As Pokémon nears its 30th anniversary on February 27th, 2026, The Pokémon Company has partnered once again with McDonald's to deliver a new Pokémon card Happy Meal promotion.
This global initiative, first reported by PokéBeach, is scheduled to roll out from February into March, with specific dates varying by country.
While the event aims to celebrate Pokémon's impressive legacy, it also highlights challenges revealed by previous collaborations—in particular, the elevated demand for collectible cards through fast food promotional partnerships. Historically, McDonald's Pokémon card giveaways have triggered surges in foot traffic and demand.
For the franchise's 25th anniversary in 2021, McDonald's locations in markets such as the United States and United Kingdom witnessed widespread scalping.
Enthusiasts and resellers purchased large volumes of Happy Meals to amass the limited-edition Pokémon Trading Card Game cards, leading some restaurants to introduce strict limits—such as restricting additional card purchases to only one extra per meal.
Despite these preventive measures, the overwhelming demand occasionally outpaced supply, showing the promotional power of the Pokémon brand and the appeal of exclusive collectibles. The companies have continued to collaborate.
In early 2025, McDonald's and The Pokémon Company launched a Dragon-type Pokémon card event, which further demonstrated ongoing public enthusiasm for Pokémon TCG exclusives.
Additionally, a major Pikachu card giveaway held in Japan in August ground to an early halt when supplies ran out after just 24 hours, leaving unopened packs to quickly appear in online secondary markets.
The exclusive artwork featured in that promotion made the cards especially sought after. This persistent trend of extraordinary demand, sometimes fueled by fear of missing out and speculative buying, has presented logistical challenges to both organizers and fans.
The Pokémon Company and its partners have actively tried to address these issues.
For instance, following a similar controversy at Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum tied to limited Pokémon merchandise, the collaboration teams have openly acknowledged the need for more robust distribution and anti-scalping strategies. With the upcoming 30th anniversary promotion, all eyes are on how The Pokémon Company and McDonald's will balance accessibility with fan enthusiasm.
Industry observers and collectors hope new measures will ensure that genuine fans, especially children and families, have a fair chance to participate in this significant milestone for the brand. The Pokémon franchise, spanning video games such as those on the Nintendo Switch, trading card sets, and collaborations through Nintendo Direct and the eShop, has cemented its place as one of the world's most enduring entertainment phenomena.
As the series approaches three decades of success, its influence on both gaming culture and merchandising only continues to grow.
More details on the Happy Meal Pokémon card promotion are expected as the event draws closer to launch.
This global initiative, first reported by PokéBeach, is scheduled to roll out from February into March, with specific dates varying by country.
While the event aims to celebrate Pokémon's impressive legacy, it also highlights challenges revealed by previous collaborations—in particular, the elevated demand for collectible cards through fast food promotional partnerships. Historically, McDonald's Pokémon card giveaways have triggered surges in foot traffic and demand.
For the franchise's 25th anniversary in 2021, McDonald's locations in markets such as the United States and United Kingdom witnessed widespread scalping.
Enthusiasts and resellers purchased large volumes of Happy Meals to amass the limited-edition Pokémon Trading Card Game cards, leading some restaurants to introduce strict limits—such as restricting additional card purchases to only one extra per meal.
Despite these preventive measures, the overwhelming demand occasionally outpaced supply, showing the promotional power of the Pokémon brand and the appeal of exclusive collectibles. The companies have continued to collaborate.
In early 2025, McDonald's and The Pokémon Company launched a Dragon-type Pokémon card event, which further demonstrated ongoing public enthusiasm for Pokémon TCG exclusives.
Additionally, a major Pikachu card giveaway held in Japan in August ground to an early halt when supplies ran out after just 24 hours, leaving unopened packs to quickly appear in online secondary markets.
The exclusive artwork featured in that promotion made the cards especially sought after. This persistent trend of extraordinary demand, sometimes fueled by fear of missing out and speculative buying, has presented logistical challenges to both organizers and fans.
The Pokémon Company and its partners have actively tried to address these issues.
For instance, following a similar controversy at Amsterdam's Van Gogh Museum tied to limited Pokémon merchandise, the collaboration teams have openly acknowledged the need for more robust distribution and anti-scalping strategies. With the upcoming 30th anniversary promotion, all eyes are on how The Pokémon Company and McDonald's will balance accessibility with fan enthusiasm.
Industry observers and collectors hope new measures will ensure that genuine fans, especially children and families, have a fair chance to participate in this significant milestone for the brand. The Pokémon franchise, spanning video games such as those on the Nintendo Switch, trading card sets, and collaborations through Nintendo Direct and the eShop, has cemented its place as one of the world's most enduring entertainment phenomena.
As the series approaches three decades of success, its influence on both gaming culture and merchandising only continues to grow.
More details on the Happy Meal Pokémon card promotion are expected as the event draws closer to launch.
