The Pokémon World Championships host a full schedule of side events open to all attendees who have an official event badge, regardless of whether the attendee is playing in the main event. Come battle in smaller competitions for a variety of awesome prizes throughout the weekend. It’s a great opportunity to compete against players from around the world!
Registration for side events can be done on-site at the World Championships. Please look for the on-site registration area for more information about how to register for side events. Most side events require an entry fee.
Pokémon TCG players can participate in Sealed events that are run using Build & Battle Boxes. Trainers with their own decks looking for other formats can battle in a number of different ways, including Standard format events and the two-on-two Team Format.
Fans who bring their own Nintendo Switch system and Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game can participate in events that feature a variety of competitive formats.
For those who prefer a smaller screen, there will be Pokémon GO events throughout the weekend.
Pokémon Trading Card Game players can jump into Standard format pickup games or Build & Battle tournaments, participate in 2v2 team battles, or join forces with a group and take on an oversize Raid Format boss. If you’re looking to try something new, challenge others in the Palace Format—a unique Japanese format with a point-based deck-building system that uses cards as far back as the Diamond & Pearl era. Those looking for a singular challenge can test their mettle in the Gym Leader Challenge, where each Expanded format deck can include Pokémon of only one type and only a single copy of any card other than basic Energy. For the Gym Leader Challenge at this event, players may use any tournament-legal card regardless of which language it is printed in.
| 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Four-person pickup | Standard format tournament. Play will begin as soon as four players are ready. |
| 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Raid Format | Fully cooperative game in which up to five players battle together against an oversize Raid Boss Pokémon. Each player must have a legal 60-card deck. |
| 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Gym Leader Challenge | Expanded format. Each deck may include only one type of Pokémon and only a single copy of any card other than Basic Energy. |
| 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Build & Battle | Prerelease-style format using Build & Battle Boxes. |
| 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Palace Format | Also known as Hall of Fame, this format uses cards from the Diamond & Pearl expansions onward, and features a unique “star” system to regulate the level of power across the decks. |
| 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. | Standard Format | Three-round Swiss tournament using the Standard format ruleset. |
| 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. | Gym Leader Challenge | Expanded format. Each deck may include only one type of Pokémon and only a single copy of any card other than Basic Energy. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Four-person pickup | Standard format tournament. Play will begin as soon as four players are ready. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Raid Format | Fully cooperative game in which up to five players battle together against an oversize Raid Boss Pokémon. Each player must have a legal 60-card deck. |
| 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Parent Tournament | Tournament with shifting rules. Players will need a Standard format deck. Open to anyone, made for parents. |
| 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Gym Leader Challenge | Expanded format. Each deck may include only one type of Pokémon and only a single copy of any card other than Basic Energy. |
| 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Build & Battle | Prerelease-style format using Build & Battle Boxes. |
| 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. | 2v2 Format | Teams of two compete to be the first to take nine of the 12 Prize cards across three lanes of play. |
| 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. | Standard Format | Three-round Swiss tournament using the Standard format ruleset. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Four-person pickup | Standard format tournament. Play will begin as soon as four players are ready. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Raid Format | Fully cooperative game in which up to five players battle together against an oversize Raid Boss Pokémon. Each player must have a legal 60-card deck. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Build & Battle | Prerelease-style format using Build & Battle Boxes. |
| 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | 2v2 Format | Teams of two compete to be the first to take nine of the 12 Prize cards across three lanes of play. |
| 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Gym Leader Challenge | Expanded format. Each deck may include only one type of Pokémon and only a single copy of any card other than Basic Energy. |
Trainers who bring their own Nintendo Switch system and Pokémon Scarlet or Pokémon Violet game can get in on the action by competing in three different tournament formats or by participating in pickup games throughout the weekend.
| 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Four-person pickup | Current ruleset tournament. Play will begin as soon as four players are ready. |
| 11:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Malamar Cup | A tournament using the current ruleset. Nintendo Switch systems and controllers must be inverted 180 degrees so that the game is played upside down. |
| 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Catch Cup | Players are given a route and 30 minutes to catch and train the Pokémon they will use in a three-round tournament. |
| 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. | Regulation D Format | Three-round Swiss tournament using the current ruleset. |
| 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. | Chaos Cup | Players are given a random Rental Team code to use for the tournament. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Four-person pickup | Current ruleset tournament. Play will begin as soon as four players are ready. |
| 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. | Chaos Cup | Players are given a random Rental Team code to use for the tournament. |
| 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. | Catch Cup | Players are given a route and 30 minutes to catch and train the Pokémon they will use in a three-round tournament. |
| 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. | Malamar Cup | A tournament using the current ruleset. Nintendo Switch systems and controllers must be inverted 180 degrees so that the game is played upside down. |
| 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. | Regulation D Format | Three-round Swiss tournament using the current ruleset. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Four-person pickup | Current ruleset tournament. Play will begin as soon as four players are ready. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Chaos Cup | Players are given a random Rental Team code to use for the tournament. |
| 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Malamar Cup | A tournament using the current ruleset. Nintendo Switch systems and controllers must be inverted 180 degrees so that the game is played upside down. |
| 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Regulation D Format | Three-round Swiss tournament using the current ruleset. |
For those who prefer a smaller screen, Pokémon GO events will be held throughout the weekend. Whether you enjoy battling other players or conducting Field Research, we have a variety of ways for you to get involved. Our popular scavenger hunt activity from past events is making its return, with a modified task list to get you into the spirit of the event.
| 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Four-person pickup | Great League rules. Play will begin as soon as four players are ready. |
| 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Scavenger Hunt | Players will take part in a number of challenging tasks in Pokémon GO for the chance to earn prizes. |
| 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Little Cup | A tournament limited to Pokémon of 500 CP or less that can evolve but have not done so yet. |
| 12:00 – 3:00 p.m. | Catch Cup | Players are given 30 minutes to catch and train the team they will use for the tournament. |
| 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Random Team | A tournament using Great League rules in which competitors must use the team suggested by their app. |
| 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. | Great League Format | Double elimination tournament using the Great League rules. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Four-person pickup | Great League rules. Play will begin as soon as four players are ready. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Scavenger Hunt | Players will take part in a number of challenging tasks in Pokémon GO for the chance to earn prizes. |
| 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Catch Cup | Players are given 30 minutes to catch and train the team they will use for the tournament. |
| 12:30 – 3:30 p.m. | Little Cup | A tournament limited to Pokémon of 500 CP or less that can evolve but have not done so yet. |
| 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. | Random Team | A tournament using Great League rules in which competitors must use the team suggested by their app. |
| 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 3:30 – 6:30 p.m. | Great League Format | Double-elimination tournament using the Great League format. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Four-person pickup | Great League rules. Play will begin as soon as four players are ready. |
| 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Great League Format | Double elimination tournament using the Great League format. |
| 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. | Random Team | A tournament using Great League rules in which competitors must use the team suggested by their app. |
If you’re looking for other Pokémon UNITE fans, look no further! Team up with other players for some Unite Battles—or participate in the UNITE Eevee Cup, where only Eevee Evolutions can be used.
| 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | UNITE Four-Team Draft Pods | Pokémon UNITE tournament using Draft Mode in a Tournament Lobby. All UNITE licenses, battle items and held items (set to Lv. 30) unlocked. Play will begin as soon as four teams are ready. |
| 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. | UNITE Four-Team Blind Pods | Pokémon UNITE tournament in a Tournament Lobby (no Draft Mode). All UNITE licenses, battle items and held items (set to Lv. 30) unlocked. Play will begin as soon as four teams are ready. |
| 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | UNITE Eevee Cup | Pokémon UNITE tournament in which teams may only select Pokémon that evolve from Eevee. |
Noncompetitive events—such as trade hours and art sessions—will be available throughout the weekend. For more information on the side events that will be offered, please refer to the details below.
| 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. | Trade Hour | Bring your Pokémon TCG binders, pins, coins, and dice, and meet up with other collectors to trade! Each hour will have a theme to help folks find fellow collectors, and Judges will have items to trade as well. |
| 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Binder Decoration | Add flair to a Pokémon TCG card binder using provided stickers and paint pens. Blank binders with a single 3 × 3 card collection sheet will be provided. |
| 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. | Trade Hour | Bring your Pokémon TCG binders, pins, coins, and dice, and meet up with other collectors to trade! Each hour will have a theme to help folks find fellow collectors, and Judges will have items to trade as well. |
| 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. | Binder Decoration | Add flair to a Pokémon TCG card binder using provided stickers and paint pens. Blank binders with a single 3 × 3 card collection sheet will be provided. |
| 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Binder Decoration | Add flair to a Pokémon TCG card binder using provided stickers and paint pens. Blank binders with a single 3 × 3 card collection sheet will be provided. |
| 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. | Trade Hour | Bring your Pokémon TCG binders, pins, coins, and dice, and meet up with other collectors to trade! Each hour will have a theme to help folks find fellow collectors, and Judges will have items to trade as well. |
| 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. | Binder Decoration | Add flair to a Pokémon TCG card binder using provided stickers and paint pens. Blank binders with a single 3 × 3 card collection sheet will be provided. |
| 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. | Trade Hour | Bring your Pokémon TCG binders, pins, coins, and dice, and meet up with other collectors to trade! Each hour will have a theme to help folks find fellow collectors, and Judges will have items to trade as well. |
| 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. | Binder Decoration | Add flair to a Pokémon TCG card binder using provided stickers and paint pens. Blank binders with a single 3 × 3 card collection sheet will be provided. |
| 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. | Trade Hour | Bring your Pokémon TCG binders, pins, coins, and dice, and meet up with other collectors to trade! Each hour will have a theme to help folks find fellow collectors, and Judges will have items to trade as well. |
| 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. | Binder Decoration | Add flair to a Pokémon TCG card binder using provided stickers and paint pens. Blank binders with a single 3 × 3 card collection sheet will be provided. |
| 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. | Trade Hour | Bring your Pokémon TCG binders, pins, coins, and dice, and meet up with other collectors to trade! Each hour will have a theme to help folks find fellow collectors, and Judges will have items to trade as well. |