Pokemon Go’s global Go Fest has arrived, and this year’s event is a big one. For the first time in the game’s history, all players who log in during the festivities will receive access to a new Special Research that leads to an encounter with the mythical Pokemon Zeraora.
That’s not all that players can look forward to this weekend. Mewtwo’s Mega-Evolved forms are also making their debut, and different wild Pokemon and Raid bosses will appear throughout the weekend as part of the game’s rotating habitats.
On top of that, the game will offer a variety of bonuses, challenges, and more this weekend. To help get you up to speed, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about Pokemon Go Fest 2026 below.
In This Article
Pokemon Go Fest 2026 Schedule
Mega Mewtwo Raids
Best Mega Mewtwo X Counters
Best Mega Mewtwo Y Counters
Zeraora Special Research
Rotating Habitats
July 11
Stormfire Peaks
Astral Tides
Dragonflight Summit
July 12
Earthforged Domain
Verdant Anomaly
Twilight Battlefield
Bonuses
Pokemon Go Fest 2026 Schedule
This year’s global Pokemon Go Fest takes place on July 10 and 11. The event kicks off each day at 10 AM local time and runs until 7 PM local time.
Unlike previous Go Fests, which restricted access to certain content behind a paid ticket, this year’s event will be completely free for all players. Anyone who logs in to the game during the event days will receive the Zeraora Special Research and be able to take advantage of the full slate of event bonuses, including increased odds of encountering shiny Pokemon.
Mega Mewtwo Raids
Making their debut during this year’s Go Fest are Mewtwo’s two Mega-Evolved forms: Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y. Each will appear as Super Mega Raid bosses throughout both days of the event, making this your first chance to battle them and earn Mewtwo Mega Energy.
Like standard Mewtwo, Mega Mewtwo Y is a pure psychic Pokemon, so you can employ the same strategy when challenging one. Mega Mewtwo X, however, is a psychic/fighting type, so it will require a different approach than the other Mewtwo forms.
Here are some recommended counters to help you topple the new Raid bosses:
Best Mega Mewtwo X Counters
Fairy
Pokemon
Type
Fast Attack
Charged Attack
Mega Gardevoir
Psychic/Fairy
Charm
Dazzling Gleam
Xerneas
Fairy
Geomancy
Moonblast
Tapu Lele
Psychic/Fairy
Astonish
Nature’s Madness
Crowned Sword Zacian
Fairy/Steel
Metal Claw
Play Rough
Enamorus
Fairy/Flying
Fairy Wind
Dazzling Gleam
Ghost
Pokemon
Type
Fast Attack
Charged Attack
Giratina
Ghost/Dragon
Shadow Claw
Shadow Force
Chandelure
Ghost/Fire
Hex
Shadow Ball
Lunala
Psychic/Ghost
Shadow Claw
Shadow Ball
Dragapult
Dragon/Ghost
Astonish
Shadow Ball
Gholdengo
Ghost/Steel
Hex
Shadow Ball
Best Mega Mewtwo Y Counters
Dark
Pokemon
Type
Fast Attack
Charged Attack
Mega Houndoom
Fire/Dark
Snarl
Foul Play
Mega Tyranitar
Rock/Dark
Bite
Brutal Swing
Mega Absol
Dark
Snarl
Brutal Swing
Darkrai
Dark
Snarl
Shadow Ball
Hydreigon
Dragon/Dark
Bite
Brutal Swing
Bug
Pokemon
Type
Fast Attack
Charged Attack
Mega Pinsir
Bug/Flying
Fury Cutter
X-Scissor
Mega Scizor
Bug/Steel
Fury Cutter
X-Scissor
Escavalier
Bug/Steel
Bug Bite
Megahorn
Volcarona
Bug/Fire
Bug Bite
Bug Buzz
Genesect
Bug/Steel
Fury Cutter
X-Scissor
Zeraora Special Research
In addition to Mewtwo’s Mega forms, the mythical Zeraora officially arrives during this year’s Go Fest.
The Thunderclap Pokemon will be the star of a new Special Research, which all players will receive upon logging in to the game during the event. Complete the Research’s various tasks and you’ll eventually unlock an encounter with Zeraora, making this your only way to get one so far in Pokemon Go.
Like other Special Research stories, this questline does not expire, so you can take as long as you need to work your way through the tasks. As mentioned, however, you will need to log in to the game before Pokemon Go Fest ends to secure the Special Research.
Rotating Habitats
Like previous years, Pokemon Go Fest will feature several virtual “habitats” that will rotate every few hours. Depending upon which habitat is active, different types of Pokemon will spawn in the wild, and a different assortment of legendary and Mega Pokemon will appear in Gyms as Raid bosses.
You can see the full habitat schedule, along with a list of Pokemon that will be available while each one is active, below:
July 11
Stormfire Peaks
Runs 10 AM to 1 PM local time
Featured types
Ice
Electric
Fire
Five-star Raids
Articuno
Zapdos
Moltres
Raikou
Entei
Suicune
Lugia
Ho-Oh
Mega Raids
Mega Ampharos
Mega Blaziken
Mega Abomasnow
Astral Tides
Runs 1 PM to 4 PM local time
Featured types
Psychic
Ghost
Water
Five-star Raids
Uxie (Asia-Pacific region)
Mesprit (Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India)
Azelf (Americas and Greenland)
Dialga
Palkia
Altered Forme Giratina
Origin Forme Giratina
Xerneas
Yveltal
Solgaleo
Lunala
Mega Raids
Mega Alakazam
Mega Gengar
Mega Swampert
Dragonflight Summit
Runs 4 PM to 7 PM local time
Featured types
Flying
Rock
Dragon
Five-star Raids
Kyogre
Groudon
Rayquaza
Reshiram
Zekrom
Kyurem
Mega Raids
Mega Pidgeot
Mega Aerodactyl
Mega Salamence
July 12
Earthforged Domain
Runs 10 AM to 1 PM local time
Featured types
Ground
Steel
Normal
Five-star Raids
Regirock
Regice
Registeel
Origin Forme Dialga
Origin Forme Palkia
Heatran
Regigigas
Incarnate Forme Tornadus
Therian Forme Tornadus
Incarnate Forme Thundurus
Therian Forme Thundurus
Incarnate Forme Landorus
Therian Forme Landorus
Regieleki
Regidrago
Incarnate Forme Enamorus
Therian Forme Enamorus
Mega Raids
Mega Metagross
Mega Garchomp
Mega Audino
Verdant Anomaly
Runs 1 PM to 4 PM local time
Featured types
Poison
Bug
Grass
Five-star Raids
Normal Forme Deoxys
Attack Forme Deoxys
Defense Forme Deoxys
Speed Forme Deoxys
Genesect
Douse Drive Genesect
Shock Drive Genesect
Burn Drive Genesect
Chill Drive Genesect
Tapu Koko
Tapu Lele
Tapu Bulu
Tapu Fini
Nihilego
Buzzwole (Americas and Greenland)
Pheromosa (Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India
Xurkitree (Asia-Pacific region)
Celesteela (Southern Hemisphere)
Kartana (Northern Hemisphere)
Guzzlord
Necrozma
Stakataka (Eastern Hemisphere)
Blacephalon (Western Hemisphere)
Mega Raids
Mega Beedrill
Mega Pinsir
Mega Sceptile
Twilight Battlefield
Runs 4 PM to 7 PM local time
Featured types
Dark
Fairy
Fighting
Five-star Raids
Latias
Latios
Cresselia
Darkrai
Cobalion
Terrakion
Virizion
Zacian (Hero of Many Battles form)
Zamazenta (Hero of Many Battles form)
Mega Raids
Mega Tyranitar
Mega Gardevoir
Mega Lucario
Bonuses
Like other events, a slew of bonuses will be active throughout Pokemon Go Fest 2026, including increased shiny rates and extra free Raid Passes. You can see the full list of bonuses below:
Increased chance of encountering shiny Pokemon
Lure Modules will last for one hour
Incense will attract special Pokemon
Different themed Field Research tasks will be available every hour
Global Challenges will unlock additional bonuses and Ultra Unlock events
Receive up to nine free Raid Passes per day by spinning the Photo Disc at Gyms
Make up to six Special Trades
Trades will cost 50 percent less Stardust
Open up to 50 gifts each day
Pokemon Go has plenty more events lined up this month beyond Go Fest 2026, including a special anniversary Pikachu celebration and a Super Mega Raid Day featuring both forms of Mega Raichu. You can see what else is happening in the game over the next few weeks in our July events roundup.
