Pokémon 30th Anniversary: Ultimate Guide to an Amazing Set

The Pokémon 30th Anniversary has arrived in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, and it is one of the biggest releases the hobby has seen. The anniversary set, officially called Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration, launched on 16 September 2026 and is the first expansion in the game’s history to release on the same day worldwide.

This Pokémon 30th Anniversary guide is written for Australian collectors. It explains what makes the set special, which products are available, how the different boxes compare and where to go next for release dates, card lists and Japanese or Chinese versions.

What is the Pokémon 30th Anniversary set?

2026 marks 30 years of Pokémon. The original Pokémon Red and Green games launched in Japan in February 1996, and the first Pokémon TCG expansion followed in October that year. To celebrate, The Pokémon Company released a special set that blends brand-new cards with reprints of famous cards from the game’s history.

You will see two names used for the same thing. Most collectors search for the Pokémon 30th Anniversary set, while the name printed on the packs is 30th Celebration. In Japan the same set is sold as “30th CELEBRATION” with the set code M6a. Whatever name you use, the cards, rarities and chase cards are the same set.

The launch was also unusual. Instead of Japan releasing first and English following months later, 30th Celebration booster packs released on 16 September 2026 in all twelve official card languages at once, including in Australia.

What makes the Pokémon 30th Anniversary cards special

Every card is foil

Every card in the set has a foil finish. English booster packs contain five foil cards plus a foil Basic Energy, while Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Thai and Indonesian packs contain six cards each.

30 Pikachu cards, one in every pack

The headline feature of the Pokémon 30th Anniversary set is a run of 30 Pikachu cards, each drawn by a different artist. Every booster pack contains one of them, which makes completing all 30 Pikachu a popular goal for collectors.

A new rarity: Futuristic Rare

30th Celebration introduces a brand-new rarity called Futuristic Rare, with artwork by Japanese artist YOSHIROTTEN. The Mew ex and Mewtwo ex Futuristic Rares are among the most wanted cards in the set.

The Classic Collection

A 30-card Classic Collection reprints iconic cards from across the game’s history, including a new printing of the Base Set Charizard. It sits alongside a 128-card main set that includes 12 Pokémon ex and 30 secret rares.

Want to know which cards to look for? Our 30th Anniversary Pokémon card list guide breaks down every rarity and the biggest chase cards.

Pokémon 30th Anniversary products at a glance

Rather than releasing everything on one day, the English product range arrives in waves between September and December 2026. Here is how the range is grouped.

Booster products

• 30th Celebration Elite Trainer Box: 9 booster packs, a full-art Nidorina promo, 65 card sleeves, energy cards, dice and a storage box.
• 30th Celebration Booster Bundle: 6 booster packs with no extras, a simple way to open more packs.
• Pokémon ex Box (Sylveon ex or Greninja ex): 4 booster packs, a foil promo and an oversized card.
• Poster Collection: 3 booster packs, a double-sided poster and foil Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres promos.

Premium collections

• Ultra-Premium Collection Day and Night: 30 packs, including one Classic Collection pack, plus Pikachu ex and Espeon ex or Umbreon ex promos, a playmat and accessories.
• Mew and Mewtwo Figure Collections: 5 packs, a foil promo, an oversized card and a sculpted figure.
• Ditto Premium Collection: 8 packs, a Ditto promo and an acrylic display.

Smaller products and decks

Tech Sticker Collections, the Knock Out Collection, 2-pack blisters and Mini Tins offer a few packs at a lower price, while the Espeon ex Battle Deck and its Umbreon ex partner are ready-to-play 60-card decks.

Release dates differ by product, and some are still to come. Our Pokémon 30th Anniversary pre-order guide lists every release wave and explains how pre-orders work.

Which Pokémon 30th Anniversary product should you buy?

The right box depends on why you are buying. These suggestions cover the most common situations.

• Your first anniversary product: the Elite Trainer Box gives you 9 packs, the Nidorina promo and everything you need to sleeve and store your pulls.
• You just want to open packs: the Booster Bundle has 6 packs and nothing else, so more of your spend goes on cards.
• A centrepiece for your shelf: the Ultra-Premium Collections are the only English products with a Classic Collection pack, plus a playmat and premium accessories.
• A gift for a Mew or Mewtwo fan: the Figure Collections pair packs with a display figure.
• All-foil six-card packs: a Japanese M6a booster box is worth a look, as explained below.

Pokémon 30th Anniversary promo cards to look for

Many Pokémon 30th Anniversary products include a promo card you cannot pull from booster packs. If you are aiming for a complete collection, these are the ones to note.

• Nidorina: a full-art promo in the Elite Trainer Box. Nidorina is Pokédex number 30, a neat nod to the anniversary. The Pokémon Center Elite Trainer Box includes two versions, one with the Pokémon Center logo.
• Articuno, Zapdos and Moltres: three foil promos in the Poster Collection.
• Eevee: a foil promo in the Knock Out Collection and the 2-pack blister.
• Sylveon ex and Greninja ex: foil and oversized promos in the Pokémon ex Boxes.
• Victini and Zeraora: Illustration Rares included in the Espeon ex and Umbreon ex Battle Decks.
• Pikachu ex: a foil promo in both Ultra-Premium Collections, alongside Espeon ex or Umbreon ex.
• Ditto, Mew and Mewtwo: promos in the Ditto Premium Collection and the two Figure Collections.

How the Pokémon 30th Anniversary compares with Celebrations

Long-time collectors will remember Pokémon TCG: Celebrations, the 25th anniversary set from 2021. Celebrations also featured a Classic Collection of reprinted favourites, so the idea of mixing new cards with history is not new.

The Pokémon 30th Anniversary set goes further in a few ways. It is a full expansion with a 128-card main set rather than a small special set, every card is foil, every pack contains a Pikachu, and it is the first set to launch worldwide on the same day. The new Futuristic Rare rarity also gives collectors something that has never appeared in the game before.

Is the Pokémon 30th Anniversary set worth collecting?

For most collectors the answer comes down to what you enjoy. If you like Pikachu, nostalgia or striking artwork, the Pokémon 30th Anniversary set offers all three, and the guaranteed Pikachu means every pack has something worth keeping.

If you mainly buy sealed product to hold, focus on boxes you would be happy to keep long term, such as the Ultra-Premium Collections or a booster box, and store them carefully. Card prices can rise and fall after any release, so buy what you will enjoy rather than chasing short-term value.

English, Japanese and Chinese versions

Because every language released together, many Australian collectors are choosing between English, Japanese and Chinese product. Japanese packs hold six cards, and Japan also has exclusive products such as the FUTURISTIC BOX. Our Japanese 30th Anniversary Pokémon guide compares each version so you can decide which suits your collection.

Collecting tips for the Pokémon 30th Anniversary

• Sleeve your Pikachu cards straight away. With 30 to collect, a binder checklist makes it easy to see which artists you still need.
• Store sealed boxes away from sunlight and humidity to keep the packaging in collector condition.
• Buy sealed product from stores that sell genuine, factory-sealed stock, especially for high-value boxes.
• Consider grading your best pulls. Graded slabs protect valuable cards, and you can browse graded cards to see examples.

For official set details and artwork, visit the Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration page.

Pokémon 30th Anniversary FAQ

When did the Pokémon 30th Anniversary set release in Australia?

Booster products released on 16 September 2026, the same day as the rest of the world. Further products followed on 2 October, 30 October and 6 November, with the final wave due on 4 December 2026.

Is 30th Celebration the same as the Pokémon 30th Anniversary set?

Yes. 30th Celebration is the official name of the Pokémon 30th Anniversary expansion, and both names refer to the same cards and products.

How many cards are in a Pokémon 30th Anniversary booster pack?

English packs contain five foil cards and a foil Basic Energy. Japanese and other Asian-language packs contain six foil cards.

Are more Pokémon 30th Anniversary products coming?

Yes. The Binder Collection and the Pokémon ex Tins (Sylveon ex or Greninja ex) are scheduled for 4 December 2026.

Ready to celebrate 30 years of Pokémon? Browse every Pokémon trading card product in our shop, or keep reading the trading card blog for more guides.