Pokémon GO Launches Halloween 2026 with Costumed Pikachu and Spooky Raids

Key points

• Halloween 2026 Part I runs from October 27 to November 1, featuring costumed Pikachu, Zubat, and Sinistea in the wild and raids.
• A new GO Pass and GO Pass Deluxe are available from October 27 to November 5, offering rewards like Rare Candy and Ultra Balls for a fee of US$7.99 or US$9.99.
• The event includes a 'Trick or Treat' mechanic where tapping on spooky surprises in the wild awards encounters and candy.
• October 2026 also features Zorua Community Day on October 10, a World Space Week event with Astronaut Pikachu, and a Super Mega Raid Day on October 31.
• The Halloween event is part of the Twilight Trails season, which includes other events like the Fall Marathon and Sandile Hatch Day.

Background

This Halloween event follows the conclusion of the GO Fest 2026 Mega Finale in September, which featured Armored Mewtwo. The current season, Twilight Trails, began in September and includes various events such as the Minior Shower and the Harvest Festival takeover by Team Go Rocket. The Halloween event is the first of two parts, with Part II scheduled for November 1-5.

How outlets are covering it

Pokémon GO Hub and the official Pokémon GO announcement both confirm the core details of the Halloween 2026 Part I event, including the dates, featured Pokémon, and GO Pass structure. GameSpot provides a broader context for October 2026, highlighting other events like Zorua Community Day and World Space Week, which are not mentioned in the primary source. Nintendo Wire focuses on the weekly Raid Hour schedule, confirming Yveltal as the featured Pokémon for October 7, which aligns with the broader October raid schedule mentioned by GameSpot. All sources agree on the general timeline and structure of the events, with no significant discrepancies.

Why it matters

The Halloween event is a major seasonal update for Pokémon GO, offering new content and rewards for players. The introduction of costumed Pokémon and a new GO Pass provides fresh incentives for engagement, while the broader October schedule ensures a continuous stream of events for players to participate in. The event also marks the continuation of the Twilight Trails season, which has been a significant part of the game's recent content.

What to watch

Players should prepare for the Halloween 2026 Part I event starting October 27, by completing GO Pass tasks and participating in raids. The event will continue until November 1, with Part II following from November 1-5. Players can also look forward to other October events, such as Zorua Community Day on October 10 and the Super Mega Raid Day on October 31. The GO Pass rewards will expire on November 7, so players should claim them before then.