Pinoy trainers have plenty to look forward to as Pokémon RUN 30, the country’s first-ever Pokémon Center POP-UP STORE, and PokéXciting! Manila headline a year-long celebration.

For Filipino Pokémon fans, July 7, 2026, marked a historic moment.

During an exclusive media preview attended by Pinoy Gaming Network, The Pokémon Company, together with SM Supermalls, officially unveiled its biggest lineup of Pokémon activities ever announced for the Philippines as part of the franchise’s global 30th Anniversary Celebration.

From interactive fun runs and exclusive merchandise to massive fan festivals and the country’s very first official Pokémon Center POP-UP STORE, it’s safe to say that 2026 and early 2027 will be unforgettable years for every Pokémon Trainer in the Philippines.

Pokémon RUN 30 Heads to Manila This October

One of the biggest announcements during the press conference was Pokémon RUN 30: Philippines Edition, an interactive 5-kilometer themed fun run happening on October 3-4, 2026 at SM Mall of Asia.

Unlike a traditional fun run, Pokémon RUN transforms participants into Pokémon Trainers.

Runners will choose their first partner Pokémon before the race and complete themed activities throughout the course, including:

• Pokémon Gym obstacle challenges
• Pokémon Center hydration stations
• Pokédex collection missions
• Interactive sticker hunts
• A special evolution experience at the finish line

Whether you’re a serious runner or simply a lifelong Pokémon fan, the event is designed to be family-friendly and welcoming to all ages.

Participants can also choose between:

• PHP 2,450 Standard Kit
• PHP 3,450 Premium Kit, which includes an exclusive Pikachu Shoulder Plushie.

More Than a Run: A Free Pokémon Festival Awaits

Even if you’re not joining the run itself, there’s still plenty to enjoy.

The venue will feature a Pokémon Festival Zone, open to the public at no additional cost.

Fans can expect:

• Pokémon Time Tunnel
• Pokémon Experience Zone
• Nintendo Switch 2 game demos
• Pokémon Trading Card Game activities
• Meet-and-Greet sessions
• Pikachu parades
• themed photo spots
• sponsor booths
• exclusive anniversary merchandise

The festival transforms SM Mall of Asia into a massive Pokémon celebration where casual visitors and longtime fans can enjoy the festivities together.

The Philippines Gets Its First Official Pokémon Center POP-UP STORE

Perhaps the loudest applause during the press conference came when The Pokémon Company officially confirmed that the Philippines will finally receive its first-ever Pokémon Center POP-UP STORE.

Opening at SM Mall of Asia from October 2026 until January 2027, the limited-time store will offer:

• Official Pokémon Center merchandise
• Pokémon plushies
• Trading Card Game products
• 30th Anniversary exclusive collectibles
• Pokémon gaming experiences
• Pokémon TCG tutorial sessions

For many Filipino collectors, this is something they’ve been waiting years to experience without having to travel overseas.

“Celebrate 30 Years of Pokémon at SM Malls”

The celebration won’t stop at Mall of Asia.

SM Supermalls also announced a six-month nationwide mall caravan running from October 2026 to March 2027 across multiple locations, including:

• SM Mall of Asia
• SM North EDSA
• SM East Ortigas
• SM Southmall
• SM Marikina
• SM Seaside Cebu
• SM Davao
• SM CDO Downtown

Visitors can enjoy Pokémon Trading Card Game tutorials, Nintendo Switch 2 demo stations, Pokémon Meet-and-Greets, exclusive merchandise, themed decorations, inflatables, and limited anniversary giveaways.

PokéXciting! Manila Brings Asia-Wide Celebration to the Philippines

Another major announcement is PokéXciting! in Manila, a large-scale celebration that will visit five Asian cities, including Manila.

Scheduled for January 23-24, 2027 at SM Mall of Asia, the event will feature:

• Pokémon live performances
• Meet-and-Greet sessions
• Pokémon parade
• High-Voltage Night Stage
• Exclusive PokéXciting! merchandise
• Manila-exclusive red-costumed PokéXciting! Pikachu
• Pokémon GO tie-in activities

Best of all?

Admission will be completely free.

A Thank You to Pokémon Fans Across Asia

During the event, Susumu Fukunaga, Corporate Officer of The Pokémon Company, shared that PokéXciting! serves as a celebration of the community that has supported Pokémon throughout the past three decades.

He also expressed appreciation to Filipino fans for their passion and thanked SM Supermalls for helping make these large-scale celebrations possible in the country.

Pinoy Gaming Network’s Take

As someone who attended the press conference firsthand, one thing became immediately clear: The Pokémon Company isn’t treating the Philippines as just another stop on its anniversary tour.

The scale of the announcements—from an official Pokémon Center POP-UP STORE to Pokémon RUN 30 and the massive PokéXciting! celebration—shows a growing recognition of the country’s passionate Pokémon community.

For years, many Filipino fans have traveled abroad just to visit Pokémon Centers or experience official events. This time, those experiences are finally coming much closer to home.

Whether you’re into Pokémon GO, the Trading Card Game, Nintendo Switch titles, collecting merchandise, or simply grew up watching Pikachu’s adventures, the next several months promise to be packed with memorable experiences.

And yes… we’ll definitely be covering them all.

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