2026 Release Calendar
Mega Evolution Era — Set Timeline
2026 is defined by the Mega Evolution block. Four sets each 2–3 months apart, plus a 30th anniversary special set.
✓
Jan 30, 2026
Ascended Heroes
✓ Released
Mega Gengar ex, Mega Dragonite ex, Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex headline. Multiple SIR + Mega Attack Rare chase cards. (Note: Mega Lucario/Gardevoir SIRs are in the base Mega Evolution set, not here.)
ETB Secondary Market~$118
✓
Mar 27, 2026
Perfect Order
✓ Released
Mega Zygarde ex headlines. Weaker chase pool than surrounding sets.
Booster Box Secondary~$150
🔥
May 22, 2026
Chaos Rising
🔥 Hottest Set
Mega Greninja ex SIR is the year's top chase. 2026's biggest Pokémon release so far.
Booster Box Secondary~$307
◆
Jul 17, 2026
Pitch Black
Coming Soon
Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex. Prereleases July 4–12.
Pre-order AvailableTBD
★
2026 — TBD
30th Anniversary Set
Anniversary
The Pokémon TCG turns 30 in 2026. A special anniversary set is confirmed. Details TBA.
🔥 Hot Cards — 2026
Top Chase Cards — Chaos Rising & Ascended Heroes
All prices from eBay sold/completed listings. Updated June 29, 2026.
| # | Card | Set | Rarity | Price (eBay Sold) | PSA 10 | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |  | Mega Greninja ex#116/086 | Chaos Rising | ★ SIR | $470–$505 | $800–$1,200 projected | BUY |
2 |  | Mega Greninja ex#122/086 · Hyper Rare Gold | Chaos Rising | Hyper Rare | $330–$485 | ~1:1,786 packs | BUY |
3 |  | CinccinoSIR · Surprise hit | Chaos Rising | SIR | ~$109 | Early market | WATCH |
4 |  | Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex#281/217 | Ascended Heroes | ★ SIR | $280–$380 | Stable demand | BUY |
5 |  | Mega Lucario ex#179/132 · SIR | Mega Evolution (base) | ★ SIR | $280–$455 | $455 active auction | BUY |
6 |  | Froakie / Frogadier / GreninjaConnected Art Triptych · Set of 3 | Chaos Rising | IR Set | ~$80 | Display piece | WATCH |
Set Guides
2026 Sets — Full Breakdown
🔥 Hottest Set · ME04 · Released May 22, 2026
Chaos Rising
Booster Box (eBay sold)
~$307
ETB secondary: ~$113–$120
Top Chase
Mega Greninja ex
SIR Price
$470–$505
SIR Pull Rate
~1:1,000
Hyper Rare Rate
~1:1,786
Total Cards
122
Packs/Box
36
The biggest Pokémon TCG release of 2026 so far. Greninja is consistently a top-3 most popular Pokémon globally. The SIR Mega Greninja ex ($470–$505) is driving almost all buying energy, with the Hyper Rare Gold version ($330–$485) as a close second. Cinccino is the surprise hit at ~$109, and the Froakie/Frogadier/Greninja Illustration Rare triptych holds ~$80 as a display set.
The Pokemon Center-exclusive ETB (11 packs + stamped Greninja promo) sold out immediately and is now $180–$200 secondary. Sealed booster boxes at ~$307 — buying singles directly is almost certainly better math than cracking boxes at those prices.
The Pokemon Center-exclusive ETB (11 packs + stamped Greninja promo) sold out immediately and is now $180–$200 secondary. Sealed booster boxes at ~$307 — buying singles directly is almost certainly better math than cracking boxes at those prices.
Verdict: Buy singles. Boxes at $307 make singles the better EV play on Greninja.
🎴 ME01 · Released Jan 30, 2026
Ascended Heroes
ETB Secondary (eBay sold)
~$118
MSRP $49.99 → +136% premium
T.R.'s Mewtwo ex SIR
$280–$380
Mega Gengar ex SIR
~$1,300
ETB Secondary
~$118
PC ETB Sale
$314
Ascended Heroes launched the Mega Evolution era and remains one of the most valuable sets in the block on a per-card basis. Multiple chase cards — Mega Gengar ex SIR (~$1,300), Mega Dragonite ex SIR (~$875), and Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex SIR (~$280–$380) — anchor the set, joined by the new Mega Attack Rare tier. The standard ETB at ~$118 secondary represents a +136% markup over MSRP.
Verdict: Buy singles, not sealed. The ETB math strongly favors targeting specific cards on eBay over cracking product at secondary prices.
◆ ME05 · July 17, 2026 · Prereleases July 4–12
Pitch Black
Pre-order Price
TBD
Darkrai ex is the headline chase
Headlined by Mega Darkrai ex, alongside Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex, and Mega Excadrill ex. If Chaos Rising's Greninja demand is any indicator, a single-character-dominated Darkrai set could spike hard on release week then settle. Pre-ordering at MSRP from Fanatics or a local card shop is the safest play.
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All prices from recent eBay sold listings. For live pricing, PriceCharting.com tracks completed eBay sales daily.