McDonald's Announces Worldwide Pokémon Happy Meal Promotion

McDonald's has officially confirmed the return of Pokémon Happy Meals, bringing collectible toys and trading cards to participating restaurants worldwide beginning on November 10. The fast-food chain announced the upcoming promotion, which features a staggered international rollout spanning from late 2026 into early 2027.

Customers purchasing the promotional meal will receive their food in one of several special boxes inspired by characters such as Pikachu, Umbreon, Torchic, or general Pokémon artwork. Inside each meal, patrons will find one of 15 miniature Happy Meal box-shaped toys and a pair of Pokémon Trading Card Game cards. Guillaume Huin, McDonald's senior marketing director, shared on social media that the miniature toys can also be utilized as charms to clip onto keys or bags.

The 15-card trading set consists of reprints featuring popular characters such as Pikachu, Eevee, Snorlax, Jirachi, and Lucario. According to promotional details, seven of the 15 cards will feature foil variants, while the physical toys are designed to resemble iconic McDonald's cartons shaped around fan-favorite Pokémon. In addition to the physical items, buyers can scan a QR code on the packaging to access a digital game where players search for hidden virtual toys.

The global release schedule is divided into multiple phases across different countries. The United States, Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, New Zealand, and Spain are slated to launch the promotion on November 10. A large wave of countries across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa will follow in December 2026. Additional nations, including Italy, will receive the promotion in January 2027, while regions such as Ireland and the United Kingdom will begin sales in February 2027.

This promotion marks a notable return for physical Pokémon figures in Happy Meals. For the first time in nearly a decade, the meals will combine both actual toys and playable cards, rather than relying exclusively on cards as seen in several recent campaigns. Past collaborations between the burger chain and the Pokémon franchise have occasionally led to overwhelming demand and long queues at restaurants globally.

McDonald's has a history of partnering with major Japanese entertainment franchises for its children's meals. Earlier in the year, the chain offered collections themed around characters from Hello Kitty, Godzilla, SpongeBob SquarePants, and One Piece. The Pokémon promotion will be available for a limited time at participating restaurants while supplies last, and customers typically have the option to purchase the toys separately from the meal.