Get ready, trainers! January 2026 is packed with an incredible lineup of Pokemon Go events that will keep you busy throughout the month. From two Community Days to legendary fusion events and new Pokemon debuts, Niantic has really outdone themselves this time. As someone who’s been playing Pokemon Go since day one, I can tell you this January might be one of the most exciting months we’ve seen in years!
Whether you’re a casual player looking to catch some shinies or a hardcore raider hunting for legendary Pokemon, this comprehensive guide has everything you need to know about all the events happening in Pokemon Go this January. I’ll walk you through every single event, raid schedule, spotlight hour, and exclusive bonus so you can plan your gameplay strategy and make the most of this action-packed month.
Complete January 2026 Event Calendar
Here’s a quick overview of all the major events happening in Pokemon Go this January:
| Date | Event | Type | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1-5 | New Year’s 2026 Event | Themed Event | 2x Raid XP/Stardust, Party Hat Pokemon |
| Jan 4 | Piplup Community Day Classic | Community Day | Hydro Cannon Empoleon, 1/4 Hatch Distance |
| Jan 6-11 | Pinch Perfect | Themed Event | Klawf debut, Shiny Dhelmise |
| Jan 10 | Kyurem Fusion Day | Special Raid Day | Reshiram/Zekrom/Kyurem raids, Fusion Energy |
| Jan 13-18 | High Zaptitude | Themed Event | Electric-type focus |
| Jan 18 | Grookey Community Day | Community Day | Frenzy Plant Rillaboom, 3x Stardust |
| Jan 20-25 | Precious Pals | Themed Event | Special Pokemon encounters |
| Jan 23-25 | Precious Pals: Taken Over | Themed Event | Team Go Rocket takeover |
| Jan 24 | Shadow Raid Day | Special Raid Day | Shadow Cresselia raids |
| Jan 27-Feb 1 | Into the Depths | Themed Event | Deep sea Pokemon focus |
| Jan 31-Feb 1 | Dynamax Weekend | Special Event | Dynamax Pokemon battles |
Raid Boss Schedule June 2026
Raids are the heart of Pokemon Go’s endgame content, and January brings some incredible opportunities to catch powerful Pokemon. Here’s the complete breakdown:
Five-Star Raid Schedule
| Dates | Pokemon | Shiny Available | Best Counters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1-5 | Blacephalon | Yes | Ghost, Dark, Fire types |
| Jan 5-16 | Genesect (Burn/Chill Drive) | Yes | Fire types |
| Jan 16-25 | Thundurus (Incarnate) | Yes | Ice, Rock types |
| Jan 25-Feb 4 | Tornadus (Incarnate) | Yes | Electric, Ice, Rock types |
Pro Tip: The Blacephalon raids from January 1-5 are especially valuable because they know the exclusive move Mind Blown when caught during this period. This makes them significantly more powerful for both raids and PvP battles!
Mega Raid Schedule
| Dates | Mega Pokemon | Best Counters |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 5-16 | Mega Blaziken | Water, Ground, Flying types |
| Jan 16-25 | Mega Sceptile | Fire, Ice, Poison, Flying, Bug types |
| Jan 25-Feb 4 | Mega Ampharos | Ground, Grass, Fighting, Bug types |
Shadow Raids
Shadow Cresselia will appear in Shadow Raids every weekend from January 2 to February 1. These are challenging but rewarding raids that require coordinated groups to defeat. The shiny chance is boosted, making these highly sought after!
Max Battles Schedule
Max Battles continue with weekly rotating Dynamax Pokemon:
| Dates | Dynamax Pokemon | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 5-11 | Dynamax Drampa | Fairy, Dragon, Ice types |
| Jan 12-18 | Dynamax Caterpie | Fire, Flying, Rock types |
| Jan 19-25 | Dynamax Beldum | Fire, Ground, Ghost, Dark types |
| Jan 26-Feb 1 | Dynamax Roggenrola | Water, Grass, Fighting, Ground, Steel types |
Spotlight Hours June 2026
Spotlight Hours are fantastic opportunities to stock up on candy and XP. Every Tuesday from 6-7 PM local time, a featured Pokemon appears more frequently with a special bonus:
| Date | Featured Pokemon | Bonus | Shiny Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 6 | Barboach | 2x Catch XP | Yes |
| January 13 | Mareep | 2x Evolution XP | Yes |
| January 20 | Hatenna | 2x Transfer Candy | Yes |
| January 27 | Foongus | 2x Catch Stardust | Yes |
Strategy Tip: Use the January 6 Barboach Spotlight Hour to evolve any Pokemon you’ve been saving – the double XP bonus applies to all evolutions, not just Barboach!
Community Days January 2026
January features TWO Community Days – a Classic event and a brand new one. Here’s everything you need to know:
Piplup Community Day Classic – January 4
Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM local time
Featured Pokemon: Piplup (with increased shiny odds)
Exclusive Move: Evolve Prinplup until 9:00 PM to get Empoleon with Hydro Cannon
Bonuses:
- 1/4 Egg Hatch Distance
- Incense lasts 3 hours
- Lure Modules last 1 hour
- Snapshot surprises
Special Research: $1.99 ticket for exclusive rewards including Piplup with Special Background
Pro Strategy: The Lure Module bonus extends until 9:00 PM, giving you extra hours to catch Piplup at PokeStops even after the main event ends!
Grookey Community Day – January 18
Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM local time
Featured Pokemon: Grookey (with increased shiny odds)
Exclusive Move: Evolve Thwackey until 9:00 PM to get Rillaboom with Frenzy Plant
Bonuses:
- 3x Stardust for catching Pokemon
- 2x Candy for catching Pokemon
- 2x chance for Candy XL (level 31+)
- Incense lasts 3 hours
- Lure Modules last 1 hour
- 50% less Stardust for trades
- One additional Special Trade
Money-Making Tip: The 3x Stardust bonus makes this the perfect time to use Star Pieces. Stack them with the event bonus for maximum returns!
Major Themed Events
New Year’s 2026 Event (January 1-4)
This event bridges December and January with festive celebrations:
Key Features:
- 2x XP and Stardust from Raid Battles
- Increased shiny chance for Party Hat Pikachu
- Costumed Pokemon in raids (Party Hat Raticate, Gengar, etc.)
- Permanent increase to Lucky Pokemon limit (35 to 45)
- Paid Timed Research ($1.99) with Premium Battle Passes
Don’t Miss: Trade Pokemon from 2020 or earlier for guaranteed Lucky Pokemon until you hit the new 45 limit!
Pinch Perfect Event (January 6-11)
This event introduces Klawf and Shiny Dhelmise to Pokemon Go!
Featured Pokemon:
- Wild: Corphish, Dwebble, Clauncher, Tirtouga, Archen
- One-Star Raids: Corphish, Dwebble, Clauncher
- Three-Star Raids: Dhelmise, Dondozo
Bonuses:
- 2x XP for catching Pokemon
- Increased shiny chance for Corphish, Dwebble, Clauncher
Must-Have: This is your first chance to catch Klawf, the new rock-type crab Pokemon. Complete event research to encounter one!
Kyurem Fusion Day (January 10)
One of the most exciting events of the month!
Time: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM local time
Featured Raids: Reshiram, Zekrom, Black Kyurem, White Kyurem
Bonuses:
- Up to 5 additional free Raid Passes from Gyms
- Remote Raid Pass limit increased to 20
- Increased shiny chance for all legendary dragons
- Fusion Energy rewards from raids
Strategy: Save your Raid Passes and coordinate with local groups to maximize your chances of catching all four legendary dragons with boosted shiny odds!
High Zaptitude Event (January 13-18)
Electric-type Pokemon take center stage during this event. While full details weren’t available at press time, expect increased Electric-type spawns and related bonuses.
Precious Pals Events (January 20-25)
This two-part event starts normally on January 20, then gets taken over by Team Go Rocket from January 23-25. Expect special Pokemon encounters and Team Go Rocket battles.
Shadow Raid Day (January 24)
The culmination of the Team Go Rocket takeover featuring Shadow Cresselia raids. These challenging but rewarding raids offer excellent shiny opportunities.
Into the Depths & Dynamax Weekend (January 27 – February 1)
The month closes with deep-sea themed events and special Dynamax battles. Perfect for trainers who enjoy Max Battle content!
Raid Hours January 2026
Every Wednesday from 6-7 PM local time, featured Five-Star Raid Pokemon appear more frequently:
| Date | Featured Raid Boss |
|---|---|
| January 7 | Genesect (Burn & Chill Drive) |
| January 14 | Genesect (Burn & Chill Drive) |
| January 21 | Thundurus (Incarnate Forme) |
| January 28 | Tornadus (Incarnate Forme) |
Research Breakthrough Rewards
From December 2, 2026 to March 3, 2026, complete Field Research to encounter special Pokemon as Research Breakthrough rewards. While the specific Pokemon weren’t detailed in my sources, these are typically valuable Pokemon worth the daily research grind.
Pro Strategies for January 2026
Maximize Your Stardust
January is incredible for Stardust farming:
- Use Star Pieces during Grookey Community Day (3x bonus)
- Take advantage of 2x Stardust during Foongus Spotlight Hour
- The 2x Raid Stardust from New Year’s event (January 1-4)
Shiny Hunting Priorities
Based on increased odds and event timing, focus on these shinies:
- Party Hat Pikachu (New Year’s event) – permanently available variant
- Kyurem forms (Fusion Day) – all four forms with boosted odds
- Grookey (Community Day) – easiest shiny Community Day of the month
- Dhelmise (Pinch Perfect) – brand new shiny release
- Corphish/Dwebble/Clauncher (Pinch Perfect) – increased odds
Raid Preparation Guide
For Kyurem Fusion Day:
- Save Raid Passes throughout the month
- Build teams with Dragon, Fairy, and Ice types
- Coordinate with local Discord groups
For Shadow Cresselia weekends:
- Prepare Psychic, Ghost, and Bug type counters
- Remember Shadow Pokemon are harder to defeat
- Bring larger groups for these challenging raids
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to play Pokemon Go in January 2026?
The most packed weekend is January 18-19, combining Grookey Community Day with the end of High Zaptitude. However, January 10 (Kyurem Fusion Day) offers the most valuable rewards for dedicated raiders.
Which January 2026 event should I prioritize if I have limited time?
If you can only play a few days, prioritize January 18 (Grookey Community Day) for the 3x Stardust bonus and exclusive move, or January 10 (Kyurem Fusion Day) for the legendary dragon raids with boosted shiny odds.
Are there any new Pokemon debuting in January 2026?
Yes! Klawf (the rock-type crab Pokemon) debuts during the Pinch Perfect event (January 6-11), and Shiny Dhelmise becomes available for the first time.
What’s the most valuable exclusive move this month?
Hydro Cannon on Empoleon (from Piplup Community Day Classic) and Frenzy Plant on Rillaboom (from Grookey Community Day) are both incredibly valuable for raid battles and PvP.
How many Raid Passes should I save for January 2026?
Save at least 10-15 Raid Passes for Kyurem Fusion Day (January 10) if you want to catch all four legendary dragon forms. Additional passes for Shadow Cresselia weekends are also recommended.
Conclusion
January 2026 is absolutely packed with content for every type of Pokemon Go player. Whether you’re a casual collector, competitive battler, or raid enthusiast, there’s something exciting happening almost every day of the month.
The standout events for me are the Kyurem Fusion Day (January 10) for legendary hunters and Grookey Community Day (January 18) for everyone looking to stockpile Stardust and catch a powerful new starter. The introduction of Klawf and Shiny Dhelmise during Pinch Perfect also makes early January essential for collectors.
Remember to plan your resources wisely – save those Raid Passes, stock up on Star Pieces, and coordinate with your local community for the bigger raid events. With proper planning, you can make this one of your most productive months ever in Pokemon Go!
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