By Mack, founder of Enthusiast Avenue. Last updated September 20, 2026. This guide gets refreshed as sets release.
Japan is deep in the MEGA era, the block built around Mega Evolution that took over from Scarlet & Violet in mid-2025, and 2026 is its biggest year: four main sets released, a fifth confirmed for late November, a pack price increase, and in September the first simultaneous worldwide release in the game's history for the 30th anniversary. Here's every Japanese set of 2026, what's in it, and which English set it becomes.
Why track the Japanese calendar even if you buy English? Because Japan runs roughly two to four months ahead. Every Japanese set is a preview of the English set your local shelves get next. (New to the Japanese side? Start with Japanese vs English cards, honestly compared.)
Released so far in 2026
M3: Munikis Zero (January 23)
Headlined by Mega Zygarde ex, with Meowth ex's support-search ability seeing real play, plus Mega Starmie ex, Mega Clefable ex and three new special energy cards. Became the English set ME03 Perfect Order (March 27, 2026).
M4: Ninja Spinner (March 13)
The Mega Greninja ex set, alongside the "Special Red Card" trainer that had players arguing on release day. Became ME04 Chaos Rising (May 22, 2026).
M5: Abyss Eye (May 22)
Mega Darkrai ex and its forced-knockout "Abyss Eye" mechanic lead the set, backed by Mega Zeraora, Mega Chandelure, Mega Excadrill, Mega Delphox and Mega Slowbro ex. Also a milestone for your wallet: this was the first set at the new 200-yen pack price, Japan's first pack increase since 2022. Became ME05 Pitch Black, which hit English shelves on July 17.
M6: Storm Emeralda (July 31)
Mega Rayquaza ex headlines, backed by Mega Golisopod ex, Mega Malamar ex and Mega Golurk ex. The set introduces split "Legendary" Stadium cards (Legendary Ocean Trench, Legendary Summit and Legendary Lava Lake), where you need both halves in hand to play them as one card, a nod to the old LEGEND mechanic. It also debuts a new Mega Ultra Rare (MUR) tier, with Mega Rayquaza ex MUR as the set's chase card. Eevee ex, Zoroark ex and Meowscarada ex starter decks landed the same day in Japan. Maps to ME06 Delta Reign (November 6, 2026).
The big one: 30th Celebration (September 16)
The anniversary set breaks the two-calendar pattern entirely. For the first time ever, Japan and the rest of the world get the same set on the same day. What's confirmed, now that the official card list is out (it went up on September 9): 165 cards plus the foil basic energy, numbered out of 103 with the secret rares and the thirty classic reprints sitting above that, every card foil, a new Futuristic Rare rarity with FUR Mew ex and Mewtwo ex, thirty Pikachu variants by thirty different artists, and Base Set Charizard among the reprints. Japan additionally gets the FUTURISTIC BOX and an Espeon/Umbreon Premium Deck Set on the same date.
Fair warning on availability. The scalping on early anniversary product has already been ugly, and Pokemon has followed through on the crackdown it promised. Since early August, Pokemon Center Online has run its purchase lottery for the 30th Celebration Box, the Futuristic Box, the Espeon/Umbreon Premium Deck Set and the 9-type Card Set as a two-tier system. Entrants who verify with a Japanese My Number Card, the government ID issued only to Japanese residents, get most of the winning slots. Everyone else can still enter through the non-verified path with a phone-verified Pokemon Center account, just for far worse odds. A My Number Card has no overseas equivalent, so a Canadian entering unverified is fighting over the leftover slots. Later in August, The Pokemon Company also told eBay that no 30th Anniversary product had yet gone through authorized channels, and eBay pulled in-hand listings as product of unknown origin. That flag was aimed at pre-release leaks, not at the set itself, which has been legitimately on shelves since September 16. What has not improved is the price: launch stock cleared in minutes, and resale has been running two to three times retail, with the 49.99 USD Elite Trainer Box asking 120 and up. If you want this set, buy it from a Canadian or US retailer carrying the English release, or through a Japan-based proxy rather than banking on the lottery yourself. Plan to pay MSRP from a real retailer or walk away. Don't feed the aftermarket.
Also on the 2026 calendar
- October 16: nine "30th Celebration" starter-Pokemon boxes, one per generation from Bulbasaur through Sprigatito, each pairing three retro starter promos with two 30th Celebration packs and a display stand, at 1,200 yen.
- November 27: M7: Hadou Seeker, headlined by Mega Lucario Z ex. Now confirmed with a date, not a rumour. The English version is trademarked as Aura Seeker, but no international release date is out yet.
What this means for Canadian buyers
Between the yen price increase, anniversary demand and the allocation era English product is already stuck in, 2026 is a year to buy what you actually want when you see it at a fair price, and to be pickier than ever about where "sealed" product comes from. Here's how to verify it, and where Canadians can buy Japanese product today. On the English side, everything currently on the shelf here is in the in-stock collection, priced in CAD and shipped from Quebec, and the waitlists on sold-out pages tell me exactly what to chase next.
Update history
- September 20, 2026: Moved 30th Celebration into the released section now that the set is out, and updated the eBay note: the August takedowns targeted pre-release leaks, and the set has been legitimately on shelves since September 16.
- September 14, 2026: Replaced the "roughly 150 cards" estimate for 30th Celebration with the confirmed count from the official card list published September 9: 165 cards plus basic energy, numbered out of 103.
- September 7, 2026: Corrected the 30th Celebration lottery section: the Japanese My Number Card is a weighting toward Japan-resident buyers, not a requirement to enter, so overseas entrants can still get in through the non-verified path, just with much worse odds.
- August 31, 2026: Updated the 30th Celebration availability section: Pokemon Center Online now requires a Japanese My Number Card for the lottery on four 30th Celebration items, and The Pokemon Company has told eBay that no anniversary product is yet distributed through authorized channels.
- July 31, 2026: Storm Emeralda moved to released with its full set details, Hadou Seeker confirmed for November 27 with the Aura Seeker English trademark, and the October 16 entry filled in with the 30th Celebration starter box lineup.
- July 22, 2026: First published.