Step into a dazzling world where glowing lights meet electrifying Pokémon battles-Pokémon GO’s Festival of Lights is back, illuminating the game with exclusive Timed Research tasks, rare Pokémon encounters, and festive rewards. Whether you’re hunting shiny Saree Pikachu or tackling special event challenges, this guide will light your path to victory in the 2025 celebration.
As well as Field and Timed Research quests to complete, a new feature is certain Pokémon will glow in the wild during the night for the duration of the event.
Here’s a guide to the Festival of Lights in Pokémon Go – including Research steps, rewards, and other event bonuses.
Pokémon Go ’Festival of Lights’ Timed Research
The Pokémon Go ’Festival of Lights’ Timed Research is a special event quest available during the Festival of Lights event, typically running for a limited time. Players are tasked with activities such as spinning PokéStops, catching Electric- and Fire-type Pokémon, exploring certain distances, using Incense, and hatching Eggs. Completing these tasks rewards players with items like Incense, encounters with Pokémon such as Hisuian Voltorb, Hisuian Growlithe, Tadbulb, Morelull, Magmar, and Dedenne, as well as XP and exclusive avatar items like the Festival of Lights T-shirt. The final reward often includes a special encounter with Alolan Raichu. This Timed Research offers a great opportunity to catch event-themed Pokémon and earn valuable rewards before the event ends.
The following Timed Research steps must be completed before the event ends:
’Festival of Lights’ Timed Research steps and rewards
- Spin 30 PokéStops (1 Lure Module)
- Catch 30 Electric-type Pokémon (Hisuian Voltorb encounter)
- Catch 30 Fire-type Pokemon (Hisuian Growlithe encounter)
- Explore 5 km (Tadbulb encounter)
- Use an Incense (Morelull encounter)
- Catch 15 different species of Pokémon (Magmar encounter)
- Hatch 4 Eggs (Dedenne encounter)
Rewards: Alolan Raichu encounter, 3,000 XP, Festival of Lights T-shirt
Pokémon Go ’Festival of Lights’ Field Research
The Pokémon Go ’Festival of Lights’ Field Research offers event-exclusive tasks that players can collect by spinning PokéStops during the event. These tasks include catching 5 Pokémon, walking 1 km, hatching 2 eggs, spinning 10 PokéStops or Gyms, and sending a gift with a sticker. Completing these tasks rewards players with encounters with Pokémon such as Morelull, Tadbulb, Darumaka, and their shiny variants, along with useful items like Poké Balls and berries. The Field Research tasks can be saved and completed even after the event ends, providing flexibility for trainers to earn rewards at their own pace during the Festival of Lights.
You will encounter the following Field Research from spinning PokéStops. Though they can only be collected during event hours, you can keep them in your quest log and complete them at any time after the event ends:
- Catch 5 Pokémon (5 Poké Balls, 3 Ultra Balls, 3 Razz Berries, or 2 Pinap Berries)
- Hatch 2 Eggs (Tadbulb encounter)
- Send a Gift with a Sticker (Darumaka encounter)
- Spin 10 PokeStops or Gyms (Tadbulb or Morelull encounter)
- Walk 1 km (Morelull encounter)
Pokémon Go ’Festival of Lights’ wild spawns
During the Pokémon GO Festival of Lights event, players can encounter a variety of Fire and Electric-type Pokémon as wild spawns, including the debuting Tadbulb and its evolution Bellibolt. Other notable wild spawns include Pikachu, Vulpix, Ponyta, Magnemite, Voltorb, Chinchou, Mareep, Slugma, Electrike, Litwick, and Morelull, many of which are available in shiny forms. The event also encourages the use of Lure Modules to attract more of these Pokémon, increasing the chances of shiny encounters. This diverse lineup highlights the event’s focus on Electric and Fire types, making it a vibrant and exciting time for Trainers to catch these luminous creatures in the wild.
The following spawns will be boosted for the duration of the event:
- Chinchou
- Electrike
- Litwick
- Magnemite
- Mareep
- Morelull (rare encounter)
- Pikachu
- Ponyta
- Slugma
- Tadbulb (rare encounter)
- Voltorb
- Vulpix
Pokémon Go ’Festival of Lights’ boosted Incense encounters
During the Pokémon Go Festival of Lights event, Incense encounters are significantly boosted, attracting a variety of Fire and Electric-type Pokémon. Players using Incense will encounter Pokémon such as Alolan Geodude, Hisuian Voltorb, Slugma, Volbeat, Illumise, Blitzle, Litwick, Morelull, Dedenne, and Tadbulb more frequently. This boost also increases the chances of encountering shiny variants of some Pokémon like Morelull. Additionally, Incense activated during the event lasts longer, enhancing the opportunity to catch these special event Pokémon.
Activating an Incense during the “Festival of Lights” event will see the following Pokémon spawns boosted. One of the event spawns is double Incense duration, giving you more time to encounter the following:
- Alolan Geodude
- Blitzle
- Dedenne
- Hisuian Voltorb
- Illumise
- Litleo
- Litwick
- Morelull
- Slugma
- Tadbulb
- Volbeat
Pokémon Go ’Festival of Lights’ Egg hatch changes
During the Pokémon Go Festival of Lights event, 7 km Eggs obtained will hatch event-themed Pokémon including Elekid, Magby, Dedenne, and Morelull, with Morelull having an increased chance of being shiny. This change offers players a focused opportunity to hatch these specific Fire and Electric-type Pokémon, enhancing the event experience with boosted shiny rates for certain species.
The following Pokémon will hatch from 7 km Eggs. Though they can only be collected during event hours, you can hatch them at any time after the event ends:
- Dedenne
- Elekid
- Magby
- Morelull
Pokémon Go ’Festival of Lights’ times, dates and event bonuses
The Pokémon Go ’Festival of Lights’ event is scheduled to take place from November 1 to November 4, 2025, starting at 10:00 a.m. local time and ending at 8:00 p.m. local time on the final day. During the event, players can enjoy several bonuses including double Stardust and XP for catching Pokémon, increased Team GO Rocket activity with more frequent Grunts and balloon spawns, and extended Incense duration lasting three hours. Specific Pokémon such as Alolan Geodude, Hisuian Voltorb, Slugma, and Morelull will have increased spawn rates, especially when using Incense. Additionally, the event features the debut of Saree Pikachu, available through special raids, and offers exclusive Field and Timed Research tasks with rewards including encounters with shiny variants and event-themed avatar items. While the basic event is free to play, some exclusive challenges and raids may require tickets purchasable in the in-game shop.
The “Festival of Lights” runs between Tuesday, Nov. 7, at 10 a.m. local time and Sunday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. local time,
As well as the above changes to spawns and Field Research, the following bonuses are also in effect until the event ends:
- Certain Pokémon glow in the wild during night-time
- Double Candy and double Stardust when hatching Eggs
- Double Incense length (excluding Daily Adventure Incense)
- PokéStop Showcases for Litwick and Tadbulb
- For players in India, the addition of double catch Candy, and a Collection Challenge with Stardust, XP, and Tadbulb encounter rewards
What hidden surprises await in the Festival of Lights Timed Research tasks
The Festival of Lights Timed Research in Pokémon GO hides several exciting surprises, including encounters with rare and shiny Pokémon such as Hisuian Voltorb, Hisuian Growlithe, Morelull, Tadbulb, Magmar, and Dedenne. Completing tasks like spinning 30 PokéStops, catching 30 Electric- and Fire-type Pokémon, exploring 5 km, and hatching eggs rewards players with exclusive Pokémon encounters, event items like Incense, XP boosts, and even an event-exclusive avatar shirt. Some of these Pokémon, including Morelull and Tadbulb, have shiny variants available, adding an extra thrill for collectors. Additionally, the event offers bonuses such as doubled Stardust and XP for catching Pokémon, extended Incense duration, and more frequent Team GO Rocket appearances, enhancing the overall gameplay experience during the Festival of Lights.
What rare Pokémon or shiny surprises are hidden in the Festival of Lights tasks
The Festival of Lights Timed Research tasks in Pokémon GO feature exciting rare and shiny Pokémon surprises. Notably, the event marks the debut of Tadbulb and its evolution Bellibolt, as well as the first-ever shiny Morelull and Shiinotic, which players can encounter in the wild, via Incense, Field Research tasks, and 7 km Eggs with increased shiny chances. Other rare Pokémon appearing more frequently include Pikachu, Vulpix, Magnemite, Chinchou (with a boosted shiny rate), Litwick, Litleo, Helioptile, Dedenne, and special regional variants like Galarian Ponyta and Togedemaru, adding to the event’s luminous allure. Completing the Timed Research also rewards players with exclusive avatar items and encounters with these light-themed Pokémon, making the event a treasure trove for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
