The Pokémon Company has revealed several major changes for the 2027 Pokémon Championship Series, including a completely new format for the Pokémon GO World Championships.
For the first time, the Pokémon GO World Championships will feature 3-on-3 team competition, with teams formed from the pool of individually qualified players.
Dates and venues have also been confirmed for the three International Championships taking place throughout the season, beginning with LAIC in November 2026.
3v3 Team Competition Coming to Worlds
The 2027 Pokémon GO World Championships will move away from its traditional individual format and introduce teams consisting of three qualified players.
The announcement does not explain how teams will be formed, whether competitors will be able to select their teammates, or exactly how matches will work under the new format. Additional information about the 3-on-3 competition will be announced at a later date.
This change currently applies specifically to the 2027 Pokémon GO World Championships. The qualification process leading up to Worlds will continue to focus on individual players.
Individual Qualification Remains Unchanged
Despite the switch to team-based competition at Worlds, players will continue to qualify individually.
Invitations will still be awarded based on performance at Championship Series events and the Championship Points accumulated throughout the 2027 season. A set number of competitors from each rating zone will qualify through the Championship Point leaderboards.
The following number of Pokémon GO competitors will earn invitations to the 2027 World Championships:
| Rating Zone | Worlds Invitations |
|---|---|
| United States and Canada | 75 |
| Europe | 65 |
| Latin America | 65 |
| Oceania | 10 |
| Middle East and South Africa | 5 |
Unlike Pokémon TCG and VGC competitions, Pokémon GO tournaments will continue to operate without separate Junior, Senior, and Masters age divisions.
2027 International Championships Schedule
The three International Championships for the 2027 season will take place in São Paulo, London, and Chicago.
International Championships award more Championship Points than Regional Championships and feature larger prize pools. Each of the three events will award direct invitations to the 2027 World Championships and offer more than $500,000 USD in total prizes, divided across the Pokémon TCG, Pokémon video game, and Pokémon GO competitions.
| Event | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Latin America International Championships | November 20–22, 2026 | Centro de Convenções – Distrito Anhembi São Paulo, Brazil |
| Europe International Championships | February 19–21, 2027 | Excel London London, England |
| North America International Championships | June 18–20, 2027 | McCormick Place Convention Center Chicago, Illinois |
Dates and locations for all Championship Series Events have been announced for the 2027 season and can now be found on the season calendar.
Latin America International Championships
The 2027 Pokémon Latin America International Championships will open the International Championships season from November 20 to November 22, 2026.
The event will be held at the Centro de Convenções – Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo, Brazil. Competitors will be able to earn Championship Points, direct invitations to the 2027 World Championships, and a share of the event’s prize pool.
Registration is available through the official LAIC registration website.
Europe International Championships
The 2027 Pokémon Europe International Championships will take place from February 19 to February 21, 2027, at Excel London in London, England.
EUIC will be the second International Championships event of the season, offering Championship Points, direct Worlds invitations, and prize money across Pokémon GO, Pokémon TCG, and the Pokémon video game competitions.
Competitors can register through the official EUIC registration portal.
North America International Championships
The 2027 Pokémon North America International Championships will conclude the International Championships season from June 18 to June 20, 2027.
NAIC is moving to Chicago, Illinois, where it will be held at the McCormick Place Convention Center. Like LAIC and EUIC, the event will award Championship Points, direct invitations to Worlds, and a share of a prize pool worth more than $500,000 across the featured games.
Competitors can register through the official NAIC registration portal.
Championship Points and Travel Awards
Championship Point awards and Best Finish Limits have also been adjusted for the 2027 season. The updated system will award more Championship Points to lower-finishing competitors at Regional and International Championships.
Travel Award tiebreakers are changing as well. Beginning with the 2027 Europe International Championships, ties for Travel Awards will be decided using competitors’ finishing positions at previous Regional and International Championships instead of accumulated Play! Points.
Additional Regional and Special Championships are listed on the official 2027 Championship Series event calendar, with further event details expected throughout the season.
The exact structure of the new 3-on-3 Pokémon GO World Championships—and how qualified competitors will be placed into teams—remains the biggest unanswered question. The Pokémon Company says more information will be announced at a later date.
