McDonald's Teases New Pokémon Happy Meals, But Expect Them To Sell Out Fast

Jul 17, 2026 - 13:14

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McDonald's Teases New Pokémon Happy Meals, But Expect Them To Sell Out Fast

McDonald's Happy Meal Pokémon Card from Pokemon TCG

Published Jul 17, 2026, 3:52 AM EDT

Paul Farrelly is a Contributing Writer for Screen Rant’s Gaming section and the founder of GeekGasm.org, a site dedicated to celebrating all things gaming, from triple A blockbusters to weird and wonderful indie hits. Based in Louth, Ireland, Paul has spent years writing about games, pop culture, and tech, turning his lifelong love of gaming into a career that lets him talk (probably too much) about what makes this industry so endlessly fascinating.
He’s previously written and collaborated with several entertainment outlets, including LADbible, gaining a wide perspective on how gaming fits into today’s pop culture conversation. His work blends genuine enthusiasm with thoughtful analysis, exploring how design, storytelling, and community have made gaming one of the most creative mediums around.
When he’s not glued to a controller or keyboard, Paul’s usually spinning vinyl, plotting his next horror marathon, or debating which Resident Evil entry really reigns supreme.

Happy Meals at McDonald's have long been a source of joy for most kids and even the big kids among us. Aside from the tasty fast food though, many collectors and lovers of toys among us like to seek out the free toy with each Happy Meal. Pokémon fans rejoice, as McDonald's teases its upcoming Happy Meal promotion in Japan. It might just make your little yellow pointy ears prick up.

A quick visit to the Japanese McDonald's website shows that the fast food chain is running a summer campaign aligned with Pokémon known as Pokémon Summer Mac. It began on July 10 and will run multiple collaborative campaigns up until August 31. This massive summer promotion is a joint celebration as McDonald's is toasting its own 55-year anniversary in Japan while Pokémon is celebrating its 30-year anniversary in 2026.

The secretive promotional posters show four choice items, all in shadow. However, two have already been revealed. The first of which is a discounted 16-piece McNugget box with Pokémon-themed artwork. The box depicts Pikachu front and center, with other characters like Squirtle and Charmander also featured. The second promotion confirmed is a Summer Chance Bag which will be available to purchase through a lottery system. The bag includes a Pikachu fries timer, a Pokémon plastic cup and a pouch along with lots of food vouchers.

Applications for the Summer Chance Bag run up until July 20, 2026, with winners being afforded the chance to purchase this unique Pokémon-inspired bag of goodies. And if that wasn't enough, July 20, will see the start of a brand-new collaboration with the ever popular game Pokémon GO. All McDonald's locations in Japan will become Poké Stops right the way up until September 1, 2026. This is the first time in six years that McDonald's has partnered with Pokémon GO, and it just happens to coincide with the mobile game's 10th anniversary.

So whether you're a lover of the TV series, mobile games or a hardcore Pokémon Scarlet and Violet player, there's never been a better time to visit a McDonald's in Japan. It would seem we're now spoiled with Pokémon content. With two campaigns for Pokémon Summer Mac still to be revealed, it would seem to be the perfect summer to try and catch 'em all!

For those of us living outside of Japan, I guess we'll just have to content ourselves with leaks for Pokémon Winds and Waves to get our Pokémon fix. The 30-year anniversary of Pokémon seems to be going from strength to strength. Now if anyone happens to live in Japan, I've a barely used David Beckham McDonald's plastic cup, and I'm willing to trade.