Pokémon GO is going big for Halloween 2026 with a two-part event packed with costume debuts, extra Candy opportunities, themed encounters and a major update for Mega Sableye. The event stretches from late October into early November, giving players a full week of spooky content across wild spawns, raids, research-related encounters and GO Pass rewards.
Both parts of the event also bring decorated PokéStops and Gyms, adding a Halloween look across the in-game map. Players can expect different highlights in each phase, with Part I centered on newly dressed-up Pokémon and Part II shifting attention to Shiny Greavard and a new Mega progression option.
Pokémon GO Halloween 2026 event schedule
The Halloween event is split into two separate windows:
- Part I: Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. to Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. local time
- Part II: Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. to Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. local time
That structure gives the event a clean handoff from one set of featured content to the next. Players who want to maximize Halloween bonuses will want to pay attention to which Pokémon and perks are tied to each part, since the featured attractions are not identical throughout the full run.
For more collector background, read Pokémon Center Unveils New Holiday Pikachu Plush Collection for 2026.
Part I focuses on costumed Pokémon debuts
The first half of the event introduces several costumed Pokémon making their debut appearances during Halloween 2026. These themed variants headline the opening days and are among the biggest draws for collectors chasing limited-time forms.
The newly featured costume Pokémon in Part I are:
- Pikachu wearing a hat and capelet
- Zubat wearing a top hat
- Sinistea wearing a bow
There is also a chance for these event Pokémon to appear as Shiny where available, adding another layer of appeal for players hunting rare versions during the event window.
Spawn and encounter availability differs by Pokémon. Pikachu wearing a hat and capelet and Sinistea wearing a bow are both slated for one-star raids, while Zubat wearing a top hat will appear in the wild. That means players can mix raid passes and field exploration depending on which costume form they want most.
Part I wild encounters are not limited to Zubat. Other themed Pokémon are also set to appear, including Duskull, Piplup wearing a Halloween Mischief costume and Drifblim wearing a Halloween Mischief costume, with additional event-themed spawns also in the pool.
Spooky surprises and a Lavender Town music remix
Part I includes an interactive seasonal twist beyond standard catches and raids. Players may come across spooky surprises left behind by mischievous Pokémon. Tapping these can lead to a variety of rewards tied to the event.
Possible rewards from these spooky surprises include:
- Encounters with event-themed Pokémon
- Pikachu Candy
- Zubat Candy
- Sinistea Candy
- Rare Candy, if luck is on your side
This setup gives Part I a treasure-hunt feel, with extra reasons to stay active on the map beyond checking nearby spawns and raid eggs.
The event also adds an audio bonus. A remix of the Lavender Town theme will play nightly during the Halloween event period, giving the in-game atmosphere an unmistakably eerie edge. For players who usually keep sound off, Halloween 2026 is one of those rare times when turning up the volume could meaningfully change the experience.
Part II brings Shiny Greavard into the spotlight
When Part II begins on November 1, the focus shifts to one of the more anticipated additions in this year’s Halloween content: Shiny Greavard. For the first time in Pokémon GO, players may be able to encounter Shiny Greavard during the event.
Greavard can be found through multiple routes in Part II:
- Wild encounters
- GO Pass progress
- Field Research tasks
That multi-channel availability should give active players several chances to chase the new Shiny release, though it will still come down to luck. Because new Shiny launches often become one of the most sought-after pieces of an event, Greavard is likely to be a major priority from the moment Part II starts.
Part II also features additional event-themed wild encounters, including:
- Litwick
- Rowlet wearing a Pokémon Halloween costume
- Gengar wearing a Spooky Festival costume
That lineup keeps the seasonal theme strong even after the calendar flips into November, while also giving players more costume targets to pursue in the wild.
Mega Sableye can now reach Super Max Level
One of the most notable gameplay updates attached to Halloween 2026 is the expanded Mega progression for Mega Sableye. During Part II, players will be able to increase Mega Sableye’s Mega Level all the way to Super Max Level.
This matters because Pokémon eligible for Super Max Level can gain an additional Charged Attack while Mega Evolved. In Sableye’s case, that added move is Night Shade+.
For battle-focused players, that gives Mega Sableye a more interesting role during its Mega Evolved state. Halloween events often lean heavily into collection goals and visual novelty, but this change adds a more mechanical reason to pay attention, especially for trainers looking to strengthen options for future battle use.
The Mega Sableye update also continues the recently established Super Max Level feature, showing that Niantic is willing to tie new Mega progression incentives to major event windows rather than limiting them to standalone releases.
GO Pass: Halloween 2026 bonuses
GO Pass: Halloween 2026 will be available throughout both parts of the event, giving players a parallel reward track to push while catching and completing event activities. Reaching key milestones unlocks bonuses tied to Candy and Stardust gains.
The GO Pass bonus tiers are:
- Tier 1, Rank 10: 2× Catch Candy
- GO Pass Deluxe at Tier 1, Rank 10: 3× Catch Candy
- Tier 2, Rank 20: 2× Catch Stardust
- GO Pass Deluxe at Tier 2, Rank 20: 3× Catch Stardust
Those bonuses line up well with the event’s broader focus on farming resources. Extra Candy is especially useful during Part I, where costume collectors may be chasing several limited forms, while Catch Stardust becomes a strong passive boost for players who plan to grind heavily during Part II in search of Shiny Greavard and other featured spawns.
There is also an important deadline attached to the event pass. Rewards unlocked in the GO Pass must be claimed by Saturday, November 7, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. local time. Anyone progressing through the pass should make sure rewards are collected before they expire.
Best reasons to play each part of the event
Halloween 2026 is structured in a way that gives each half a different identity, so priorities may vary depending on what type of player is logging in.
Part I is best for:
- Collectors who want newly released costume Pokémon
- Raid players targeting Pikachu and Sinistea costume forms
- Wild spawn hunters looking for Zubat wearing a top hat
- Players interested in bonus Candy drops and surprise map interactions
Part II is best for:
- Shiny hunters chasing Greavard’s first Pokémon GO Shiny release
- Players who want event-themed wild encounters after Halloween night
- Battle-minded trainers interested in Mega Sableye’s Super Max Level and Night Shade+
- Anyone trying to stack Stardust through GO Pass progression
Because both portions offer distinct incentives, the full event rewards players who stay active across the entire schedule rather than only dropping in on one weekend.
What stands out most in Pokémon GO Halloween 2026
This year’s event blends three of the game’s most reliable engagement hooks: costume debuts, a new Shiny release and meaningful progression rewards. The costume lineup gives collectors limited-time targets, Greavard supplies the headline chase in Part II and Mega Sableye’s upgrade brings a more gameplay-focused addition than many holiday events usually deliver.
The event is also designed to keep players moving between activities. Wild encounters, one-star raids, special map surprises, GO Pass progression and Field Research all contribute to the experience, which should make the Halloween window feel busy even for longtime players who usually focus on just one area of the game.
For trainers planning their week, the key dates are October 27 for the launch of Part I, November 1 for the start of Part II and November 7 for the GO Pass reward claim deadline. Costumed Pikachu, Zubat and Sinistea lead the first stretch, while Shiny Greavard and Mega Sableye’s Super Max Level headline the second half of the event.
