Pokémon GO January 2026 Community Day Guide

Starting in January 2018, Community Day is a monthly event in Pokémon GO that shines the spotlight on a particular Pokémon. For one day each month, a specific Pokémon will have its spawn rate increased during a block of hours. Also, the Shiny appearance rate for the starring Pokémon will be boosted. There are also other perks to Community Day – such as the featured Pokémon knowing at least one exclusive attack through evolution, increased duration for Lure Modules, Event Boxes, and more.

While Community Day is only one day a month (typically), Pokémon appearing in Community Days from January to November of the same calendar year will come back in December. The Community Day hosted in December is a two-day event where Community Day Pokémon from the same and previous year will return via Raids, Eggs, and increased spawns. So if you’re unable to partake in a specific Community Day, there’s always another chance to catch that Pokémon again (and its Shiny version)!

In addition to that, Community Days of old return with Community Day Classic! Debuting in January 2022, this spin-off event resembled Community Days from 2018, but with some additional event bonuses (namely photobomb encounters).

Please note that the Community Day events resemble ones from the first few years of this event. Bonus Raid Battles after Community Day, a “sub-event” which featured special Raid encounters with the Community Day featured Pokémon or its evolution, has been quietly removed (along with Community Day exclusive stickers). Sometimes additional Timed Research will be issued during or right after Community Day and will feature the Pokémon for that month’s Community Day, but it will vary by event.

 

When will Pokémon GO’s January 2026 Community Day take place?

January 2026’s Community Day will be happening on Sunday, January 18th, 2026 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. your local time.

 

What Pokémon is being showcased for January 2026‘s Community Day?

The Pokémon featured for this January 2026’s Community Day is Grookey. You’ll find that Grookey will be appearing more frequently in the wild and, if you’re lucky, you might even encounter a Shiny one!

 

What is the exclusive attack for January 2026’s Community Day?

Evolve Thwackey into Rillaboom (via 100 Grookey Candies) and you’ll have a Rillaboom that will know Drum Beating (Charged Attack).

Drum Beating’s attack stats are the following:

• Trainer Battles: 60 power and lowers the opposing Pokémon’s Attack by one stage
• Gyms and Raids: 115 power

 

Notes:

• This attack can only be learned when Thwackey is evolved in Rillaboom (via 100 Grookey Candies) on Sunday, January 18th, 2026 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. your local time.
• Evolution Notes:
  • To evolve Grookey into Thwackey, it requires 25 Grookey Candies.
  • To evolve Thwackey into Rillaboom, it requires 100 Grookey Candies.
  • Therefore, if evolving Grookey to Rillaboom, a total of 125 Grookey Candies is required.

 

Are there any bonuses for January 2026‘s Community Day?

Yes, the bonuses for Community Day are:

• 3× Stardust for catching Pokémon
• 2× Candy for catching Pokémon
• 2× chance for Trainers level 31 and up to receive XL Candy from catching Pokemon
• Lure Modules activated during the event will last for three hours (Golden Lure Module excluded) (active from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. your local time)
  • Grookey will have an increased chance to be Shiny and have a Special Background during these extended hours
• Incense activated during the event will last for three hours (Daily Adventure Incense excluded)
• Take a few snapshots during Community Day for a surprise! (Grookey photobomb spawn. Can be repeated up to 5 times.)
• Trades made will require 50% less Stardust (active from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. your local time)
• One additional Special Trade can be made for a maximum of three for the day (active from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. your local time)

 

This Community Day overlaps with the High Zaptitude event. The following bonuses might also be in effect:

• 2× XP for catching Pokémon
• 2× XP for hatching Pokémon
• 2× Stardust for hatching Pokémon
• Increased chance to hatch Shiny Tadbulb
• The Storm Petrel Pokémon Wattrel and its Evolution, Kilowattrel, will make their Pokémon GO debuts in the wild and Field Research!
• Paid Timed Research (High Zaptitude Premium Timed Research) Bonus: 1/2 Egg Hatch Distance when Eggs are placed in an Incubator during the event period

 

What is the Special Research Story for January 2026‘s Community Day?

The Community Day Special Research Story is called Grooving with Grookey. It’s a paid-for quest that costs US$1.99 OR US$2.00 (or the equivalent pricing in your local currency). Tickets can be purchased in-game as well as via the Pokémon GO Web Store through a special bundle. This Special Research can be gifted to Friends who have a Friendship level of Great Friends and higher. (Tickets are nonrefundable (subject to applicable law and the exceptions set forth in the Terms of Service). Please note that this Special Research will not include an in-game medal and will not feature a story.)

A complete list of tasks and rewards for this Special Research Story will be added once the event is live.

 

• Step 1/3
  • Task: Catch 3 Pokémon
    • Reward: Grookey* encounter
  • Task: Catch 5 Pokémon
    • Reward: Grookey* encounter
  • Task: Catch 10 Pokémon
    • Reward: Grookey* encounter
  • Task: Make 7 Nice Throws
    • Reward: 20 Ultra Balls
  • Task: Make 5 Great Throws
    • Reward: 1 Star Piece
  • Task: Make 5 Curveball Throws
    • Reward: 1 Incense
  • Completion Rewards: Grookey* encounter (Special Background guaranteed), 50 Grookey Candies, and 5 Grookey XL Candies
• Step 2/3
  • Task: Catch 3 Pokémon
    • Reward: Grookey* encounter
  • Task: Catch 5 Pokémon
    • Reward: Grookey* encounter
  • Task: Catch 10 Pokémon
    • Reward: Thwackey* encounter
  • Task: Use 3 Berries to help catch Pokémon
    • Reward: 20 Ultra Balls
  • Task: Use 5 Berries to help catch Pokémon
    • Reward: 1 Charged TM
  • Task: Use 7 Berries to help catch Pokémon
    • Reward: 3 Silver Pinap Berries
  • Completion Rewards: Grookey* encounter (Special Background guaranteed), 7,500 Stardust, and 3 Rare Candies
• Step 3/3
  • Task: Catch 3 Pokémon
    • Reward: Grookey* encounter
  • Task: Catch 5 Pokémon
    • Reward: Grookey* encounter
  • Task: Catch 10 Pokémon
    • Reward: Rillaboom* encounter
  • Task: Spin 3 PokéStops or Gyms
    • Reward: 20 Ultra Balls
  • Task: Spin 5 PokéStops or Gyms
    • Reward: 1 Rocket Radar
  • Task: Explore 1 km
    • Reward: 1 Premium Battle Pass
  • Completion Rewards: Grookey* encounter (Special Background guaranteed), 10,000 XP, and 1 Rare Candy XL

 

Note: Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”

 

Will there be any Field Research tasks for January 2026‘s Community Day?

For January 2026’s Community Day event, the following Field Research tasks will be available:

• Task: Catch 3 Grookey
  • Reward: Grookey* encounter OR 5 Great Balls OR 2 Ultra Balls OR 2 Pinap Berries OR 500 Stardust
• Task: Catch 50 Pokémon
  • Reward: Grookey* encounter (Special Background encounter guaranteed)
• Task: Catch 5 Pokémon while in a Party
  • Reward: Grookey* encounter (Special Background encounter guaranteed)

 

Note: Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”

 

Will there be PokéStop Showcases during January 2026‘s Community Day?

Yes, PokéStop Showcases will be active during the event. The theme is to submit the biggest Tadbulb, Bellibolt, Wattrel, and/or Kilowattrel. While, technically, the PokéStop Showcase should feature the Pokémon for this Community Day event and its evolution, priority is being given to these other Pokémon due to the High Zaptitude event taking place.

 

Are there any special Raids for January 2026‘s Community Day?

For January 2026’s Community Day, there will not be any special bonus Raid battles.

 

Are there any Event Bundles for January 2026‘s Community Day?

There will be some event bundles for sale via the in-game shop:

• Great Box (480 PokéCoins, purchase limit 1): 30 Ultra Balls, 3 Super Incubators, 1 Incense, and 1 Lure Module.
• Community Day Box (1,350 PokéCoins, purchase limit 1): 50 Ultra Balls, 5 Super Incubators, 1 Elite Charged TM, and 5 Lucky Eggs.

 

There will also be a bundle for sale via the Pokémon GO Web Store:

• Grookey Community Day Ultra Ticket Box (USD$1.99): 1 Ticket (for the paid Community Day Special Research), 5 Ultra Balls, and 24 Reward Points.

 

Are there any special event-themed stickers for January 2026‘s Community Day?

No. There will not be any special stickers featuring the Pokémon spotlighted for this Community Day event.

 

Are there any other bonuses/tasks for January 2026‘s Community Day?

January 2026’s Community Day overlaps with the High Zaptitude event. This event includes its own bonuses plus bonuses unlocked via Global Challenges. These bonuses will not stack and the higher bonus will take priority over the other (i.e.: the Catch Stardust bonus is greater via Community Day’s bonuses over the Global Challenge, so priority will be given there).

Also, Community Ambassador Activations will be happening in select cities. For a full list of available locations, you can check out the interactive map on the dedicated Community Day Map page. Interactive maps also include “Community Parks”, but these locations will not have any additional bonuses available.

• Community Ambassador Activations: Connect with local Community Ambassadors and their communities. Get a special Timed Research when checking in.
• Community Parks: This park may be a fun place to play with your local community while enjoying some fresh air.

 

More Pokémon GO Community Day guides

 

Looking for more help with Pokémon GO’s Community Days? Check out our latest guides!

 

 

More Pokémon GO guides

 

Looking for more help with Pokémon GO? Check out our other guides!

 

 

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