Summary
Pokemon GOhas announced a new five-day event meant to commemorate its eighth anniversary. Starting June 28,Pokemon GOplayers will have a chance to catch some limited-time pocket monsters, including two new Pokemon variants, and take advantage of a variety of trading bonuses, among other benefits.
Niantic’s hit mobile was originally released on July 04, 2025. While the original craze has long died down, the California-baseddeveloper says thatPokemon GOis still going strong, boasting healthy revenue and user engagement rates.
Pokemon GO 8th Anniversary Event Introducing New Avatar Items, Stickers, and More
The studio is now looking to commemorate the game’s eighth anniversary with a five-day event that will run from June 28 at 10am to July 3 at 8pm, local time. During the upcoming promotion, players will be able to purchase sevennewPokemon GOavatar items: four hats, two jackets, and one pair of dark gray pants. Event-themed stickers will also be part of the celebration, with trainers being able to earn them by opening gifts, spinning PokeStops, or outright purchasing them from the in-game store.
Two New Pokemon Variants Are Debuting in Pokemon GO Soon
Niantic is also using the upcoming anniversary celebrations as an opportunity to debut two new Pokemon variants, a party hat-wearing Grimer and Muk. Another confirmed event bonus concerns the Mystery Box, which will have a chance to spawn a shiny Meltan during the promotional period.
Shiny Celebi Is Returning to Pokemon GO
The event will also seeshiny Celebi return toPokemon GOby way of a new Special Research storyline. Called Masterwork Research, the upcoming quest will be available for $5 during the anniversary celebrations. As per usual, the storyline will be designed to be completed over a long period of time, and only needs to be started within the event period. Anyone who purchases the new quest or has previously unlocked the Distracted by Something Shiny Special Research story will also benefit from double Incense and Daily Adventure Incense duration, as well as double Lucky Egg duration.
The anniversary celebrations will also include a $2 Timed Research task bundle that needs to be completed during the event to earn a bunch of useful rewards, including a Super Incubator, Premium Battle Pass, and a Meltan encounter. Free Timed Research tasks will be part of the promotion as well, offeringPokemon GOplayersa chance to earn encounters with Raticate, Nidorino, and Wobbuffet, all wearing party hats. Other limited-time novelties include five one-star raids with party hat mons like Pikachu and the Gen 1 starters, as well as increased spawn rates for a few dozen pocket monsters.
Meltan-related Bonuses
General Event Bonuses
In addition to the above, the 8th Anniversary Party will have special bonuses on certain days:
Limited-Time Changes to Wild Encounters
The following Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild (those marked with an asterisk / * have a chance to be shiny):
Some Trainers might even encounter the following:
The following Pokémon will appear more frequently on these dates:
June 28 at 10:00 a.m. – June 29 at 11:59 p.m. local time
June 30 at 12:00 a.m. – July 1 at 11:59 p.m. local time
July 2 at 12:00 a.m. – July 3 at 8:00 p.m. local time
New Pokemon GO Event Raids
The following Pokémon will appear in raids (all have a chance to be shiny). Pokémon appearing in one-star raids will have a greater chance of being a Shiny Pokémon than when found in the wild.
Field Research Task Rewards
Event-themed Field Research tasks will be available!
Complete them to earn encounters with first-partner Pokémon, such as Bulbasaur, Cyndaquil, Mudkip, and more!
Some Field Research tasks will also award Mega Energy for the following Pokémon:
Timed Research
Event-themed Timed Research will be available throughout the event.
Complete tasks to earn XP, Stardust, and encounters with event-themed Pokémon such as Raticate wearing a party hat, Nidorino wearing a party hat, Wobbuffet wearing a party hat, Meltan, and more!
Paid Timed Research
ForUS$2.00(or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency), you’ll be able to access event-exclusive Timed Research.*
Complete the event-themed research tasks, such as spinning eight PokéStops or evolving eight Pokémon, to receive the following.
Please note that Timed Research expires. The tasks associated with this Timed Research must be completed and their rewards must be claimed before Wednesday, July 26, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Trainers will be able to purchase and gift tickets to any of their Pokémon GO friends that they have achieved a Friendship level of Great Friends or higher with. Please note that purchases—including those made for other Trainers—are non-refundable (subject to applicable law and the exceptions set forth in the Terms of Service). Tickets cannot be purchased with PokéCoins.
Whispers in the Woods
ForUS$5.00(or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency), you’ll be able to pick up a Masterwork Research story, Whispers in the Woods, which leads to an encounter with Shiny Celebi!*
Shiny Celebi originally appeared in Pokémon GO in the Distracted by Something Shiny Special Research story, and it’s returning once more as part of our 8th Anniversary Party. Once purchased, you’ll be able to access a Masterwork Research story, which are special kinds of research that are intended to be completed over a long period of time.
Tickets for this Masterwork Research story will be available to purchase until Wednesday, July 09, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. local time.
Ticket holders will gain access to the Masterwork Research story during the 8th Anniversary Party event. To receive the Masterwork Research, you must open Pokémon GO at some point between Friday, June 28, at 10:00 a.m. and Wednesday, July 17, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. local time. After you’ve received the Masterwork Research, you may complete it at any time.
Trainers who purchase this Masterwork Research story or have previously received the Distracted by Something Shiny Special Research story (either active or completed) can also enjoy the following bonuses for the duration of our 8th Anniversary Party event.
- Trainers who completed the Distracted by Something Shiny Special Research story will not be able to purchase this Masterwork Research story.
Pokémon GO Web Store — Anniversary Box
ThePokémon GO Web Storeis celebrating this exciting milestone with the Anniversary Box! This offer features three Remote Raid Passes, one Incubator, and three Premium Battle Passes for US$4.99 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency). Make sure to check it out!
Now even more Trainers can enjoy the web store! Trainers with Pokémon Trainer Club (PTC) accounts will now be able to log in to the Pokémon GO Web Store with the same credentials used to log in to Pokémon GO.
New Avatar Items
The following avatar items will be available to purchase in the in-game shop during this event:
Stickers
You’ll be able to get event-themed stickers by spinning PokéStops, opening Gifts, and purchasing them from the in-game shop.
PokeStop Showcases
Be on the lookout for Showcases at different PokéStops where you may enter event-themed Pokémon!
WHERE TO PLAY
Now you may battle other Pokémon GO trainers online! Try the GO Battle League today. Join Trainers across the globe who are discovering Pokémon as they explore the world around them. Pokémon GO is the global gaming sensation that has been downloaded over 1 billion times and named “Best Mobile Game” by the Game Developers Choice Awards and “Best App of the Year” by TechCrunch
UNCOVER THE WORLD OF POKÉMON: Explore and discover Pokémon wherever you are! CATCH more Pokémon to complete your Pokédex! JOURNEY alongside your Buddy Pokémon to help make your Pokémon stronger and earn rewards! COMPETE in epic Gym battles and… TEAM UP and UNITE with other Trainers to catch powerful Pokémon during Raid Battles!It’s time to get moving—your real-life adventures await! Let’s GO
