McDonald's is bringing Pokémon back to the Happy Meal, and collectors can chase two sets.
The chain has confirmed that its next Pokémon Happy Meal launches November 10 at participating restaurants across the US.
The promotion includes 15 collectible toys and 15 collectible trading cards, allowing fans to build two separate collections from the same meal.
As of writing, the lineup includes:
- Pikachu
- Squirtle
- Charmander
- Eevee
- Umbreon
Promotional artwork shows Piplup and Eevee emerging from Happy Meal boxes, while Pikachu takes the lead spot on the packaging.
Pokémon is one of the longest-running brand partnerships on the McDonald’s menu.
The first US trading card Happy Meal arrived in 2011, and nearly annual collections followed through 2019.
The cards returned in 2021 for Pokémon’s 25th anniversary, when McDonald’s put four cards in every Happy Meal for the first time and printed Pikachu’s face on the box.
More card sets landed in 2022 and 2023, and a January 2025 release featured dragon-type Pokémon across 15 cards, having the same number as this year’s set.
The new release builds on that record by adding a collectible toy to the card set.
While the 2025 release came with a card pack, a poster, and a sticker sheet, this year’s figures give fans something new to take home.
The launch also arrives during Pokémon’s 30th anniversary year.
Boxes That Become Bag Charms
The highlight of the effort is miniature Happy Meal boxes, with each one carrying the face of a different Pokémon.
McDonald’s executive Guillaume Huin shared a closer look at the figures and showed that every box-shaped toy converts into a bag charm.
He also previewed the trading cards, which make up the second half of the drop.
Everything about the new Pokémon Happy Meal. - Exclusive line-up of 15 mini Happy Meal boxes, each designed after a fan-favorite Pokémon. - Toys and cards already leaked (of course), but what everybody missed is that the mini boxes can be turned into charms you can clip onto your keys, bags, or pretty much anywhere. Took a picture with some attached to my pants to show you what I mean. - Launches 11/10 in the US, with many other markets to follow. Full list in the thread below. - 15 cards to collect, including some holofoil cards. - Dedicated Happy Meal boxes, with 2–3 different designs depending on the market.
— Guillaume Huin (@HuinGuillaume) October 29, 2026
His picture featured Jirachi, Pikachu, and Absol along with other fan favorites, although McDonald’s has yet to share the full 15-card checklist.
The packaging adds a digital layer as well.
Customers can scan the QR code on the Happy Meal box to open an interactive game, where players search a virtual classroom and playground for all 15 Pokémon toys.
Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, New Zealand, and Spain are among the first markets to join in November.
December brings the promotion to more than 40 additional countries, including Germany, Hong Kong, Indonesia, and Malaysia, to name a few.
A third wave follows in January 2027 across Latin America and parts of Europe and Asia, with Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Thailand, and the Philippines on the list.
Ireland and the United Kingdom close out the schedule in February 2027, and McDonald’s has yet to announce the exact dates outside the US.
Adult Collectors Join the Drive-Thru Line
The card half of the promotion lands in a collector market with plenty of adult buyers.
Circana data compiled by VTM Vending shows19% of US adults bought Pokémon cards for themselves over six months in 2025.
Walmart reported a 200% jump in trading card sales between February 2024 and June 2025, with Pokémon cards up tenfold year over year, per Axios.
These numbers matter because Happy Meal cards now compete for attention in a hobby that adults spend big money on.
Brands running collectible promotions can take three lessons from the launch:
- Pick a collectible with a second use: Toys that convert into bag charms keep the Happy Meal shape in front of people even after the meal ends.
- Open the chase before the purchase: The QR code game lets fans hunt for all 15 toys before they own any, which gives the promotion an entry point on day one.
- Release in waves: Moving from the US in November to Europe and Asia by February 2027 gives one campaign several news cycles.
Collectible promotions work when fans keep coming back.
McDonald’s is giving them a toy to carry, a game to play, and a calendar that runs well into the following year.
Our Take: Why Does McDonald’s Keep Winning With Other People’s Characters?
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We think this is the smartest kind of borrowing.
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And that's exactly why McDonald’s rents it and uses its fries to pay the bill.
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