McDonald's Pokémon Cards 2026: November 10 Start, 15 Cards and Mini Happy Meal Box Toys
The 2026 McDonald's Pokémon TCG promo reportedly starts November 10 in the US: 15 reprint cards, two per toy, and 15 mini Happy Meal box toys that double as card frames.
Update, October 30: Pokémon posted its official announcement on October 29, confirming three themed Happy Meal boxes (Pikachu, Umbreon and Torchic), 15 toys and two cards per meal, then took it down because it showed next year’s cards. Here’s what it revealed.
McDonald’s Pokémon TCG promotion is reportedly back this November, and this year the Happy Meal toy is part of the collectible. One caveat up front: McDonald’s and The Pokémon Company haven’t officially announced it. The dates come from PokeBeach, which says it confirmed them with multiple stores, and the cards and toys match leaked restaurant materials covered by several outlets. Dates could shift, and participation and stock will vary by location.
The dates
| Country | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Tuesday, November 3 | Monday, December 7 |
| Australia | Thursday, November 5 | Wednesday, December 9 |
| United States | Tuesday, November 10 | Monday, December 14 |
That fixes the date in our September report: per PokeBeach, the November 5 start that circulated for the US was actually Australia’s. More countries are expected, with dates not yet known.
The toys
There are 15 plastic toys, each a mini Happy Meal box themed to a different Pokémon, and the back of each one works as a card frame. Essential Japan, citing the leaked images, lists the 15 as Pikachu, Eevee, Umbreon, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Weedle, Torchic, Piplup, Munchlax, Minccino, Espurr, Rowlet, Sobble and Sprigatito.
Reports describe this as the first time since 2018 that US Happy Meals have included plastic Pokémon toys. We couldn’t confirm that from an official source.
The cards
Each toy comes with two random cards from a 15-card set. That’s a change from recent years, when a Happy Meal came with a four-card pack: one holo and three non-holos.
As usual, the cards are reprints with McDonald’s numbering. Three are known so far:
- Metagross, reprinted from Temporal Forces
- Palafin, reprinted from Obsidian Flames
- Hawlucha, reprinted from Scarlet & Violet
The other 12, and how many will be holo, haven’t been revealed. Past McDonald’s sets have usually had six holos, in the signature confetti holofoil.
For comparison, five of the 15 cards from the 2025 US promotion. The 2026 cards haven't been officially shown. Image: The Pokémon Company.
What it means for collectors
Two cards per meal instead of four means more Happy Meals to finish the 15-card set over the five-week US run. Expect sealed toy-and-card bundles on resale sites soon after launch, and the usual early asks before supply settles. Check that your local McDonald’s is participating before you plan a route around it.
Sources
- PokeBeach - McDonald’s Pokemon TCG Promotion Starts November 10th, Features Mini Happy Meal Box Toys and 15 Cards! (dates, toys, cards)
- TheGamer - Start Date And Other Details About Pokemon’s New McDonald’s Promo Leak (leaked restaurant materials)
- Sole Retriever - The McDonald’s x Pokémon Happy Meal Collab Has Been Revealed (leaked franchise photos, US end date)
- Essential Japan - Pokémon and McDonald’s Reveal 15 New Happy Meal Toys (toy lineup)
- Pokémon - 2025 McDonald’s Happy Meal announcement (2025 comparison)
