All events on this site are officially sanctioned through the Play! Pokémon program. The Play! Pokémon program gives Pokémon fans opportunities to meet other Trainers and compete in an organized setting.
Here’s a quick rundown of some of the event types you may encounter:
Pokémon League
Pokémon Leagues are casual events hosted in local hobby shops, and are open to all Pokémon fans, regardless of age or experience level. Depending on the store, Pokémon Leagues may include the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon GO, and/or the Pokémon video games. Some Leagues are casual play/trade events, while other Leagues run tournaments.
Prerelease
About four times per year, expansions are released for the Pokémon Trading Card Game that contain a wide selection of new cards. Prerelease tournaments give fans a chance to play with cards from upcoming expansions before their official release. You don’t even need your own cards to get started—you’ll be provided with everything you need at the event! This is the perfect way to start playing in tournaments.
League Challenges and League Cups
Pokémon League Challenge and League Cup events are the first steps into the Pokémon Championship Series, and award Championship Points to qualify for the Pokémon World Championships. League Challenges are entry-level competitions, run at stores monthly, while League Cups are larger, more intense tournaments run at stores quarterly.