Pokémon sets 2026: UK release dates in order

This is the list we kept wanting and could not find in one place: every English Pokémon TCG set from Scarlet & Violet: 151 to the end of 2026, in order, with the UK release date, the set size and whether it is a main set or a special set. Under the table is a short paragraph on each, with a link to our full guide where we have one.

Dates are official English release dates. Where the UK date differed from the worldwide date, the table says so. Set sizes count main cards plus secret rares. Two sets near the end of the year do not yet have a confirmed size, so those cells say TBC.

Every set in order

The pattern to notice: special sets have no booster boxes, so all their packs come inside bundles, Elite Trainer Boxes and collections. That is why the special sets are the ones that run short. Main sets have booster boxes and wider supply. Our guide to which Pokémon sets hold value explains why that distinction matters more than anything else on this page.

Scarlet & Violet: 151

The first special expansion of Scarlet & Violet, released 22 September 2023. Every card is a Kanto Pokémon, ordered by National Pokédex number. Three years on it is still one of the most searched sets in the UK, driven by the Charizard ex special illustration rare. Read our Pokémon 151 UK guide.

Prismatic Evolutions

The fourth special expansion, released 17 January 2025, themed on Eevee and its evolutions. The Pokémon Company said before launch that it was printing the set at maximum capacity, with waves through 2025, and the set still ran short. The Umbreon ex special illustration rare leads it. Read our Prismatic Evolutions UK guide.

Journey Together

The ninth main expansion, released 28 March 2025. It brought owner's Pokémon back to a main set, with cards such as N's Zoroark ex and Lillie's Clefairy ex tied to a named trainer. Booster boxes were sold at retail. Read our Journey Together UK guide.

Destined Rivals

The tenth and final main expansion of Scarlet & Violet, released 30 May 2025. Team Rocket is the theme, with 83 Team Rocket cards in a 244-card set, and Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex is the chase. Read our Destined Rivals UK guide.

Black Bolt and White Flare

One release sold as two special sets, both out on 18 July 2025. Each has as many secret rares as main cards, and together they introduced the black white rare rarity. Zekrom leads Black Bolt, Reshiram and Victini lead White Flare. Read our Black Bolt and White Flare UK guide.

Mega Evolution

The first main expansion of the new series. Released worldwide on 26 September 2025, but delayed in EMEA, including the UK, to 10 October 2025. It brought back Mega Evolution ex cards, which give up three prizes, and introduced the Mega hyper rare. Two ETBs, one for Mega Lucario and one for Mega Gardevoir. Read our Mega Evolution UK guide.

Phantasmal Flames

The second main expansion of the series, released 14 November 2025. A small 130-card set built around Mega Charizard X, whose special illustration rare and Mega hyper rare sit far above the rest of the list. Read our Phantasmal Flames UK guide.

Ascended Heroes

Released 30 January 2026 and themed on Pokémon Legends: Z-A. At 295 cards it is the largest English expansion to date. It introduced the Mega attack rare rarity and the J regulation mark, and it has two different Pikachu ex special illustration rares. The ETB promo is a full-art N's Zekrom. Argos lists the ETB alongside its other Mega Evolution boxes. Our guide: Ascended Heroes in the UK.

Perfect Order

The third main expansion of the series, released 27 March 2026. The ETB promo is a Tyrunt in the illustration rare style, and the Pokémon Center version has 11 packs and two Tyrunt promos. Mega Zygarde ex leads the chase list in both its Mega hyper rare and special illustration rare forms. Argos listed the ETB at £50.00. Our guide: Perfect Order in the UK.

Chaos Rising

The fourth main expansion, released 22 May 2026. The ETB promo is a Fennekin illustration rare. Mega Greninja ex leads the set, with the special illustration rare at 116/086 and the Mega hyper rare at 122/086, and a Mega Greninja ex Premium Collection followed on 3 July 2026. Smyths listed the ETB at £49.99. Our guide: Chaos Rising in the UK.

Pitch Black

The fifth main expansion, released 17 July 2026, and the English release of the Japanese set Abyss Eye. It is based on the Mega Dimension DLC for Legends: Z-A. The ETB promo is a full-art Zarude. Mega Darkrai ex leads the chase list. Smyths listed the ETB at £49.99 and the booster bundle at £24.99. Our guide: Pitch Black in the UK. The Japanese set it comes from has its own page: Abyss Eye.

Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration

The 30th anniversary set, released 16 September 2026 in the first simultaneous worldwide launch. UK pre-orders opened on 15 July 2026. Every card in a pack is foil, each pack has one of 30 Pikachu, and a new Futuristic rare rarity joins 30 gold-bordered Classic Collection reprints. There are no booster boxes: the ETB, Pokémon Center ETB, blisters and collection boxes launch on 16 September, the booster bundle and mini tins on 2 October, Battle Decks on 30 October, the two Ultra-Premium Collections on 6 November and the binder collection on 4 December. UK RRP is £49.99 for the ETB and £56.99 for the Pokémon Center ETB. Argos has a dedicated 30th anniversary page. Our guide: the 30th Celebration set in the UK.

Delta Reign

The sixth main expansion, released 6 November 2026, from the Japanese set Storm Emeralda. Pre-orders open in September and prerelease events run 24 October to 1 November. The ETB promo is a Kyogre illustration rare and the mascot is Mega Rayquaza ex. It introduces Legendary Stadiums, paired Stadium cards where a pack containing one half contains both. Chase cards are not settled yet because the set is unreleased. Our guide: Delta Reign in the UK.

Common questions

What Pokémon sets are coming out in 2026?

In English: Ascended Heroes on 30 January, Perfect Order on 27 March, Chaos Rising on 22 May, Pitch Black on 17 July, Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration on 16 September and Delta Reign on 6 November. All are in the Mega Evolution series. Dates are official English release dates.

When is the Pokémon 30th Celebration set released in the UK?

16 September 2026, the same day as everywhere else, in the first simultaneous worldwide launch. UK pre-orders opened on 15 July 2026. The booster bundle and mini tins follow on 2 October, Battle Decks on 30 October, the Ultra-Premium Collections on 6 November and the binder collection on 4 December.

What order do the recent Pokémon sets go in?

151, Prismatic Evolutions, Journey Together, Destined Rivals, Black Bolt and White Flare, then Mega Evolution, Phantasmal Flames, Ascended Heroes, Perfect Order, Chaos Rising, Pitch Black, 30th Celebration and Delta Reign. The table above gives the date for each.

Does the 30th Celebration set have booster boxes?

No. Packs come only inside products: the Elite Trainer Box with nine packs, the Pokémon Center version with 11, the booster bundle with six, plus blisters, tins, collection boxes and the two Ultra-Premium Collections with 29 packs each. A listing for a 30th Celebration booster box is repackaged product.

Why did Mega Evolution come out later in the UK?

The Pokémon Company delayed the EMEA release, which includes the UK, from the worldwide date of 26 September 2025 to 10 October 2025 and published a notice about it. Every set since has released on the same date in the UK as elsewhere.

Where this fits

This page is the index. Start with any set above, then read where to buy Pokémon cards in the UK for the retailers and Pokémon restock alerts UK for how to be there when stock lands. Which Pokémon sets hold value and are Elite Trainer Boxes worth it cover the decisions after you have bought. For the retailer side, see Smyths, Argos, Tesco, Amazon UK and Pokémon Center UK. Paragn Network members get the alert when any set on this page lands at RRP at a UK retailer.