Pokémon GO’s Season of Precious Paths’ Lunar New Year event guide

Happy New Year! Once again, Pokémon GO will be celebrating the Lunar New Year and with this year’s theme being the Fire Horse you can find Ponyta in the wild. Though, when it comes to which Pokémon will be featured during this event, that honor belongs to Darumaka, Blitzle, and Gimmighoul.

Now, check out what’s happening during the Lunar New Year event with our guide below:

 

Pokémon GO’s Season of Precious Paths – Lunar New Year

Begins: Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time.

Ends: Saturday, February 21st, 2026 at 8 p.m. your local time.

 

Pokémon featured – Darumaka, Blitzle, and Gimmighoul

 

 

There are no new debuts during the Lunar New Year 2026 event. Instead, a selection of Pokémon associated with the color red, money, and horses will be featured. Notably, this year Darumaka, Blitzle, and Gimmighoul will have increased shiny rates.

 

Event Bonuses

• Increased chance to get Lucky Pokémon in trades
• Increased chance to become Lucky Friends
• PokéStops may turn gold without a Golden Lure Module
• Increased chance to encounter Shiny Blitzle, Shiny Darumaka, and Shiny Gimmighoul

 

Plus, the following Season of Precious Paths bonuses will be in effect:

• One additional Special Trade per day
• Increased Stardust for the first catch of the day
• Increased friendship bonus damage dealt by Pokémon in Raids

 

And if Trainers reach specific ranks in the GO Pass and/or GO Pass Deluxe, then the following bonuses will also be active until Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time:

• Tier 1 (Rank 25): 
  • Open up to 40 Gifts per day
  • Receive up to 125 Gifts per day from spinning PokéStop and Gym Photo Discs
  • Hold up to 10 additional Gifts in your Item Bag
• Tier 2 (Rank 50):
  • 2× Daily Adventure Incense duration
• Tier 3 (Rank 75):
  • Up to two free Raid Passes from spinning Gym Photo Discs per day
    • This bonus will not stack with the Pokémon GO Tour: Kalos – Tainan and Los Angeles’ Raid Lover ticket add-on.

If GO Pass Deluxe is purchased, then the following bonuses will also be active when Rank 25 is reached, until Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time:

• Tier 1 (Rank 25):
  • Open up to 50 Gifts per day
  • Receive up to 150 Gifts per day from spinning PokéStop and Gym Photo Discs
  • Hold up to 20 additional Gifts in your Item Bag

 

Event Boxes

If any special event boxes or bundles are released during the event, they’ll be listed here once the event is live. Daily bundles are also available and can be viewed online via the Pokémon GO Web Store.

• Lunar New Year Ultra Ticket Box (US$1.99, limit purchase one, Pokémon GO Web Store only): 1 Ticket, 5 Ultra Balls, and 24 Reward Points.

 

Wild Encounters

• The following Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild: Ponyta*, Galarian Ponyta*, Magikarp*, Shuckle*, Tepig*, Sizzlipede, and Fuecoco*.
  • If you’re lucky, you might encounter the following Pokémon: Blitzle* and Darumaka*.

 

Notes:

• Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
• There will be an increased chance to encounter Shiny Blitzle and Shiny Darumaka.

 

Raids

Standard and Shadow Raids will be active during the event.

 

Standard Raids

The following Pokémon will be appearing in Raids:

• One-Star Raids: 
  • Clamperl*, Litwick*, Skiddo*, and Hatenna* (until Saturday, February 21st, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time).
  • ??? (starting on Saturday, February 21st, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time).
• Three-Star Raids:
  • Vibrava, Banette*, and Turtonator* (until Saturday, February 21st, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time).
  • ??? (starting on Saturday, February 21st, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time).
• Five-Star Raids:
  • Solgaleo (until Saturday, February 21st, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time).
  • Lunala (starting on Saturday, February 21st, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time).
• Mega Raids:
  • Mega Sableye* (until Saturday, February 21st, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time).
  • Mega Absol* (starting on Saturday, February 21st, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time).

 

Shadow Raids

The following Pokémon will be appearing in Shadow Raids:

• One-Star Shadow Raids: Shadow Dratini*, Shadow Gligar*, Shadow Cacnea*, and Shadow Joltik.
• Three-Star Shadow Raids: Shadow Alolan Marowak, Shadow Lapras*, and Shadow Stantler*.
• Five-Star Shadow Raids: Shadow Regigigas* (See Additional Notes).

 

Additional Notes:

• Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
• Standard Raids:
  • Lunala will be available after the event (in Five-Star Raids), until Sunday, February 22nd, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time.
  • Mega Absol* will be available after the event (in Mega Raids), until Sunday, February 22nd, 2026 at 10 a.m. your local time.
• Shadow Raids:
  • One- and Three-Star Shadow Raids will be available daily.
  • Five-Star Shadow Raids will be available on weekends (Saturday and Sunday), unless otherwise stated by Niantic.

 

Max Battles

Max Battles will be active during the event.

• One-Star Max Battles: Dynamax Bulbasaur*, Dynamax Charmander*, Dynamax Squirtle*, Dynamax Caterpie*,Dynamax Abra*, Dynamax Gastly*, Dynamax Krabby*, Dynamax Omanyte*, Dynamax Kabut0*, Dynamax Ralts*, Dynamax Spheal*, Dynamax Pidove*, Dynamax Roggenrola*, Dynamax Woobat*, Dynamax Drilbur*, Dynamax Trubbish*, Dynamax Inkay*, Dynamax Bounsweet*, Dynamax Grookey, Dynamax Scorbunny, Dynamax Sobble, Dynamax Skwovet*, Dynamax Rookiedee*, Dynamax Wooloo*, and Dynamax Hatenna.
• Two-Star Max Battles: Dynamax Machop*, Dynamax Eevee*, Dynamax Shuckle*, Dynamax Wailmer*, and Dynamax Darumaka*.
• Three-Star Max Battles: Dynamax Chansey*, Dynamax Sableye*, Dynamax Beldum*, Dynamax Cryogonal*, Dynamax Passimian*, Dynamax Drampa*, and Dynamax Falinks*.

 

Additional Notes:

• Pokémon marked with an * means that “If you’re lucky, you might encounter a Shiny one!”
• Max Battles require Max Particles (MP):
  • One-Star Max Battles cost 250 MP.
  • Two-Star Max Battles cost 400 MP.
  • Three-Star Max Battles cost 400 MP.
  • Five-Star Max Battles cost 800 MP.
  • Six-Star Max Battles cost 800 MP.

 

Field Research Tasks

There will be event-exclusive Field Research Tasks available and the rewards include the following Pokémon encounters: Darumaka* and Blitzle*. These Field Research Tasks can be found when spinning PokéStops (and acquired if you have an open slot in your Field Research menu) when the event is active.

A complete list of tasks and rewards will be shared here once the event is live.

 

• Task: Catch 12 Pokémon
  • Reward: Darumaka* encounter
• Task: Explore 2 km
  • Reward: Blitzle* encounter
• Task: Send 6 Gifts to Friends
  • Reward: 600 Stardust

 

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

 

PokéStop Showcase

During the event, PokéStop Showcases will be active. The theme of these contests is to submit the biggest Pokémon being requested. This section will be updated once the PokéStop Showcases are active.

• Monday, February 16th, 2026 at 10 a.m. to Wednesday, February 18th, 2026 at 8 p.m. your local time: Galarian Ponyta and Turtonator
• Saturday, February 21st, 2026 at 10 a.m. to Sunday, February 22nd, 2026 at 8 p.m. your local time: ???

 

Collection Challenge – Lunar New Year Collection Challenge

A special, event-exclusive Collection Challenge will be available. This Collection Challenge will reward Trainers with [REWARDS], and an addition to the Elite Collector medal. A complete list of what Pokémon must be caught/traded/evolved and the associated rewards will be added here once the event is live.

 

Lunar New Year 2026 Collection Challenge

• Catch: Magikarp, Shuckle, Fuecoco, Sizzlipede, Tepig, and Darumaka.
• Completion Rewards: Turtonator* encounter and 2,400 Stardust.

 

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

 

Paid Ticket – Lunar New Year 2026 Premium Timed Research

During the Lunar New Year event, Trainers can purchase a ticket to access an event-themed Timed Research. For US$1.99 OR US$2.00 (or the equivalent pricing tier in your local currency), you’ll get the Lunar New Year 2026 Premium Timed Research which rewards Trainers with the following (if tasks are completed within the time limit): 200 PokéCoins, two Lucky Eggs, one Incense, and encounters with Blitzle* and Darumaka*.

According to the fine print, “[t]ickets are nonrefundable (subject to applicable law and the exceptions set forth in the Terms of Service).” Tickets can also be gifted to Trainers you’re friends with provided that you have a Friendship level of Great Friends or higher with them. This can be done via the in-game shop and by selecting the “Gift” button instead of the “Buy” button. Tickets purchased for friends are nonrefundable as well.

Please keep in mind that Timed Research quests have deadlines. Trainers must complete this Lunar New Year 2026 Premium Timed Research and claim all rewards before Saturday, February 21st, 2026 at 8 p.m. your local time.

 

• Step 1/1
  • Task: Catch 2 Pokémon
    • Reward: Blitzle* encounter
  • Task: Catch 2 Pokémon
    • Reward: Darumaka* encounter
  • Task: Catch 4 Pokémon
    • Reward: Blitzle* encounter
  • Task: Catch 4 Pokémon
    • Reward: Darumaka* encounter
  • Task: Catch 6 Pokémon
    • Reward: Blitzle* encounter
  • Task: Catch 6 Pokémon
    • Reward: Darumaka* encounter
  • Task: Catch 8 Pokémon
    • Reward: Blitzle* encounter
  • Task: Catch 8 Pokémon
    • Reward: Darumaka* encounter
  • Task: Catch 12 Pokémon
    • Reward: Blitzle* encounter
  • Task: Catch 12 Pokémon
    • Reward: Darumaka* encounter
  • Task: Catch 15 Pokémon
    • Reward: Blitzle* encounter
  • Task: Catch 15 Pokémon
    • Reward: Darumaka* encounter
  • Completion Rewards: 200 PokéCoins, 2 Lucky Eggs, and 1 Incense

 

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

 

 

More Pokémon GO guides

 

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

 

 

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