Pokémon Cards Are Coming Back to McDonald’s Happy Meals This November

Your next Pokémon card hunt might start at the McDonald’s drive thru.

McDonald’s and Pokémon are reportedly teaming up again for a new Pokémon TCG Happy Meal promotion this November, and with Pokémon celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2026, this one could be a fun release for collectors to watch.

According to reports, the promotion is expected to begin in the United States on November 5, 2026 and run until December 9, 2026. Other countries are expected to get the promotion as well, although their dates could be different.

So, What Do You Actually Get?

This is where things get interesting.

Each Happy Meal is expected to come with a special Pokémon TCG pack containing four cards.

Inside each pack, collectors should find:

1. One holographic Pokémon card

2. Three standard Pokémon cards

That means every pack should give you a holo, which makes opening these a little more exciting than your average Happy Meal toy.

The complete collection is reportedly made up of 15 different cards, with around six receiving McDonald’s signature confetti holofoil treatment. If you have collected previous McDonald’s Pokémon sets, you probably already know the look. It is that sparkly confetti style foil that immediately makes the cards feel different from their regular TCG counterparts.

Which Pokémon Are in the Set?

Here is the big question.

We do not know yet.

The complete 15 card checklist has not been revealed, and there is currently no confirmed list of Pokémon appearing in the promotion. Historically, McDonald’s Pokémon sets have primarily featured reprints of existing cards rather than completely new cards.

There is one card collectors are already watching closely though.

Pikachu.

A special illustrated Pikachu promotional card was previously released through McDonald’s in Japan. The artwork shows Pikachu reaching across a table toward a burger, making it a pretty perfect card for a McDonald’s collaboration.

That card has not received an English release, leading to speculation that the 2026 promotion could finally bring it to Western collectors.

For now, though, that is exactly what it is: speculation. There is no confirmation that the Japanese Pikachu promo will be part of the upcoming set.

There Could Be More Than Just Cards

The cards might not be the only reason Pokémon fans end up grabbing a Happy Meal.

Reports say customers could have the option of choosing between a Pokémon toy and a Pokémon Essential Handbook.

Even more interesting, the toy is rumored to potentially double as a display for your Pokémon cards.

A card display inside a Happy Meal alongside an actual Pokémon booster pack?

That feels like McDonald’s knows exactly who is going to be buying these.

The card display detail has not been confirmed yet, so we will have to wait for the official reveal to know exactly what is included.

Why This Release Could Be a Big One

Pokémon officially turned 30 in 2026, which gives this collaboration a little more weight than the average Happy Meal release.

McDonald’s and Pokémon have a long history together, and Pokémon cards have appeared through McDonald’s promotions for years. The 25th anniversary promotion in 2021 was especially memorable, featuring a massive 50 card collection built around the starter Pokémon and Pikachu.

This time around, the reported 15 card set is much smaller.

For collectors, that could actually be a good thing.

Fifteen cards feels achievable enough to make completing the entire set realistic, while six potential confetti holos give people something special to chase.

Of course, duplicates are still going to happen.

Your fifth copy of the same card is probably already waiting for you.

Should Collectors Be Excited?

Absolutely keep this one on your radar.

A small 15 card set, guaranteed holos, exclusive McDonald’s foil treatments and Pokémon’s 30th anniversary all make for a fun combination.

The biggest question is still the checklist.

If Pokémon and McDonald’s throw fan favourites like Pikachu, Charizard, Eevee or other iconic Pokémon into the mix, the promotion could get a lot more attention. But until the official card list drops, those names should stay firmly on the wishlist rather than the confirmed list.

For now, November 5 is the date to watch in the United States.

Just remember that the promotion itself has not yet been formally announced by McDonald’s or The Pokémon Company, and the reported details could still change before launch.

The real question is simple: which Pokémon are you hoping makes the 15 card set?