Later this year, the competitive Pokémon scene will open in San Francisco for Pokémon World 2026, which will feature a fan-focused event called Pokémon XP for the first time. As part of the wrap-up of this year's North American International Champions, The Pokemon Company provided new details about Worlds and XP and confirmed next year's NAIC locations.
North American International Champions Head to the Windy City
After a three-year partnership with the city of New Orleans, NAIC heads to Chicago in 2027. The annual North American leg of the tournament, which also includes trips to Europe for the EUIC and Latin America for the LAIC, will occupy the McCormick Place Convention Center near the shores of Lake Michigan and south of Soldier Field, home of the Chicago Bears. Coincidentally, Pokemon GO Fest was held in Grant Park, not far from McCormick Place.
It's also worth mentioning that between these two locations is the Field Museum, which currently houses a Pokémon fossil exhibit. Unfortunately, the Pokemon Fossil Museum is only scheduled to run until April 5, 2027, so unless the contract is extended or The Pokemon Company plans a secret announcement, the Fossil Museum won't be active during NAIC.
Still, if you're in the area, we highly recommend visiting the Fossil Museum to see the cool exhibits and collect the rare Digger Pikachu from nearby Raids and Special Research. And if you're still in the NAIC area, this is a great place to stop as part of your trip. Check out Sue, the giant T-Rex fossil.
Chicago is a great choice for the NAIC, which has been targeting family-friendly cities for some time. Speaking with Chris Brown, Director of Global Esports and Event Producers, it sounds like the NAIC is looking to Chicago to deliver the next level of events in terms of event space and fan experience. Although most attend the NAIC for the competition, The Pokemon Company wants to make sure those in attendance have plenty to see (and eat) as well.
In addition to the Chicago NAIC reveal, TPCi also provided new details about the Pokemon Worlds and Pokemon XP events taking place in San Francisco this August. For those unfamiliar, Pokemon Worlds has literally doubled in size this year, separating the competitive experience into Worlds as we know it and taking over the Chase Center. Pokemon XP will be a fan-centric event with vendors and experiences to entertain non-competitive attendees.
For those vendors, TPCi has confirmed partners for Pokemon Worlds and XP, including LEGO debuts at the annual event. No doubt, there will be a chance to see the current LEGO Pokemon sets up close and personal, as well as the Smart Play sets that will be released in early August.
Other vendors for Pokemon XP and Worlds include major players such as Bandai Hobby, Build-A-Bear, and Santa Cruz. I'm most curious to see what Sideshow Collectibles has in the show. Because their highly detailed figures, replicas, and accessories are always too amazing to see in person.
Competitors at Pokemon Worlds will also receive a welcome kit that was just revealed at the conclusion of the NAIC. Backpacks, playmats, card sleeves and more featuring what I'll call Crowned Pikachu will be available to all competitors at the World Championships, which has been the standard for large-scale Pokémon tournaments for some time.
But the real gem is the winning kit, which features a sleek white and gold trim style. In addition to the coveted trophies and prize money, additional bonuses are available.
Lastly, TPCi has revealed some promo cards and World Championship winner cards that can be used in regional tournaments ahead of Worlds. As expected, Pikachu is the star here, and the design pays homage to the 2026 World Championship and XP's San Francisco home.
But this is just the tip of the iceberg for Pokemon World and XP. We have a clearer idea of what the competitive scene will look like at Worlds, but there's a lot more to reveal about Pokémon XP in terms of a full event schedule, exclusive merchandise, Pokémon GO tie-ins, and more. TPCi is going big in celebration of Pokemon's 30th anniversary, and the Worlds/XP combination promises to be a major destination for the rest of the year, so look for more details on what this year's event has to offer soon.
