Wow, what a weekend of Pokémon. This was my very first time attending the Pokémon World Championships, and honestly—I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. I went into it with no expectations, just hoping to soak in the atmosphere, see some competitive matches, and maybe grab some exclusive merch. What I left with was one of the most memorable fan experiences I’ve ever had.
This year’s Worlds was held in Anaheim, California, at the Anaheim Convention Center. If you follow the event history, you know it moves around each year—2023 was in Yokohama, Japan, 2024 was in Honolulu, and now the event finally came back to California. That alone brought a lot of hype since the West Coast is home to a massive Pokémon fan base. Anaheim was buzzing all weekend with trainers, cosplayers, and families making the trip to celebrate their love for the franchise.
On top of the tournaments, there was a celebration event happening in Pokémon GO. Niantic rolled out a special Worlds tie-in featuring Pikachu in a varsity jacket, which became the mascot of the weekend. Everywhere I looked people were catching them, trading, or showing off their shinies. It really added to the “all connected” vibe of the event.
Arriving at Worlds
I went with my brother and cousin, and as soon as we got close to the convention center, we could tell this was going to be special. The entire area was decorated with colorful banners, giant inflatable Pokémon balloons, and directional signs leading fans into the venue. You didn’t even need Google Maps—you could just follow the stream of Pikachu hats, Eevee plushies, and trainers in cosplay.
Getting my pass was smooth and stress-free. The staff was everywhere, super organized, and you could feel how ready they were for the massive crowds. All I had to do was scan a QR code, and within seconds, they printed my badge and handed me a lanyard along with two Scarlet & Violet: Destined Rivals booster packs (sadly, nothing too exciting inside—just bulk city ☹). Still, the free packs were a nice touch.
We headed straight to the main stage for the opening ceremony, and wow—it set the tone. Classic Pokémon music blasted through the speakers as nearly a hundred staff lined the entryway, clapping and cheering for every fan walking in. It honestly felt like we were the stars of the show. Once everyone got seated, the big screens played a hype video showcasing the history of Worlds and the competitors from all over the globe. There were even a couple of live music performances before we were welcomed by Pokémon President Tsunekazu Ishihara himself. Hearing him speak about the growth of the franchise and welcoming the crowd gave me chills.
The Pin Rally Adventure
After the ceremony, we decided to explore the venue, and that’s when we stumbled across one of the most fun parts of the weekend—the Pin Rally.
Think of it like a Pokémon-themed scavenger hunt spread across the entire convention. You started by getting the Pikachu pin, then had to complete various challenges and visits to earn more. It was such a smart way to encourage attendees to check out different areas of the convention.
Here’s how it went down for us:
- Pikachu Pin – The starter pin you get just for beginning the rally.
- Fennekin Pin – We earned this by visiting a booth that partnered with an organization helping kids get books and school supplies. Loved seeing Pokémon tie in with a good cause.
- Retro Game Challenge (Spectator Zone) – To get the Chespin pin, you had to play a retro Pokémon game. They had stations with Pokémon Colosseum, Pokémon Snap, and Pokkén Tournament DX. I jumped on Pokémon Snap for that sweet nostalgia.
- Play! Pokémon App Check-In – By linking up with the Play! Pokémon Access app, you unlocked another pin.
- Vanillite Pin – Outside the venue was a massive inflatable Pikachu, and if you took a picture there, you scored this icy treat of a pin.
Those were the main five, but there were two bonus “secret” pins as well:
- Murkrow Pin – Creators were given batches of these and handed them out for trades, making it feel like a community Easter egg.
- Toedscool Pin – You could only get this by trading a staff member, which made the hunt even more interactive.
By the time we finished the rally, we’d walked miles, met a bunch of new people, and had a solid little pin collection to show off.
The Pokémon Center Pop-Up
One of the biggest draws at Worlds is always the Pokémon Center pop-up shop, packed with exclusive merch that you can only buy at the event. We had a 3:30 PM entry time, and based on TikToks from the day before, I was expecting pure chaos. But surprisingly, our time slot was smooth. People were patient and respectful, and the line flowed quickly.
The only downside? A lot of the hottest exclusives had already sold out. Some of the plushies and apparel I had my eye on were long gone, which was a bummer. Still, I managed to grab a few solid pickups before calling it a win. Lesson learned: if you want the rare merch, you need one of those early morning slots.
Watching the Competition
Of course, Worlds isn’t just about merch and scavenger hunts—it’s about the best players in the world competing across multiple Pokémon games: the Trading Card Game, Scarlet & Violet battles, Pokémon Unite, and even Pokémon GO. We grabbed lunch, then found seats to watch matches on the big screen.
The skill level on display was insane. The precision, the strategy, and the crowd reactions whenever a huge play happened made it feel like an esports finals. Even though I’m not a hardcore competitive player, the energy was contagious, and it gave me a new appreciation for just how deep the games can get.
Closing Announcements & Teasers
At the end of the weekend, Pokémon delivered the classic Worlds “mic drop” with a batch of announcements and teasers for the future. Here’s the highlight reel:
- Pokémon Worlds 2026 will be held in San Francisco! (Perfect excuse for another West Coast trip next year.)
- A mysterious new initiative called Pokémon XP was teased, though details are still under wraps.
- Mega Evolutions are coming to the TCG Pocket app this fall.
- Shiny Ting-Lu will appear in 5-star raids in Scarlet and Violet.
- New gameplay was shown for Pokémon Legends: Z-A, including a four-player battle mode.
- Fresh trailers for upcoming TCG expansions got fans buzzing.
- A new event in Pokémon GO, Dark Skies, is on the way.
- And, of course, the announcement of the Pokémon Champions competition coming to Worlds 2026.
The crowd went wild during these reveals, and it felt like the perfect way to close out an already electric weekend.
Final Thoughts
As someone who grew up with Pokémon but never attended a Worlds before, this experience blew me away. The mix of competitive play, fan activities, merch hunting, and just being surrounded by thousands of people who love the same thing—it’s honestly hard to describe unless you’ve been there.
Sure, I didn’t pull anything crazy from my booster packs, and I missed out on some exclusive items, but none of that mattered in the end. The memories I made with my brother and cousin, the energy of the crowd, and the feeling of being part of something global made it worth every second.
If you’ve ever considered going to Worlds, do it. Whether you’re a hardcore competitor or just a casual fan, there’s something for everyone. And with San Francisco hosting in 2026, I’m already planning my trip.
Pokémon has always been about adventure, community, and discovery—and Worlds 2025 captured all of that perfectly.