We went to McDonald’s today for lunch and each got the new Pokémon Happy Meal. Each Happy Meal comes inside one box featuring either Pikachu, Umbreon, or Torchic. The toy itself comes in a cardboard Pokémon-themed box and is wrapped in tissue paper. Two Pokémon cards are included at random: one holo card and one regular.
While McDonald’s Pokémon Happy Meals are always a fun affair, this year’s feels extra special, surprisingly because of the plastic toy that comes with the Happy Meal.
More of our discussion while we waited in line for our Happy Meal was about which of the cool Happy Meal toys we would get, rather than what rare card we would get.
The plastic mini McDonald’s Happy Meal toys feel substantial – like something people would actually collect. This is in stark contrast to previous Happy Meals from recent years that focused more on sticker sheets or discardable game pieces.
The fun doesn’t end with just the toy or the cards, either. There’s also an online game you can play. Just scan the QR code on the side of your Happy Meal box!
It’s a fun search-and-find game especially aimed at kids, adding an interactive element to the whole experience.
And then there are the cards. This year’s roundup is particularly well chosen. While the regular cards may not look particularly special, the holo foil cards look gorgeous, backed by incredible artworks and unique confetti foil that make them pop. I particularly liked the Mimikyu, Jirachi, and Tyranitar that we pulled.
And I’m not the only one: going into the first big day for the US promotion, 2026 McDonald’s Pokémon cards show surprising market resilience, with the top Pikachu card chase still selling for over $10.
Prices and availability subject to change.
As I said in my 2026 McDonald’s Pokémon card price guide, I don’t expect these prices to stick, although one or two of the foils could retain some modest value.
Easy to get (we ordered our meals through the McDonald’s mobile app), with surprisingly collectible plastic Pokémon toys, and a few especially gorgeous confetti foil promo cards, the 2026 McDonald’s Pokémon Happy Meal collab is my favorite in years.
Pick yours up today!
