Japanese Pokémon sets 2027: looking back at 2026 and ahead

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Short answer: 2026 was the year of the MEGA block and of thirty years of the Pokémon TCG. Japan released Nihil Zero (M3), Ninja Spinner (M4), Abyss Eye (M5), Storm Emeralda (M6) and the anniversary set 30th CELEBRATION (M6a), and on 27 November Aura Seeker (M7) closes out the year. The most valuable card from a 2026 set is Mega Rayquaza ex MUR from Storm Emeralda (about €339). First up in 2027 is MEGA x MEGA Parade, reported for 19 February. From May 2027 regular Japanese packs get more expensive (¥230 instead of ¥200), and at some point in 2027 the new ex★ series begins.

Grab a glass of something bubbly: this is our year in review, with a few awards of our own for the standout sets and cards.

2026 in sets: every major Japanese release

Date (Japan)	Set	Code	Star
23 January	Nihil Zero	M3	Mega Zygarde ex
13 March	Ninja Spinner	M4	Mega Greninja ex
22 May	Abyss Eye	M5	Mega Darkrai ex
31 July	Storm Emeralda	M6	Mega Rayquaza ex
16 September	30th CELEBRATION	M6a	Pikachu (30 variants), FUR Mew ex and Mewtwo ex
27 November	Aura Seeker	M7	Mega Lucario Z ex

Every date, including smaller products such as deck sets, is in the Pokémon release calendar 2026.

The Kaikan awards 2026

Set of the year: 30th CELEBRATION (M6a)

Thirty years of the Pokémon TCG, and Japan celebrated with a set in which every card is holo and every pack holds a Pikachu, in thirty versions by thirty illustrators. It also debuted the new FUR rarity, with Mew ex and Mewtwo ex. And for the first time in the history of the card game, a set launched worldwide on the same day. The most valuable cards are the Classic Collection versions of Charizard (about €127) and Lugia (about €117). With us, the 30th Celebration box is a pre-order, expected at the end of November 2026.

Pokémon of the year: Mega Rayquaza

No Pokémon drove as much demand at release as Mega Rayquaza ex in Storm Emeralda (M6). The gold Mega Rayquaza ex MUR is, at about €339, the most valuable card from any set this year, and the SAR version sits at about €174.

Surprise of the year: Mega Greninja

Ninja Spinner (M4) is one of the more affordable boxes in the block, yet the gold Mega Greninja ex MUR is close behind Rayquaza at about €332. That makes the Ninja Spinner box (€94.95, price on 13 November 2026) one of the most exciting boxes in the lower price range.

Darkest set of the year: Abyss Eye

Abyss Eye (M5) revolved around Mega Darkrai ex, and the gold Mega Darkrai ex MUR (about €202) is number three of the year.

The most valuable chase cards from 2026 sets

#	Card	Set	Value
1	Mega Rayquaza ex MUR (#113)	Storm Emeralda (M6)	€339
2	Mega Greninja ex MUR (#120)	Ninja Spinner (M4)	€332
3	Mega Darkrai ex MUR (#118)	Abyss Eye (M5)	€202
4	Mega Rayquaza ex SAR (#110)	Storm Emeralda (M6)	€174
5	Charizard, Classic Collection (#137)	30th CELEBRATION (M6a)	€127
6	Lugia, Classic Collection (#142)	30th CELEBRATION (M6a)	€117
7	Mega Greninja ex SAR (#114)	Ninja Spinner (M4)	€93
8	Mega Zygarde ex MUR (#117)	Nihil Zero (M3)	€82

Values: PriceCharting, as of 13 November 2026, converted from dollars to euros, ungraded. Indicative market value of single cards; not an expected return from a box. New sets often drop in the first months.

For comparison: the most valuable card in our whole database is from 2025. That is Mega Charizard X ex MUR from Inferno X (M2), at about €543. Every card with its odds per box is on the chase cards page and in the odds calculator.

Looking ahead: what is coming in 2027?

MEGA x MEGA Parade (reported for 19 February 2027)

The High Class Pack, which normally arrives in late November or early December, moves to February this time. MEGA x MEGA Parade centres on Mega Raichu X and Mega Raichu Y, with many Mega Evolutions from across the block. A pack costs ¥550 in Japan and contains 10 cards with a hit in every pack. The date has been reported but is not yet on the official Japanese product page.

Pricier packs from May 2027

On 6 November 2026 The Pokémon Company announced that the Japanese suggested retail price of a regular booster pack in new products will rise from ¥200 to ¥230 from May 2027. A 30-pack box will then cost ¥6,900 at the source instead of ¥6,000. It is the second increase within a year; in May 2026 the price already went from ¥180 to ¥200. Sets already released keep their Japanese suggested price.

The new ex★ series

After the MEGA block comes ex★ (ex Star). The logo was shown in August 2026, together with Raikou, Entei and Suicune. There is no date, no set name and no explanation yet of what the star does in the game. As soon as more is known, it will be in the Pokémon release calendar 2027.

English versions

The English version of Aura Seeker is called Flowing Fists and is reported for 5 February 2027, a good ten weeks after Japan. Japanese remains the way to open new cards first. Why collectors choose it is explained in Japanese or English: the differences.

Our New Year's resolutions for 2027

• Every box stays factory-sealed and is checked before shipping, under the Seal Guarantee.
• Our single packs come from boxes we open ourselves and are never weighed or picked.
• We keep the release calendar and card values up to date, so you know what is coming and roughly what a card is worth.

And your resolution? Maybe finally completing that one set. This year's sets are in Japanese Mega Evolution booster boxes, the older High Class sets in High Class boxes.

Frequently asked questions

Which Japanese Pokémon sets are coming in 2027?

First MEGA x MEGA Parade, a High Class Pack with Mega Raichu X and Y, reported for 19 February 2027. After that, the new ex★ series starts at some point in 2027. No other sets have been announced yet.

Will Japanese Pokémon cards get more expensive in 2027?

In Japan, yes: from May 2027 a regular booster pack in new products costs ¥230 instead of ¥200. That is about 15% more at the source.

What was the most valuable card of 2026?

From the sets released in 2026: Mega Rayquaza ex MUR (#113) from Storm Emeralda, worth about €339 (PriceCharting, as of 13 November 2026, ungraded).

What was the biggest Japanese set of 2026?

30th CELEBRATION (M6a), the anniversary set for thirty years of the Pokémon TCG. Every card is holo, every pack has a Pikachu, and it was the first set ever to launch worldwide on the same day.

See the release calendar 2027 →
See all Japanese sets →

Odds per box: odds calculator · All chase cards