A fresh year in Pokémon Go kicks off with stylish party hats, shiny surprises, and a new Timed Research challenge that’s only available for a few days. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of Niantic’s New Year’s 2026 celebration.
Pokémon Go ‘New Year’s 2026’ event Timed Research and reward
The New Year’s 2026 Timed Research in Pokémon Go offers a festive set of tasks focused on celebration-themed Pokémon encounters and bonus rewards. Players can complete stages that feature appearances from Pokémon wearing party hats and other event outfits. Finishing the entire research line grants items such as Stardust, Poké Balls, and special encounters tied to the event’s holiday theme. The challenge runs only during the event period, encouraging players to complete objectives before the countdown to the new year ends.
For $1.99, you can nab a premium research ticket that expires when the event ends. Additionally, you’ll get an extra free (orange) raid pass per day if you buy this ticket. Yes, the “New Year’s 2026” premium research is worth it for coin value, but mainly only if you really want a lot of guaranteed costumed Pikachu encounters or if you plan on doing a lot of raids. You can see the research steps below.
‘New Year’s 2026’ step 1 of 1
- Catch 5 Pokémon (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Catch 10 Pokémon (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Catch 15 Pokémon (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Catch 20 Pokémon (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Catch 25 Pokémon (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Make 5 nice throws (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Make 10 nice throws (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Make 15 nice throws (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Make 5 great throws (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
- Make 10 great throws (Pikachu [party top hat] encounter)
Rewards: Pikachu (party top hat) encounter, 2 Premium Battle Passes, 3,000 Stardust
Pokémon Go ‘New Year’s 2026’ event Collection Challenges
Pokémon Go New Year’s 2026 event Collection Challenges offer a set of timed tasks rewarding unique collection perks and rare encounters as players chase completing the seasonal objectives.
The following Collection Challenge will be live throughout the duration of the event:
‘New Years 2026’ Collection Challenge
- Catch a Pikachu (party top hat)
- Catch a Bulbasaur (party hat)
- Catch a Charmander (party hat)
- Catch a Squirtle (party hat)
Rewards: 2,026 Stardust, 2,026 XP, 26 Ultra Balls
Pokémon Go ‘New Year’s 2026’ event Field Research and rewards
Pokémon Go’s New Year 2026 event introduces Field Research tasks with a fresh slate of rewards, including unique encounters, discounted bonuses, and limited-time encounters that encourage players to complete a curated sequence of tasks across the event window.
Spinning a PokéStop during the event period may yield one of these tasks:
- Catch 26 Pokémon (2,026 Stardust)
- Win a raid (2,026 Stardust)
There’s also daily Field Research you’ll get for logging in that rewards you with premium items, as long as you have the space for a new research task:
- Catch 15 Pokémon (1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense)
- Spin 5 PokéStops or gyms (1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense)
- Send 5 gifts to friends (1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense)
- Transfer 15 Pokémon (1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense)
- Power up Pokémon 10 times (1 Lucky Egg or 1 Incense)
What are the New Year’s 2026 Timed Research tasks and rewards
The New Year’s 2026 Timed Research is a paid, one-step line focused on catching Pokémon and making accurate throws, and it rewards multiple encounters with Party Top Hat Pikachu, 2 Premium Battle Passes, and 3,000 Stardust when fully completed.
Ticket and deadline
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Name: New Year’s 2026 Premium Timed Research (paid Timed Research).
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Price: about US$1.99 (or local equivalent); cannot be bought with PokéCoins.
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Deadline: all tasks and rewards must be completed and claimed by Sunday, January 4, 2026, at 8 p.m. local time.
Timed Research tasks (Step 1/1)
All tasks are part of a single step:
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Catch 5 Pokémon
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Catch 10 Pokémon
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Catch 15 Pokémon
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Catch 20 Pokémon
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Catch 25 Pokémon
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Make 5 Nice Throws
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Make 10 Nice Throws
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Make 15 Nice Throws
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Make 5 Great Throws
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Make 10 Great Throws
Each task completion gives an encounter with Pikachu wearing a party top hat (costumed Pikachu).
Overall completion rewards
When you finish the full Timed Research line, you receive:
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2 Premium Battle Passes
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3,000 Stardust
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Additional encounters with Pikachu wearing a party top hat
These rewards only apply if everything is done and claimed before the event timer expires.
How much does the New Year’s 2026 Timed Research ticket cost in my region
The New Year’s 2026 Timed Research ticket is priced at US$1.99, or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency as set by your app store.
Because the game automatically converts that US$1.99 base price using regional tiers (and sometimes includes local taxes or fees), the exact amount in your region can only be seen on the in-app purchase screen or your platform’s store page.
