Pokémon 30 Years: All the Information About the Big 30th Celebration Set

Updated on September 21, 2026

Pokémon Trading Card Game: 30 Years is the major anniversary expansion celebrating 30 years of Pokémon TCG. Internationally, the set is known as Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration. The expansion was officially released on September 16, 2026, celebrating three decades of Pokémon cards with new illustrations, special Pikachu cards, the Classic Collection, and the new Futuristic Rare rarity.

By now, significantly more information is known than at the time of the initial announcement. Officially, 30th Celebration includes over 150 cards, including 30 Pikachu Rare, 30 Classic Collection cards, more than 20 Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare cards, and exactly two Futuristic Rare cards. There is also an extensive product line continuing through October and November 2026.

At cardcosmos, you can find products from several language regions. In addition to the German Pokémon 30 Years products, Japanese and Chinese anniversary products are currently also part of the shared Pokémon 30th Celebration Collection. The products celebrate the same 30-year anniversary, but may differ by language and region in terms of card pool, packaging, booster size, and product composition.

What is Pokémon 30 Years, or 30th Celebration?

Pokémon 30 Years is a special anniversary expansion of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The set combines the history of the TCG with new cards and modern illustrations. Rather than focusing on just one generation, the expansion draws on Pokémon, card styles, and memories from three decades.

The focus is on several clearly recognizable collecting themes: 30 different Pikachu Rare cards, the Classic Collection featuring well-known cards from earlier eras, modern Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare cards, and two Futuristic Rare cards by YOSHIROTTEN.

Various names appear in searches. In the German market, people mainly search for Pokémon 30 Years, while internationally they search for Pokémon 30th Celebration, Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration, or Pokémon 30th Anniversary. Each refers to the major anniversary release celebrating 30 years of Pokémon TCG, although regional products may be assembled differently.

Pokémon 30th Celebration: The Most Important Information

• German name: Pokémon Trading Card Game: 30 Years
• International name: Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration
• Release of the international set: September 16, 2026
• Size: over 150 cards
• Pikachu Rare: 30 different Pikachu cards
• Classic Collection: 30 iconic cards from the history of the Pokémon TCG
• Illustration Rare & Special Illustration Rare: more than 20 new cards
• Futuristic Rare: two cards by YOSHIROTTEN
• Booster: five holographic cards plus one holographic Basic Energy card in the international edition
• Tournament legality: Main set cards legal from September 25, 2026; Classic Collection not tournament-legal

Especially important for Collectors: Every international 30th Celebration Booster contains one of the 30 Pikachu Rare cards. This gives every pack a direct connection to the anniversary.

30 Pikachu Rare cards: The set's big collecting goal

Pikachu is one of the best-known Pokémon of all and is therefore especially prominent in the anniversary set. There are a total of 30 different Pikachu Rare cards with various illustrations. Each 30th Celebration Booster contains one of these Pikachu cards.

This creates an unusually clear collecting goal: Those who want to can deliberately try to collect all 30 Pikachu Rare cards. This partial collection is particularly interesting for Binder collectors because it makes the 30th anniversary directly visible.

Futuristic Rare featuring Mew ex and Mewtwo ex

With 30th Celebration, the new Futuristic Rare rarity was introduced. It is now confirmed that the set contains exactly two cards of this rarity: Mew ex and Mewtwo ex. Both were designed by Japanese artist and designer YOSHIROTTEN.

The Futuristic Rare cards deliberately form a counterpart to the nostalgic Classic Collection. While part of the set looks back at 30 years of the Pokémon TCG, Mew ex and Mewtwo ex showcase a modern, color-rich futuristic aesthetic.

Classic Collection: 30 iconic Pokémon cards return

The Classic Collection consists of 30 well-known cards from different eras of the Pokémon TCG. This means the anniversary set not only looks back at the early years, but also recalls different generations and game mechanics from the past three decades.

For Players, there is one important rule to note: Cards from the regular 30th Celebration main set will be legal for Play!-Pokémon tournaments starting September 25, 2026. Cards from the Classic Collection, however, are not tournament-legal.

The Classic Collection nevertheless remains one of the most important parts of the set for Collectors. The combination of modern cards and familiar classics makes the anniversary character of 30th Celebration especially clear.

Day & Night Artworks and new Illustration Rares

Another major theme of Pokémon 30 Years is the change between Day and Night. Several cards and products highlight these two sides of the anniversary. Pokémon such as Sylveon ex and Umbreon ex fit this theme, as do the later-released Day and Night Ultra-Premium Collections.

More than 20 new Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare cards have been officially confirmed. In addition to Pikachu Rare, Classic Collection, and Futuristic Rare, this gives the set several different collecting focuses.

Some of the well-known Pokémon in the set include Mew ex, Mewtwo ex, Umbreon ex, Salamence ex, Greninja ex, and Sylveon ex. This means the anniversary set covers several Generationen and fan favorites.

Which products are available for Pokémon 30th Celebration?

The product line for Pokémon 30 Years is not being released entirely on a single date. A first major part launched in September 2026, with more products following in October and November. cardcosmos also carries Japanese and Chinese anniversary products with their own regional Release dates.

German Booster packs, Elite Trainer Box, and smaller collections

Anyone looking for a comprehensive introduction to the German set will find nine Booster packs, a full-art promo card featuring Nidorina, and typical ETB accessories such as Card Sleeves, Energy cards, Dice, and a Collectors box in the Pokémon 30 Years Elite Trainer Box in German.

For a pure Booster opening, the Pokémon 30 Years Booster Bundle in German is also available. The international product version contains six Booster packs and is part of the October wave of the anniversary set.

The Pokémon 30 Years Poster Collection in German combines three Booster packs with three promo cards featuring Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres, as well as a large anniversary poster. The Pokémon 30 Years Binder Collection in German combines five Booster packs with a themed 9-pocket Collectors Binder.

The Pokémon 30 Jahre Tech-Sticker-Kollektion auf Deutsch focuses on Alola-Kokowei and Lucario. Depending on the variant, it contains the corresponding Promo Card, Stickers, and three Booster packs.

For smaller openings, there is the Pokémon 30 Jahre Mini-Tin-Box in zufälliger German Variante with two Boosters, along with a matching art card and Stickers. The Pokémon 30 Jahre 2er-Pack-Blister mit Evoli auf Deutsch combines two Boosters with an Evoli Promo Card and a coin.

Feelinara-ex and Quajutsu-ex Collection Boxes and Tin-Boxes

Fans of the two day-and-night Pokémon can choose from several products. The Pokémon 30 Jahre Collection Box Feelinara-ex auf Deutsch and the Pokémon 30 Jahre Collection Box Quajutsu-ex auf Deutsch each contain a holographic Promo Card, an oversized version, and four Booster packs.

There is also the Pokémon 30 Jahre Tin-Box Tag mit Feelinara-ex auf Deutsch and the Pokémon 30 Jahre Tin-Box Nacht mit Quajutsu-ex auf Deutsch. Both combine a fixed Promo with several Boosters in a collectible Tin.

Battle decks with Psiana-ex and Nachtara-ex

Two ready-to-play anniversary Battle decks are available for Players. The Pokémon 30 Jahre Battle deck Psiana-ex & Victini auf Deutsch and the Pokémon 30 Jahre Battle deck Nachtara-ex & Zeraora auf Deutsch each contain a completely holographic 60-card deck.

Internationally, the Release of these Battle Decks is announced for October 30, 2026. The Espeon-ex Deck additionally contains an Illustration Rare-style Victini Promo card, while Zeraora is the corresponding Promo in the Umbreon-ex Deck.

Mew and Mewtwo Figure Collections

In November, two particularly eye-catching products featuring Futuristic-Rare Pokémon will follow. The Pokémon 30 Years Figure Collection Mew in German and the Pokémon 30 Years Figure Collection Mewtwo in German each combine a Promo, an oversized card, a figure, and five Booster packs.

Ditto Premium Collection and Ultra-Premium Collections

The Pokémon 30 Years Ditto Premium Collection in German will be released in the later product wave and includes, among other things, eight 30th Celebration Boosters, a Ditto Promo card, and a colorful acrylic display.

Among the largest anniversary products are the Pokémon 30 Years Ultra-Premium Collection Day in German and the Pokémon 30 Years Ultra-Premium Collection Night in German.

The international Day-&-Night Ultra-Premium Collections each contain 29 regular 30th Celebration Boosters and additionally one special Classic Collection Booster with three cards. They also include Promo cards featuring Pikachu-ex and Espeon-ex or Umbreon-ex, respectively, as well as extensive Accessories.

Japanese Pokémon 30th Celebration Products

The Japanese anniversary products are also part of the 30th Celebration product line, but are independent regional releases. At cardcosmos, the Release currently listed for the Japanese products is September 25, 2026.

The Pokémon 30th Anniversary Collection 20-count Booster Display in Japanese contains 20 Booster packs and is aimed especially at Collectors of the Japanese edition. Those who only want to open individual packs can also find the Pokémon 30th Anniversary Celebration Booster in Japanese.

A dedicated collector and play product is the Pokémon 30th Celebration Premium Deck Set Espeon & Umbreon in Japanese. It contains two ready-to-play 60-card Decks centered around Espeon-ex and Umbreon-ex, as well as Accessories such as coins, a Playmat, and a metal Deck case.

Chinese Pokémon 30th Anniversary Celebration Products

The Chinese product range has also become considerably larger by now. The 7 October 2026 is listed as the Release for the Chinese anniversary products currently listed by cardcosmos.

For classic openings, there is the Pokémon 30th Anniversary Celebration Booster Display in Chinese with 20 Boosters, as well as the Pokémon 30th Anniversary Celebration Booster in Chinese as an individual pack.

The Pokémon 30th Anniversary Celebration Coin Set in Chinese is also aimed at collectors of Pikachu coins and special TCG Accessories.

The Pokémon 30th Anniversary Dream Figure Box Pikachu in Chinese is considerably more unusual. It combines a random Pikachu figure from the Dream-Painting series with the corresponding holographic Pikachu card and a Booster pack.

Fans of Eevee evolutions can also find the Pokémon 30th Celebration Gift Box Espeon ex & Umbreon ex in Chinese, which brings Espeon-ex and Umbreon-ex together in a larger Chinese anniversary box.

Pokémon 30th Celebration in Pokémon TCG Live

30th Celebration is now also available in Pokémon TCG Live. At the expansion's launch, a Mew-ex Deck and a Sylveon-ex Deck, among others, were included in the Battle Pass. There are also collection missions for all 30 Pikachu Rare cards and the complete Classic Collection.

Although this is not decisive for physical collecting, it shows that the anniversary set is also being integrated more strongly into gameplay than initially known.

Who is Pokémon 30 years for?

For Collectors, 30th Celebration offers particularly many clearly defined collecting goals: 30 Pikachu Rare, the Classic Collection, Illustration Rares, Special Illustration Rares, and the two Futuristic Rare cards.

For long-time Pokémon fans, the mix of old and new cards is particularly exciting. The Classic Collection draws on iconic moments from three decades, while modern artwork and new rarities represent the current generation of the TCG.

For international Collectors, the expansion is also interesting because German, Japanese, and Chinese anniversary products offer different packaging and product concepts.

For Players, the new Pokémon ex and the two Battle decks are particularly relevant. Important: The regular main set becomes tournament-legal on September 25, 2026, while the Classic Collection does not.

Pokémon 30th Celebration at cardcosmos

The Pokémon 30th Celebration Collection at cardcosmos currently includes German, Japanese, and Chinese anniversary products. This allows you to compare different language versions and product types directly.

Since several products will not be released until October or November, and the Japanese and Chinese releases have their own dates, it is worth paying close attention to the Language and product version when making your selection.

Pokémon 30 years is now more than just an anniversary announcement

Pokémon Trading Card Game: 30 years, or Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration, was officially released on September 16, 2026. With over 150 cards, 30 Pikachu Rare, 30 Classic-Collection cards, more than 20 Illustration Rare and Special Illustration Rare cards, as well as the two Futuristic Rare cards Mew ex and Mewtwo ex, the set now has a much clearer profile.

At the same time, the product line continues to grow. After the first September products, Booster Bundles, Mini-Tins, and Battle decks will follow in October, before Premium Collections, figures, and Ultra-Premium products appear in November.

For Collectors, the combination of nostalgia, a Pikachu focus, modern artwork, and international product variants is especially exciting. Anyone collecting Pokémon cards from Germany, Japan, or China will find many different ways to build their Collection around the 30th anniversary.