Every year, LEGO releases a ton of sets themed after popular IP shared by everyone from Harry Potter to Marvel to DC. But this year is different. In 2026, LEGO is set to launch its biggest partnership yet.
For gamers, LEGO's latest partnership has been a long time coming, and the brick-making company isn't skimping on this first outing either. LEGO has big plans for this latest collaboration, and the first sets should start releasing soon.
Lego Pokemon sets hit 2026 with a massive rollout
2026 marks the kick-off for LEGO's big partnership with Pokemon, easily the biggest collaboration for the company. While LEGO has featured Nintendo IPs like Mario and the like The Legend of Zelda Among its sets, Pokemon Switch 2 is the hottest item within the manufacturer's stable.
And for LEGO, this could possibly be one of its biggest partnerships yet. Pokemon has been a huge revenue generating machine for anything and everything, be it trading card games, pluses, mobile experiences, and more. It feels like every Pokemon partnership is a slam dunk, and I hope LEGO is no different.
Lego and Pokemon won't be testing the waters in 2026; It reportedly has a big rollout planned for the first year. 2026 is Pokemon's 30th anniversary, and it makes sense that LEGO and Nintendo want to take full advantage of all the conversations that center around the Pocket Monsters brand.
Things will reportedly kick off in early 2026 with a handful of sets, one modestly priced and themed after Pikachu and another featuring Charizard. So, if rumors are to be believed, a massive set featuring the three original Pokemon Red/Blue starters and their evolutions will set the tone for how expensive this collaboration could be. And finally, summer will see the release of several sets, including some interactive ones that function like Mario sets that feature mobile app tie-ins.
I know LEGO has another Legend of Zelda set planned for this year that may or may not be Ocarina of Time themed, but as an overall collaboration, this Pokemon partnership is a big deal. When the sets first leaked and Pokemon seemed to be playing it safe with Pikachu and Charizard, I was surprised. Then, later leaks proved that LEGO and Pokemon wanted to give fans different sets and an interactive experience was planned.
What to expect from the LEGO and Pokemon collaboration in 2026
While I'm not the biggest fan of the interactive Mario experience, the sets themselves are still pretty fantastic, and I'm curious to see how LEGO iterates on that concept with Pokemon. More than that, I've been extremely impressed with the detail and variety in Lego sets lately, from the Lego Game Boy set that packs tons of clever touches that you won't even see in the Stranger Things Creel House that stand out as a really fun piece of interactivity. LEGO Pokemon has so much potential, and I can't wait to see what the sets bring to the table.
Official LEGO Pokemon sets are coming in 2026, but so far, they're few and far between
LEGO is kicking off 2026 with a bang by releasing 200 new sets, but the collaboration with Pokemon might not be as exciting as it sounds.
While this partnership is huge for LEGO fans, it's not the only thing Pokemon fans need to watch out for this year. As mentioned, it's Pokemon's 30th anniversary, and there are plenty of events and reveals planned for the next 12 months. New TCG sets are on the horizon starting with Ascended Heroes this month. McDonald's is partnering with Pokemon again for Happy Meals. Adidas has a Meowth-themed sneaker in the works. And, of course, Pokemon Gen 10 is expected to be revealed this year and could be released before the end of 2026.
It's going to be a big year for Pokemon fans, but I'm really looking forward to seeing these sets. It seems like there's a little something planned for everyone, and while my wallet worries about potential price tags, my excitement is sky high.
