Everything you need to know about the upcoming crossover

Lego's blossoming relationship with Pokemon will go beyond sets alone this summer as the two companies have announced the upcoming Pokemon Go crossover. There are no Pokemon Go-themed sets, but players will be encouraged to visit Lego stores to receive special in-game rewards.

Described by The Pokemon Company as “an integrated Pokemon Go and LEGO Pokemon experience,” special raids are one of the main reasons GO players will want to pop into their local LEGO store this summer. Lego stores in the US, UK, France, Australia, Poland and Germany will be converted into RED locations.

A shiny Pikachu might be lurking in a Lego store near you

Raids only feature Pikachu and appear to be one-stars, likely to appeal to many Pokemon fans, and to ensure that the super powerful Pokemon is relatively easy to take down, even for new players, if you participate enough. Once a raid is completed the Pikachu you catch is shiny, and can also unlock a special background.

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If you don't like raiding, or you're just striking your shiny prey while trying to find that special Pikachu, there will also be a Stamp Rally which can be a shiny encounter once completed. It's unclear if you'll have to visit multiple Lego stores to complete the rally, or if the rally will be contained within each individual store.

Given the distance between most LEGO Store locations and my experience with previous in-store LEGO events, I'm assuming it's the latter.

Completing a Stamp Rally guarantees an encounter with Pikachu that will earn you a special background, and, just like raiding, the Pikachu you get a chance to catch can be shiny too, if you're lucky. There is also a timed research to unlock. You must open Pokemon Go while in the LEGO Store during the event and research tasks will be added to your inventory. You will have until September 30, 2026 at 8pm local time to complete it.

When does the LEGO X Pokemon Go event start?

Pikachu Lego Pikachu jumping in front of the tail.

The Lego x Pokemon Go event will begin on August 3, 2026 and run until September 30, 2026. The event is envisioned to coincide with the next wave of Pokemon LEGO sets, a drop that will really boost the growing collection. The range launched earlier this year with just three sets, but at least 12 more will be released on August 1.

The 12 sets confirmed for an August 1 release are all part of Lego's Smart Play range, meaning they can make sounds and interact with each other when a Smart Brick is attached. While not confirmed, it is believed that some non-Smart Play sets will be released on the same day, including a leaked Arcanine build and First Attack on Rayquaza Lego.