.avif)
.png)
.avif)
Content
Pokémon 30th Celebration Opens Entry: September 18 Is the Date to Know
The next Pokémon anniversary deadline is for getting through the door. Applications for the Pokémon Card Game 30th CELEBRATION EVENT in Japan opened on September 4, 2026. The entry window closes at 12:00 noon Japan Standard Time on September 18. Admission is free, but it requires advance selection. An application is not a confirmed ticket.
Three Event Days, Two Cities, One Application Deadline
The official event page lists Makuhari Messe in Chiba on October 25, followed by INTEX Osaka on October 31 and November 1. The scheduled opening hours are 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with reception closing at 5:30 p.m. All of those times are local to Japan.
The new development is the entry window, not a newly announced card release. Dengeki Online's September 4 report independently confirms that applications have opened. That makes this a useful story for fans considering the trip now, rather than another anniversary product preview.
Do not treat free admission as walk-in admission. Before booking anything nonrefundable, read the pass options and wait for the result relevant to your application. The official entry instructions schedule selection results for October 2 at 5:00 p.m. JST. That leaves a gap between applying and knowing whether you can attend.
Choose the Pass That Matches Your Visit
The entry page separates Scramble Battle, general admission, and the Pokédoko option. Read the eligibility and application process for the route you actually want. A competition-related application should not be assumed to work like a general visitor pass.
For Scramble Battle, the instructions include linking the Pokémon Card Game Players Club account by the deadline. They also explain that applying earlier does not improve selection chances and that duplicate applications can be disqualified. The useful advantage of starting early is time to fix your own missing information, not a better place in the draw.
Use noon, not midnight, for your reminder. If you live outside Japan, convert the published JST deadline into your local time before adding it to a calendar. A familiar date can still become a missed deadline when the closing hour is on the other side of the world.
This Is an Event Pass, Not a Product Allocation
The anniversary site previews battles, stage programming, and additional activity areas. Some details, including parts of the floor and campaign information, remain marked as coming soon. That is a reason to revisit the official page, not to fill the gaps with assumptions about exclusive cards or shopping access.
An event admission result does not automatically establish entitlement to every activity, promotional item, or separately sold product. Treat those as separate questions. Our Pokémon anniversary binder update covers a product schedule, while this article covers event entry. Keeping those two calendars separate makes the planning much easier.
What to Check Before You Make Plans
Save the official event and entry pages, identify the pass you need, and check whether everyone in your group needs a separate application. Keep the application confirmation somewhere you can find it. Then add a second reminder for results, rather than assuming the first confirmation means admission is secured.
Collectors should also decide whether the event itself is worth the trip without a particular promotional item. That is a more durable plan than traveling for a rumored card. If a seller claims an event item is guaranteed, ask for the organizer's published terms supporting that claim.
For collecting closer to home, our card-pack buying guide explains how to read a listing before opening. The Polkastarter marketplace shows contents, values, and chances upfront, with a free mystery pack at signup. It is not an event ticket seller, and this coverage does not imply a Pokémon partnership.
Checked September 6, 2026. Admission conditions and programming can change. Follow the organizer's current instructions. Images are editorial illustrations, not official event artwork. Polkastarter is not affiliated with the companies named.
Sources
Iggy is a Web3 content strategist and writer with over 8 years of experience in the crypto space. She spent 4 years at TokenSuite, a leading Web3 marketing agency, where she produced content across 200+ projects including Biconomy and Natix Network, helping teams communicate complex blockchain concepts clearly and build engaged communities at scale.
Beyond agency work, Iggy has independently run content and marketing campaigns for projects like Oppi Wallet and Ta-da, covering everything from editorial and brand positioning to event coverage and video production. She brings genuine hands-on experience to everything she writes.