According to a report from PokéBeach, Pokémon TCG cards are coming back to Happy Meals this fall. The promotion is said to run in the United States from November 5 to December 9, 2026, timed to the franchise's 30th anniversary. Neither McDonald's nor The Pokémon Company has officially announced it yet, so treat everything below as a well sourced rumor rather than confirmed news. That said, PokéBeach has a very reliable track record with stories like this one.

What is reportedly in the box

The details will feel familiar to anyone who collected the previous Happy Meal promos. The set is said to include 15 cards, with six of them printed in McDonald's signature confetti holofoil. Every Happy Meal would come with a four card promo pack containing three standard cards and one guaranteed holofoil card, so the chase is short and friendly.

The meals themselves are reportedly getting a Pikachu shaped box, and buyers get a choice between a Pokémon toy and a Pokémon Essential Handbook. Word is the toy may actually be a card display, which would be a nice touch, though that detail is unconfirmed.

What we still do not know

The big unknown is which Pokémon are in the set. In past years these cards were mostly reprints of existing cards, marked with a small McDonald's set symbol. Whether the 30th anniversary brings brand new artwork or another round of reprints is anyone's guess right now.

One card collectors are already daydreaming about is the Japanese McDonald's Pikachu promo released last year, which shows Pikachu reaching for a burger and has never been printed in English. If the new set is celebrating 30 years of Pokémon, giving that card an English release would be a real crowd pleaser.

Why these little promos matter

The McDonald's promos have quietly become one of the hobby's favorite side quests. The confetti holofoil finish is exclusive to these cards, so even longtime collectors end up chasing the full 15 card set. The 2021 run for the 25th anniversary is still fondly remembered, and the little packs make great stocking stuffers for younger collectors just getting started.

No dates have been reported for Canada or other countries yet, though past promotions have eventually rolled out internationally. For now this is one to watch, and we will update this post if an official announcement arrives.