Pokémon World Championships 2026 Takes Over San Francisco With Merch, Music & More

San Francisco is fully in the grip of Pokémon fever as the Pokémon World Championships 2026 and the accompanying PokémonXP convention kick off this weekend. One of the city's busiest thoroughfares, Howard Street, has been temporarily renamed "Rayquaza Road" for the occasion, giving attendees a fittingly grand entrance to what promises to be one of the biggest Pokémon events in recent memory. The festivities include high-stakes competitive battles, a packed convention floor, and live entertainment, with reports of an 8-Bit Big Band concert generating serious FOMO among fans who couldn't make the trip.

Not everything has gone smoothly, however. Scalpers have descended on the event in force, turning merchandise lines into what attendees are calling "Scalper Alley." Exclusive event-only products, a perennial draw for Pokémon fans, have once again been snatched up by resellers looking to flip them online at a steep markup. The issue is part of a frustrating pattern that has plagued major Pokémon merchandise releases for years, and this weekend's championships appear to be no exception.

Sources