Pokémon expands Philippines presence with anniversary tour, MOA pop-up store

Manila, Philippines – The Pokémon Company is bringing its 30th anniversary celebrations to the Philippines, with Manila set to host “PokéXciting!”, an immersive fan event, alongside the country’s first-ever temporary Pokémon Center pop-up store.

Scheduled for 23 to 24 January 2027 at SM Mall of Asia, the free public event forms part of a five-city Asian tour commemorating three decades since the launch of the original Pokémon games in 1996. 

Manila joins Kuala Lumpur, Taipei, Singapore, and Bangkok as stops on the regional tour.

Designed for both longtime fans and new audiences, the two-day event will feature live entertainment, Pokémon character meet-and-greets, photo opportunities, interactive activities, and exclusive merchandise.

Among its highlights is the High-Voltage Night Stage, where the event-exclusive “PokéXciting! Pikachu” will perform alongside a large-scale Pokémon parade featuring fan-favourite characters. 

Visitors will also be able to purchase Manila-exclusive merchandise featuring a special red-costumed version of PokéXciting! Pikachu created specifically for the Philippine stop.

The celebrations will also extend to Pokémon GO, with the event-exclusive Pikachu set to appear in the mobile game during the campaign.

Ahead of the January event, The Pokémon Company will open the Philippines’ first temporary Pokémon Center pop-up store at SM Mall of Asia from October 2026 to January 2027. 

The retail space will offer Pokémon Center Original merchandise, trading cards, plush toys, limited-edition collectibles, and exclusive 30th anniversary products.

The pop-up store will also host Pokémon Trading Card Game tutorial sessions and feature a gaming experience zone, giving fans additional opportunities to engage with the brand before the anniversary event.

The Philippines activation forms part of Pokémon’s broader regional strategy to deepen fan engagement through immersive experiences as the franchise celebrates its 30th anniversary. 

The Asian tour will begin in Kuala Lumpur in September before heading to Taipei, Singapore, Manila, and concluding in Bangkok in February 2027.

Since debuting in 1996, the Pokémon franchise has grown from its original 151 Pokémon into a global entertainment brand spanning more than 1,000 Pokémon across video games, animation, films, trading cards, merchandise, and the augmented reality mobile game Pokémon GO.