Jack-o’-lanterns are lighting up earlier than expected in Pokémon GO. The first part of the Halloween 2026 event will run from Tuesday, October 27 at 10 a.m. to Sunday, November 1 at 10 a.m. (local time), with three new costumes, all available as shiny. Also on the menu: surprises to collect on the map, a dedicated GO Pass and the remixed Lavender Town music.
Three new costumes, and they can all be shiny
The star of the show is still on duty: 
Pikachu debuts wearing a hat and a little cape. It is joined by 
Zubat, which sports a top hat worthy of a Lavender Town count, and 
Sinistea, the haunted teapot from Galar, decorated for the occasion with a pretty bow. All three costumes appear in the game for the first time, and each of them can be encountered in its shiny form if luck is on your side.
Several methods are available to meet them:
- In the wild: top-hat Zubat,
Duskull, as well as 
Piplup et 
Drifblim in their “Halloween Scamps” costume, which are rarer (all can be shiny); - In 1-star Raids: hat Pikachu and bow Sinistea (can be shiny);
- In Field Research: Halloween-themed tasks offer encounters with the event’s Pokémon.
“Trick or treat!”: surprises to collect on the map
The novelty of this edition is right on the game map. During the event, mischievous wild Pokémon may leave behind “spooky surprises”. Just tap these surprises to get an encounter with an event Pokémon, Pikachu, Zubat or Sinistea Candy, and sometimes even Rare Candy. A nice way to make every Halloween stroll a little more rewarding.
As for the atmosphere, PokéStops, Gyms and encounters get seasonal decorations during both parts of the event, and a remix of the famous Lavender Town music will accompany your nighttime hunts. Scopely has already put it online:
A Halloween GO Pass and gothic outfits
This time, the event bonuses come through the GO Pass: Halloween 2026, available for free from October 27 at 10 a.m. to Thursday, November 5 at 8 p.m. (local time). As you rank up, you unlock:
- Tier 1 (rank 10): 2× Candy for catching Pokémon (3× with the Deluxe GO Pass);
- Tier 2 (rank 20): 2× Stardust for catching Pokémon (3× with the Deluxe GO Pass).
The free version earns encounters, Candy, Rare Candy and Ultra Balls. The paid version, the Deluxe GO Pass, costs 7.99 USD, or 9.99 USD with 10 ranks included, with the equivalent applied in euros. It adds extra encounters, Rare Candy XL, Premium Battle Passes and a pastry chef outfit for your avatar. When bought on the Pokémon GO Web Store, it comes with bonus items (Ultra Balls, Max Revives, Max Potions). Be careful: Pass rewards expire on Saturday, November 7 at 8 p.m., so remember to claim them in time.
For the fashion-conscious, the in-game shop will offer the gothic skirt outfit, the gothic shorts outfit, gothic socks and gothic boots, which will stay on sale after the event. Themed stickers can also be collected by spinning PokéStops and opening Gifts.
Key takeaways
- Dates: Tuesday, October 27 at 10 a.m. to Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 10 a.m., local time;
- Debuts: Pikachu (hat and cape), Zubat (top hat) and Sinistea (bow), all possibly shiny;
- Don’t miss: the surprises to tap on the map and the free GO Pass to double Candy and Stardust.
This is only the beginning: Scopely already mentions the “two parts” of the Halloween event, so the next part should be announced soon. Which costume will you hunt as a shiny first?
