Pokémon Go Lunar New Year 2026 event brings Lucky trades and boosted shiny rates

Pokémon Go is ushering in the Lunar New Year once again, and the 2026 event is shaping up to be a tidy excuse to clear out your trade queue and pop down a few Incenses. Running from February 17 to February 21, the limited-time event focuses heavily on friendship perks, Lucky mechanics, and a handful of boosted shiny encounters.

If you have been sitting on half-decent trade fodder waiting for the right moment, this is probably it. Here’s everything you need to know about the Pokémon Go 2026 Lunar New Year event, all the bonuses, spawns, and more.

Pokémon Go Lunar New Year event: Lucky trades take centre stage

The headline bonuses this year revolve around trades and Friendship levels. During the event, players will have an increased chance of receiving Lucky Pokémon through trades, as well as a higher chance of becoming Lucky Friends with their best buds. For anyone chasing maxed-out builds without burning through mountains of Stardust, this is the moment you’ve been waiting for.

There are a few other notable perks in play. PokéStops may occasionally turn gold even without a Golden Lure Module active, and certain Pokémon are enjoying elevated shiny rates. Specifically, you will have better odds at encountering Shiny Blitzle, Shiny Darumaka, and Shiny Gimmighoul.

Niantic is also nudging players toward Incense use, with the usual reminder that more spawns mean more chances at those boosted shinies! Expect trading hubs and local meetups to feel a little busier than usual for these four days.

Fire types and shiny chances in the wild

The event leans heavily into boosted Fire type spawns, with a few familiar faces returning to the spotlight. You can expect to see these Pokémon way more than usual:

– Ponyta
– Galarian Ponyta
– Fuecoco
– Blitzle
– Darumaka

And several of these can appear in their shiny forms. It is not the most eclectic spawn pool Pokémon Go has ever delivered, but it is focused and shiny hunters will know exactly what they are grinding for!

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On the research side, Niantic has confirmed that Field Research, Timed Research, and a Global Collection Challenge will be part of the event, though full task details have yet to be revealed. As usual, rewards will only be claimable during the event window, so leaving them unfinished is not an option for serious Pokémon Go trainers.

There is also a paid Timed Research ticket available for $1.99 (~ Rs 180). Completing it grants:

– 200 PokéCoins
– Two Lucky Eggs
– One Incense
– Blitzle and Darumaka encounters

An Ultra Ticket Box is also on sale for the same price via the official Pokemon Go website, for approximately Rs 180 again, bundling the event ticket with five Ultra Balls.

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So, if you love trades, using your Stardust efficiently, and having boosted chances to encounter a shiny or two, this is the week to open the app and start tapping.