Mega Evolution finally returns to the Pokémon Video Game Championships in 2026 after seven years of absence! At the closing ceremony of the 2025 Pokémon World Championships, it was confirmed that Pokémon Champions will be the main title for VGC at the following World Championships in 2026, which are taking place in San Francisco, California. For more information on everything we currently know about Pokémon Champions and its 2026 release date, check out Bulbagarden's previous coverage here!
Players will be able to make use of Mega Evolution through the use of the Omni Ring, an item that is said to be similar to a Mega Ring. The official website teases its other uses in the future, stating that "research is being conducted to make the Omni Ring capable of drawing out a variety of Pokémon capabilities." The official art shows the symbol for Z-Moves, the regional phenomenon introduced in Pokémon Sun and Moon, which is our first official confirmation that this mechanic is also returning in Pokémon Champions. The first official ruleset for Champions' Ranked Battles will allow your Pokémon to Mega Evolve — but there's no word on other phenomena such as Terastallization or Dynamax.
The new trailer teases the return of some of the strongest and most dominant Mega-Evolved Pokémon in VGC history, such as Mega Kangaskhan following its victory at the 2015 World Championships. More meta-defining threats also return, like Mega Charizard Y, Mega Lucario, Tyranitar, Gardevoir, and Scizor.
Mega Dragonite is also confirmed to appear in Pokémon Champions following its debut in Pokémon Legends Z-A, scheduled for a 16 October, 2025 release date. This will likely extend to other new Mega Evolutions potentially announced for the new title in the coming months.
While there's no explicit word on Pokémon Champions' role in other VGC events, Pokémon have teased that the title will be used in "future Championship Series events." This news suggests that we have now said goodbye to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet at the World Championships, with Giovanni Cischke having claimed the 2025 World Champion title alongside Koraidon. Scarlet and Violet's competitive scene continues into the upcoming 2026 Championship Series as Regulation Set H returns from 1 September to 31 November, 2025, alongside Regulation Set J taking effect on the online Ranked Battles from 1 September, 2025, to 4 January, 2026.
The new trailer teases the return of some of the strongest and most dominant Mega-Evolved Pokémon in VGC history, such as Mega Kangaskhan following its victory at the 2015 World Championships. More meta-defining threats also return, like Mega Charizard Y, Mega Lucario, Tyranitar, Gardevoir, and Scizor.
Mega Dragonite is also confirmed to appear in Pokémon Champions following its debut in Pokémon Legends Z-A, scheduled for a 16 October, 2025 release date. This will likely extend to other new Mega Evolutions potentially announced for the new title in the coming months.
While there's no explicit word on Pokémon Champions' role in other VGC events, Pokémon have teased that the title will be used in "future Championship Series events." This news suggests that we have now said goodbye to Pokémon Scarlet and Violet at the World Championships, with Giovanni Cischke having claimed the 2025 World Champion title alongside Koraidon. Scarlet and Violet's competitive scene continues into the upcoming 2026 Championship Series as Regulation Set H returns from 1 September to 31 November, 2025, alongside Regulation Set J taking effect on the online Ranked Battles from 1 September, 2025, to 4 January, 2026.
- Sources
Pokémon Champions Is Coming to Worlds
Mega-Evolved Pokémon and Pokémon VGC battles are coming to Pokémon Champions.www.pokemon.com
Pokémon Champions
Pokémon Champions, a game focused on battling, is coming to Nintendo Switch systems and mobile devices in the future.champions.pokemon.com
