 13, 2026, with 83 cards in the main set. Mega Evolution—Perfect Order followed in English on March 27, with “Over 120” cards printed on the official page. Bulbapedia’s Japanese source for Perfect Order is M3 Nihil Zero, so the 63 days in the table run from January 23, not from M4’s March 13. The M4 cards are on our M4 card-list page.
May 2026: M5 Abyss Eye (Japan) and Chaos Rising (English)
May 22, 2026 carries two release dates on one day: Japan’s M5 アビスアイ (Abyss Eye) and the English Mega Evolution—Chaos Rising. They are not the same set. Bulbapedia pairs Chaos Rising with M4 Ninja Spinner, which is why the English set came 70 days after its Japanese source. Chaos Rising is printed at “Over 120” cards; M5 has 81 cards in its main set and is the first Mega expansion pack priced at ¥200. The M5 cards are on our M5 card-list page. For the English side of the set that follows it, see our Pitch Black release date guide.
July 2026: Pitch Black (English) and M6 Storm Emeralda (Japan)
Mega Evolution—Pitch Black is the July set: pokemon.com and tcg.pokemon.com both print July 17, 2026, with “Over 115” cards. Bulbapedia’s Japanese source is M5 Abyss Eye, 56 days earlier. On July 31, two weeks after the English date, Japan released M6 ストームエメラルダ (Storm Emeralda) at ¥200 a pack with 76 cards in the main set. The M6 cards are on our M6 card-list page, and the Storm Emeralda chase card list covers the set’s SAR and MUR cards.
September 2026: 30th Celebration and M6a on one day
September 16, 2026 is the single date on which the English 30th Celebration and Japan’s M6a 30th CELEBRATION both released.
November 2026: Delta Reign (English, announced)
Mega Evolution—Delta Reign is dated November 6, 2026 on pokemon.com, with a news article dated August 20, 2026. That article describes over 135 cards, more than 20 Trainer cards and over 35 cards with special illustrations, and names Mega Rayquaza ex, Mega Golurk ex, Mega Malamar ex and Mega Golisopod ex. pokemon.com also lists a Delta Reign prerelease event article dated September 28, 2026. Bulbapedia pairs the set with Japan’s M6 Storm Emeralda. For how US retailers and Japan compare for this set, see our Delta Reign pre-order guide.
30th Celebration: September 16 Worldwide Release and the October 16 Card Set
The 30th Celebration is the one 2026 release where the English and Japanese calendars meet. pokemon.com’s news article dated September 16, 2026 says the expansion “has arrived simultaneously worldwide to commemorate 30 years of rich Pokémon TCG history.”
What the English page prints
The pokemon.com set page lists 30th Celebration under the Mega Evolution Series with “Over 150” cards. The tcg.pokemon.com page adds that every card in a 30th Celebration booster pack is foil and that every pack includes a Pikachu rare card. Japan’s M6a release date is also September 16, 2026.
Japan: M6a and the Card Set × 9
Japan’s M6a 30th CELEBRATION is an enhanced 30th-anniversary special with 6 cards per pack at ¥360 a pack (tax included). Japan also has a second 30th product with its own date: the 30th CELEBRATION Card Set × 9, nine starter trios covering Generations 1 to 9, at ¥1,200 each including tax, on October 16, 2026 per the official 30th-anniversary site. The set’s cards are on our M6a card-list page. For a comparison of the English binder collection with Japan’s M6a box, see our binder collection vs M6a guide.
Japanese Booster Boxes We List for the 2026 Sets
Sealed and No Shrink options have their own prices on the regular box product page. Damaged-box products have separate listings, with the condition named in the product title.
| Japanese set | Box product | Regular box options | Damaged-box products (separate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| M2a MEGA Dream ex (Nov 28, 2025) | M2A-Mega Dream ex box | Sealed and No Shrink both sold out at the time of this update — restock requests go through Quick Order | No Shrink Damaged Box at ¥11,693 (~$76); Damaged Box (Grade B) at ¥12,018 (~$78) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) |
| M3 Nihil Zero (Jan 23, 2026) | M3-Munikis Zero (Nihil Zero) box | No Shrink ¥8,375 (~$54); Sealed sold out at the time of this update — restock requests go through Quick Order | Damaged Box (Grade B) at ¥7,633 (~$50) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) |
| M4 Ninja Spinner (Mar 13, 2026) | M4-Ninja Spinner box | Sealed and No Shrink both sold out at the time of this update — restock requests go through Quick Order | Damaged Box (Grade B) at ¥7,156 (~$46) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) |
| M5 Abyss Eye (May 22, 2026) | M5-Abyss Eye (Pitch Black) box | No Shrink ¥8,603 (~$56); Sealed sold out at the time of this update — restock requests go through Quick Order | Damaged Box (Grade B) sold out at the time of this update — restock requests go through Quick Order |
| M6 Storm Emeralda (Jul 31, 2026) | M6 Storm Emeralda box | Sealed ¥11,165 (~$72); No Shrink sold out at the time of this update — restock requests go through Quick Order | Damaged Box (Grade B) at ¥10,496 (~$68) (update: currently sold out — restock requests via Quick Order) |
| M6a 30th CELEBRATION (Sep 16, 2026) | M6a 30th CELEBRATION box | Sealed ¥28,030 (~$182); No Shrink ¥25,365 (~$165) | — |
How to read the option column
“Sealed” and “No Shrink” are two options on one product page, and the page shows which of them can be bought. The older sets, M1L Mega Brave, M1S Mega Symphonia and M2 Inferno X (September 26, 2025), are priced option by option in our MEGA booster box price index. Card lists for every set are collected on the card-list hub.
What Is Still Reported Only After Delta Reign
The pokemon.com TCG hub lists no English expansion after Delta Reign as of September 30, 2026. Japan’s official announcements include the October 16 Card Set, a November 1 promo-pack lineup update and a new-series logo announcement dated August 31, 2026 with no release date.
Official Japanese items after M6a
| Item | Date | Status and source |
|---|---|---|
| 30th CELEBRATION Card Set × 9 (starter trios, Generations 1–9), ¥1,200 each including tax | October 16, 2026 | Official: 30th-anniversary product site |
| MEGA promo card pack lineup, next update | November 1, 2026 | Official: pokemon-card.com news |
| New series logo “ex★”, featured card メガルカリオZex | Announced August 31, 2026; no release date, set name or price given | Official announcement only |
| Any Japanese expansion or high-class pack for November 2026–2027 | None announced | Official news list, September 29, 2026: no name, code, date or price |
Reported names and dates, not confirmed
A Japanese set called “Aura Seeker” (ハドウシーカー) has been reported for November 27, 2026 by PokeBeach (May 2026), Wargamer and SNKRDUNK Magazine. PokeBeach’s May 2026 report gives a proposed name and date, neither officially confirmed.
Where to follow the next announcements
The Japanese Pokemon set calendar lists every Japanese release in order. The next-set guide separates what is confirmed in Japan and in English. The October to December 2026 guide labels each Japanese product confirmed or reported, and the English Q4 calendar does the same for English products.
Where to Buy Japanese Pokemon Boxes from Tokyo
M6 Storm Emeralda was released in Japan on July 31, 2026. Per Bulbapedia (snapshot September 15, 2026), it pairs with the English Delta Reign, announced for November 6, 2026. The M6 box can be bought before that English release; the other listed boxes have their own dates.
- M6 Storm Emeralda: Sealed at ¥11,165 (~$72).
- M6a 30th CELEBRATION: Sealed at ¥28,030 (~$182) or No Shrink at ¥25,365 (~$165).
- M5 Abyss Eye (Pitch Black): No Shrink at ¥8,603 (~$56).
- M3 Munikis Zero (Nihil Zero): No Shrink at ¥8,375 (~$54).
Every set also has a card-list page on the card-list hub. Sourcing requests for a specific card go through Quick Order. Boxes ship from Tokyo by FedEx; the product page shows the current terms.
For buying Japanese cards from abroad, read our guide to buying Japanese Pokemon cards from Japan. For product-identification checks, see how to spot fake Japanese Pokemon cards. For Japanese box choices across all eras, see our Japanese booster box picks for 2026. Card guides for the earlier sets are at Nihil Zero, Ninja Spinner and Inferno X.
Dates to Remember
- September 16, 2026: 30th Celebration (English) and M6a (Japan) released on the same day.
- October 16, 2026: the Japanese 30th CELEBRATION Card Set × 9 (official).
- November 6, 2026: Mega Evolution—Delta Reign in English (official, announced).
Sources for the Dates
English dates and sizes: pokemon.com pages for Ascended Heroes, Perfect Order, Chaos Rising, Pitch Black, 30th Celebration and Delta Reign, plus the pokemon.com news articles on the 30th Celebration and Delta Reign. Japanese dates and pack prices: M3, M4, M5, M6 and M6a. Pairings: Bulbapedia’s list of Japanese expansions (snapshot September 15, 2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the Pokemon set release dates in 2026?
In English, pokemon.com dates Ascended Heroes January 30, Perfect Order March 27, Chaos Rising May 22, Pitch Black July 17, 30th Celebration September 16 and Delta Reign November 6, 2026. Japan’s 2026 sets are M3 on January 23, M4 on March 13, M5 on May 22, M6 on July 31 and M6a on September 16.
When does the next English Pokemon set come out?
The next English expansion is Mega Evolution—Delta Reign on November 6, 2026, announced in a pokemon.com news article dated August 20, 2026. As of September 30, 2026 the pokemon.com TCG hub lists no English expansion dated after it, and no December 2026 or 2027 English set appears there.
When is the next Japanese Pokemon set release date?
Japan’s official announcements include the 30th CELEBRATION Card Set × 9 on October 16, 2026 and a MEGA promo pack lineup update on November 1. PokeBeach reported “Aura Seeker” for November 27 in May 2026; that proposed expansion date remains unconfirmed by the Pokemon Company.
Do Japanese Pokemon sets come out before English ones?
In the pairs Bulbapedia lists, yes: Japan led by 63 days for Ascended Heroes and Perfect Order, 70 days for Chaos Rising and 56 days for Pitch Black. The 30th Celebration is the exception, with English and Japanese releases on the same day, September 16, 2026. No official statement sets a fixed gap.
What is the Japanese equivalent of Chaos Rising?
Bulbapedia’s list pairs Chaos Rising (English, May 22, 2026) with M4 ニンジャスピナー (Ninja Spinner), released in Japan on March 13, 2026, 70 days earlier. The pairing is from Bulbapedia’s list of Japanese expansions (snapshot September 15, 2026). Ninja Spinner has 83 cards in its main set.
How do Japanese and English Pokemon packs differ?
Japanese expansion packs M4, M5 and M6 hold 5 cards and have official pack MSRPs of ¥180 or ¥200. The English Chaos Rising booster pack holds 10 cards plus 1 Basic Energy and 1 code card, per tcg.pokemon.com. Japan’s M6a 30th CELEBRATION pack holds 6 cards at ¥360.
Which Japanese Pokemon boxes from the 2026 sets do you list?
The M6 Storm Emeralda box is listed with a Sealed option at ¥11,165 (~$72) and the M6a 30th CELEBRATION box with a Sealed option at ¥28,030 (~$182). M6a also has a No Shrink option at ¥25,365 (~$165), separately priced on the same product page.
Was the 30th Celebration released in English and Japanese together?
Yes. A pokemon.com news article dated September 16, 2026 says the expansion arrived simultaneously worldwide, and Japan’s M6a 30th CELEBRATION carries the same September 16 date. The separate Japanese 30th CELEBRATION Card Set × 9 follows on October 16, 2026 at ¥1,200 per set including tax.
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