Pokémon Officially Confirms Its Most Massive 30th Anniversary Release Yet

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Published Sep 15, 2026, 12:02 PM EDT

The new Pokémon TCG set isn't the only hot 30th anniversary release happening in 2026

Artwork of Pikachu from Super Smash Bros. for Wii U and Nintendo 3DS

We're well into 2026, but that doesn't mean The Pokémon Company is done celebrating the franchise's 30th anniversary. Instead, the pocket monster company is going bigger than ever with a new release that will make fans of any mainline Pokémon game ever released happy.

That's somehow not an exaggeration. Game Freak, the developers behind the storied RPG series, just revealed the cover art for its official 30th anniversary art books. The full-color compendium will include art from the original Pokémon Red, Blue, and Green all the way up to Pokémon Legends: Z-A. The visuals will include classic illustrations, pixel art, 3D art, promo art and more, all to showcase the series' evolution over the years.

The three covers for Game Freak's 2026 art book release, which touches on every major Pokemon game of the last 30 years.

As you'd expect from such a wide-spanning release, the books will be massive. The release will be divided into three volumes totaling 1,500 pages, all of which will be released on Dec. 18, 2026. Each book will conclude with a long interview with one member from the Game Freak team, the book's publisher teases. The art books will not be sold as a set — you'll have to purchase each one individually. The books will debut in Japan, where they are priced at ¥5,500 (about $35). While that does mean fans who want the entire thing will have to shell out over $100, it also means that fans who only like specific eras of games can hone in on their favorites. There's no news yet on whether the books will be translated into English.

The giant art book release is one of many announced this year by The Pokémon Company and Game Freak. Some highlights include the special 30th anniversary trading card game set releasing this September and the Game Boy jukebox that comes with 45 Pokémon music cartridges. A more premium $2,000 Pokémon character guide book released in August 2026 as well. TPC delighted fans earlier this year by releasing a special logo for the 30th anniversary that incorporated every single one of its 1,000 plus monsters. With the upcoming art book, the company is once again proving that it wants to make every kind of fan happy.

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