Pokémon Go Fest Start Date, Details, & Everything We Know!

Pokémon Go is celebrating its fifth anniversary and Pokémon's 25th anniversary this summer, during Pokémon Go Fest 2021. This year's fest is music-themed, so we can likely expect dancing and some interesting attire on Pokémon during the event. Everything below is what we know so far about the event this year.

Date and Cost

Players can expect to join in on the fun on July 17 & July 18. While typically, Pokémon Go Fest costs $14.99 USD per entry, this year they are marking down the price to $5 USD to reflect the five years that the game has been active. Since the event spreads across two days, we will see different things happening on these days, all of which are listed below.

Day 1

Saturday, July 17 from 10am to 6pm local time, comprises the following exciting features.

For Everyone

• Hourly Habitats make their return. The four themed habitats this year are Jungle, Desert Mountain, Ocean Beach, and Cave, all of which happen at different times throughout the event.
  • During each habitat hour, specific Pokémon are available that best represent the habitat.
    • Jungle: Scyther, Aipom, Froakie, and more.
    • Desert Mountain: Skarmory, Shieldon, Hippopotas, and more.
    • Ocean Beach: Dratini, Swablu, Alomomola, and more.
    • Cave: Roggenrola, Galarian Stunfisk, Deino, and more.
• Raids will feature the following Pokémon:
  • Hitmontop
  • Cranidos
  • Deino
  • Special Costume Galarian Ponyta
  • Special Costume Galarian Zigzagoon
• The following music-related Pokémon will appear in the wild:
  • Chimecho
  • Kricketot
  • Audino
  • Special Costumed Pikachu
• The following Shiny Pokémon will make their Pokémon Go debut!
  • Whismur
  • Chimecho
  • Audino
  • Tympole

Related: Ice Pokémon Weaknesses and Counters in Pokémon Go

Ticket-holder Exclusives

• An extravagant music festival. Professor Willow and the team leaders (not the Team GO Rocket leaders) present Special Research and celebrate the event with a concert where they choose specific Pokémon to join. Completing this Special Research will get you for special rewards, such as a Mythical Pokémon encounter and avatar items.
  • Choosing between Pikachu Rock Star or Pikachu Pop Star will determine the music that plays for you throughout the event.
• Global Challenge Arena makes its return. Ticket holders must work together on a collaborative challenge each hour.
• There will be Habitat Hour exclusives for Ticket Holders.
  • Specific Pokémon will be attracted to Incense.
    • Jungle: Unown F, Unown G, Ludicolo, Chatot, Leafeon, and Serperior
    • Desert Mountain: Flareon, Unown F, Unown G, Tyranitar, Flygon, and Throh
    • Ocean Beach: Gyarados, Vaporeon, Azumarill, Unown F, Unown G, and Sawk
    • Cave: Umbreon, Unown F, Unown G, Gardevoir, Absol, and Galvantula
  • Players will be able to complete Collection Challenges after each Habitat Hour.
• During event hours, the chances of encountering a Shiny Pokémon in the wild will increase.
• The following Shiny Pokémon will make their Pokémon Go debut!
  • Unown F
  • Throh
  • Sawk

Day 2

On Sunday, July 18 from 10am to 6pm local time, there will be a strong focus on Raids for all players. Outside of that, ticket-holders will enjoy the features listed below.

• Completing a Raid will net an extra 10,000 XP in the rewards.
• Players will earn up to 10 Raid Passes by spinning Gym Photo Discs.
• Players will earn up to eight Remote Raid Passes by completing Special Research. 
• There will be a free event bundle that contains three Remote Raid Passes. 

Related: Fighting Pokémon Weaknesses and Counters in Pokémon Go

Both Days

All players can enjoy the following features on both days.

• Trainer photos featured in the Today View.
• Three Hour Lure Modules.
• Half Hatch distance on Eggs placed in incubators during the event.
• 7km Eggs with Igglybuff, Chingling, Audino, & more.
• Event-exclusive Field Research tasks.
• Special on-map visual effects.

Ticket holders can expect both days of the event to feature the following.

• Special Event Stickers when opening event gifts or spinning PokéStops.
• Surprise cameos in snapshots.

How to Purchase a Ticket

1. Enter the Shop and tap the Pokémon Go Fest 2021 image.
2. Tap the Buy button.
3. Tap OK to confirm the purchase.

That's everything important there is to know about Pokémon Go Fest 2021! For more information, you can check out the official page for the event.

Did you know we have guides for everything in Pokémon Go? Check out our guides on Fairy Pokémon Weaknesses and Electric Pokémon Weaknesses.