A year built on Mega Evolution

The Pokemon Trading Card Game has spent 2026 immersed in Mega Evolution, and the block has produced some of the hobby's hottest chase cards. The mechanic has anchored a steady release calendar throughout the year, keeping collectors and competitive players engaged as each expansion delivers new Mega Pokemon ex to hunt.

The latest entry, Mega Evolution: Pitch Black, releases July 17, 2026, headlined by an ominous Mega Darkrai ex alongside other Mega ex cards, and it continues a run that has kept the block at the center of the game.

The 2026 release calendar

The Mega Evolution block has rolled out across the year at a brisk pace:

Ascended Heroes opened the block in late January, with chase cards like a Pikachu ex special illustration rare climbing past $1,100 and a Mega Gengar ex near $1,300.
Perfect Order followed in March, headlined by Mega Zygarde ex.
Chaos Rising arrived in May with Mega Greninja ex and Mega Floette ex.
Pitch Black lands July 17 with Mega Darkrai ex, ahead of a further set expected around September.

The block's chase cards have proven especially desirable, with special illustration rares from early sets appreciating quickly on the secondary market.

A landmark anniversary set

The year's biggest event, though, is tied to the franchise's 30th anniversary. A special 30th Celebration set is due September 16, 2026, billed as the first global same-day Pokemon TCG release, a notable shift for a game whose sets have historically staggered across regions. It is an all-foil set mixing reprints of classic cards, including a Base Set Charizard, with new premium rarity types, and it is expected to drive powerful Gen 1 nostalgia demand.

For collectors, 2026 has been a rewarding but demanding year. The Mega Evolution mechanic gives each set a clear identity, and the striking Mega ex artwork has made the chase cards genuinely coveted. The steady cadence, roughly one major set every couple of months, keeps fresh product flowing, though it also means keeping up requires real commitment and budget.

The global 30th Celebration release is the one to watch. A simultaneous worldwide launch reduces the regional scarcity games that have frustrated collectors, while the mix of nostalgic reprints and new rarities offers something for both longtime fans and newer players. As always, official print-run figures are not disclosed, so how easy the set is to find will only become clear at launch. Between the Mega Evolution block's momentum and the anniversary celebration, the Pokemon TCG is having one of its most eventful years in memory.