Classic Pokémon cards return for 30th anniversary

The Pokémon Company has officially brought back its nostalgic trading cards for its 30th anniversary.

The new “30th Celebration” TCG expansion launches worldwide on September 19, 2026, and will include special Pikachu variants, rare cards, and reprints of some of the franchise’s most iconic cards.

The announcement came on June 1 via a joint Instagram post, giving a glimpse of what to expect from the upcoming collection.

What’s included in the Pokémon 30th anniversary set?

The set features:

• New “futuristic rare” cards of Mewtwo and Mew illustrated by Japanese artist YOSHIROTTEN
• One of 30 different Pikachu cards included in every booster pack
• Artwork from multiple artists including OKACHEKE, Yuu Nishida and Atsuko Nishida.
• Additional Pokémon cards featuring Umbreon, Espeon, Lapras, Greninja and more.
• Collectors are especially excited about the return of classic cards, including:.
• The original shiny Charizard base-set card with a new gold finish.
• Pikachu & Zekrom-GX from the Sun & Moon – Team Up era

Fans already worried

Despite the excitement, many fans are already concerned about scalpers driving up prices once pre-orders go live.

The Pokémon TCG market has become increasingly competitive in recent years, with limited-edition products often selling out instantly before appearing online at inflated resale prices.

Pre-order details and official pricing for the 30th Celebration set have not yet been announced.