When Pokémon GO first released, those initial few months felt electric. Still studying at my university, I explored the campus daily. It was alive with people walking the quad, our town’s small business district, and, really, the entire community. That word community means something to a lot of different people, and I think an underrated way of looking at it is not just the people you know around you, but the people you don’t. After a decade on the app stores, Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Chicago reminded me just how unique this game really is.

Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Chicago broke an attendance record with 90,000 tickets sold for the Grant Park experience and 103,605 total tickets sold, a record for a Pokémon GO live event in North America. There were more than 717,000 unique active players in Chicago from June 5th-7th, and I had the opportunity to explore the event on its final morning. The weather was certainly a paid actor, both cool and partly cloudy, which are two things you’ll take any day in Chicago in June.

Grant Park hosts several large events in Chicago, the most famous likely being the Lollapalooza music festival. While many events I’ve attended in Grant Park feel a tad chaotic, the energy and experience of Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Chicago were marked by excitement and a controlled yet palpable energy. The very first Pokémon GO Fest was actually here nine years ago, and paired with the excitement of the Pokémon Fossil Museum, Chicago is brimming with Pokémon fever this summer, much like that first year of the mobile game.

The photo ops and live events were a blast to participate in and enjoy. There were even six couples who got engaged over the weekend, adding to the excitement for everyone in attendance. In a statement following the event, Michael Steranka, vice president of product for Pokémon GO, said of the weekend that “it was inspirational for me to see players from all over the world travel to Chicago to enjoy Pokémon GO together.”

The travelers are what really sold me on the experience of being there in person. I met folks from California, China, and Mexico, all while just walking to the event from my parking spot. Everyone was eager to talk about the game, their journey, and the ways Pokémon GO led to social opportunities, mental health support, and leisure memories they’d hold on to forever. I have so many great gaming memories involving Pokémon, and Pokémon GO Fest 2026 immediately ranks among my favorites.

If you’re sad to have missed the festival, there’s good news for you. Coming up next month, Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Global will take place on July 11 and 12 from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time. For the first time ever, this game will not require a paid ticket, and can yield you Mega Mewtwo X and Mega Mewtwo Y, who will appear globally in Super Mega Raid battles. There’s also a really fun research story featuring Zeraora, extended hours and type rotations, and enhanced bonuses for those who log in and play.

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