Later this year, the competitive Pokemon scene will descend on San Francisco for Pokemon Worlds 2026 and, for the first time, a fan-focused event called Pokemon XP. As part of the conclusion of this year's North American International Champions, The Pokemon Company offered new details on Worlds and XP, as well as confirmed the venue for next year's NAIC.
The North American International Champions headed to the Windy City
After a 3-year partnership with the city of New Orleans, the NAIC will head to Chicago in 2027. The annual North American leg of the tournament – which also includes trips to Europe for the EUIC and Latin America for the LAIC – will take over McCormick Place Convention Center, which is near the shores of Lake Michigan and a touch south of the Chicago Bears' home, Soldier Field. Coincidentally, the Pokemon GO Fest was held just north of McCormick Place, in Grant Park.
It's also worth noting that between the two locations is the Field Museum, which is currently hosting the Pokémon Fossil Exhibit. Unfortunately, the Pokemon Fossil Museum is only scheduled to operate until April 5, 2027, so unless the contract is extended or The Pokemon Company plans a secret announcement, the Fossil Museum will not be active during NAIC.
Still, I highly recommend visiting the Fossil Museum if you're in the area to see the amazing exhibit and pick up some rare Digger Pikachus from nearby raids and special research. And if you're still in the NAIC area, it's a great stop as part of a trip. Check out Sue, the giant T-Rex fossil.
Chicago is a great choice for NAIC, which has been focusing on family-friendly cities for some time. Speaking with Director of Global Esports and Events Producer, Chris Brown, it sounds like the NAIC is looking to Chicago to offer the event's next big step in terms of event footprint and fan experience. While most attend the NAIC to compete, The Pokemon Company wants to make sure those who attend also have plenty to see and do (and eat).
In addition to the Chicago NAIC reveal, TPCi also offered new details on this year's Pokemon Worlds and Pokemon XP events in San Francisco this August. For those who may not be familiar, Pokémon Worlds is literally doubling in size this year, splitting the competitive experience into worlds as we know them and taking over the Chase Center. While Pokemon XP will be a fan-focused event that will feature vendors and experiences that will entertain non-competing attendees.
For these vendors, TPCi has confirmed its partners for Pokemon Worlds and XP, including the debut of LEGO at the anniversary event. There will no doubt be opportunities to see the current LEGO Pokémon up close and personal, as well as the Smart Play sets that will be released earlier in August.
Other suppliers at Pokemon XP and Worlds include mainstays like Bandai Hobby, Build-A-Bear and Santa Cruz. I'm most interested in what Sideshow Collectibles has at the show because their highly detailed figures, replicas and accessories are always incredible to see in person.
Competitive Pokémon Worlds attendees will also get a pretty welcome kit that was just revealed at the conclusion of NAIC. With what I'll call the Crowned Pikachu, a backpack, playmat, card cases, and more will be available to all competitors at Worlds—which has been the standard for larger Pokémon tournaments for some time now.
But the real gem is the winners set, which features plain white with gold trim. It's a bonus in addition to the coveted trophy and prize money.
Finally, TPCi revealed some of the promotional cards that will be available before Worlds at local tournaments, as well as the winner cards for Worlds. As expected, Pikachu is the star here, and the design pays homage to San Francisco's 2026 home of Worlds and XP.
However, this is only the tip of the iceberg for Pokémon Worlds and XP. While we have a clearer idea of what the competitive scene will look like at Worlds, there's still a lot to reveal about Pokémon XP in terms of the overall event schedule, exclusives, involvement with Pokémon GO, and more. TPCi is going big for Pokemon's 30th anniversary, and the Worlds/XP combination promises to be a major destination on the road for the rest of this year, so look for even more details on what this year's events have to offer soon.
