Pokémon GO Halloween 2026 Part I runs from Tuesday, October 27 at 10:00 a.m. to Sunday, November 1 at 10:00 a.m. local time. The event adds three costumed Pokémon, trick-or-treat encounters, boosted GO Pass rewards, and a Halloween remix of Lavender Town’s music. Here is what to prioritize before it starts.
Dates and U.S. start times
The event uses local time, so it starts at 10:00 a.m. wherever you play. That means 10:00 a.m. ET on the East Coast, 10:00 a.m. CT in the Central time zone, 10:00 a.m. MT in Mountain time, and 10:00 a.m. PT on the West Coast. There is no single nationwide launch hour.
Part I ends at 10:00 a.m. local time on November 1. Do not plan your final catches for Sunday evening.
Which new costumed Pokémon are available?
Three new Halloween looks debut during the event:
- Pikachu wearing a spooky hat and capelet
- Zubat wearing a top hat
- Sinistea wearing a bow
All three can be Shiny. Zubat appears in the wild, while Pikachu and Sinistea headline one-star raids. Other wild spawns include Duskull, Halloween-costume Piplup, and Drifloon, with Halloween-costume Drifblim appearing less often.
The new trick-or-treat feature adds surprises to the map. Tap them for an event encounter and Candy for Pikachu, Zubat, or Sinistea, with a chance of receiving Rare Candy. Because this mechanic rewards checking the map rather than only following a route, leave room in both Pokémon storage and the Item Bag.
How the GO Pass bonuses work
A free Halloween GO Pass becomes available automatically on October 27 at 10:00 a.m. local time. The most useful catch bonuses unlock at milestones:
- Rank 10: twice the usual Catch Candy on the free track, or three times on the Deluxe track.
- Rank 20: twice the usual Catch Stardust on the free track, or three times on the Deluxe track.
Those bonuses are not active just because the event has begun. You must reach the required ranks first. Players planning a heavy catching session should advance the pass before using premium items or spending hours grinding.
Is the Deluxe Pass worth $7.99?
The Deluxe pass costs $7.99 in the United States. A $9.99 option includes the pass plus enough points to reach Rank 10. Deluxe rewards are retroactive, so you can progress on the free track first and upgrade later without losing the premium rewards for ranks already completed.
That makes waiting the sensible choice for most players. Buy Deluxe only if you are confident you will play enough to reach meaningful ranks and value the extra rewards. The free track already provides the two-times Candy and Stardust bonuses at Ranks 10 and 20.
Best priorities for Halloween Part I
- Clear storage now. Keep space for costume catches and raid rewards.
- Reach Rank 10 early. The Candy multiplier is more valuable when most of your event catching still lies ahead.
- Use one-star raids selectively. Prioritize Pikachu or Sinistea if their new costumes matter to you.
- Check trick-or-treat surprises. They can provide encounters, species Candy, and Rare Candy.
- Save Pinap Berries. Use them after the Candy bonus unlocks for Pokémon whose Candy you need.
Players building a broader October plan can also use our guides to Sandile Hatch Day and Zorua Community Day.
Do not miss the later claim deadline
The Halloween GO Pass runs longer than Part I. Progress remains available until Thursday, November 5 at 8:00 p.m. local time. Earned rewards must be claimed by Saturday, November 7 at 8:00 p.m. local time. Claim them before the deadline rather than assuming they will transfer automatically.
Niantic may change event details, so review the official Pokémon GO Halloween 2026 Part I announcement before spending PokéCoins or buying a pass.