To celebrate Pokémon’s 30th anniversary, the Pokémon Trading Card Game is launching a new product line called First Partner Illustration Collections, set to roll out throughout 2026.
The series will kick off with Series 1 on March 30, 2026, and will continue later in the year with Series 2 and Series 3, each covering additional generations of Starter Pokémon.
Each First Partner Illustration Collection will include:
• One special promo booster pack containing three of nine Illustration Rare promo cards
• Two regular booster packs
• One sticker sheet
While specific card images haven’t been revealed yet, the inclusion of Illustration Rare promos suggests these collections will lean heavily into full-art designs created specifically for the anniversary.
Series 1 will spotlight Starter Pokémon from three generations:
**Kanto**
• Bulbasaur
• Charmander
• Squirtle
**Sinnoh**
• Turtwig
• Chimchar
• Piplup
**Alola**
• Rowlet
• Litten
• Popplio
Series 2 and Series 3, arriving later in 2026, will cover the remaining generations.
PokeBeach first reported on the existence of the First Partner Illustration Collections last month, but this announcement marks the first official confirmation tied directly to Pokémon’s 30th anniversary. As of now, no images or card previews have been shared.
The concept will feel familiar to longtime collectors. Back in 2021, Pokémon released First Partner Packs to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Those products featured jumbo cards of each generation’s Starter Pokémon, along with two booster packs. The jumbo cards were reprints of each Pokémon’s first-ever TCG appearance.
The new Illustration Collections are a modern evolution of that idea, trading jumbo reprints for Illustration Rare promos.
It’s also worth noting that Japan is expected to receive a Celebration Collection sometime this year to mark either the franchise’s 30th anniversary or the TCG’s own milestone. There’s a strong chance the Illustration Rare promos in these collections could originate from that Japanese set or related products.
For now, details are limited, but with a year-long rollout planned for 2026, the First Partner Illustration Collections are shaping up to be a significant part of Pokémon’s 30th anniversary celebration. More information, including card reveals, is likely not far off.
The series will kick off with Series 1 on March 30, 2026, and will continue later in the year with Series 2 and Series 3, each covering additional generations of Starter Pokémon.
What’s Inside Each Collection
Each First Partner Illustration Collection will include:
• One special promo booster pack containing three of nine Illustration Rare promo cards
• Two regular booster packs
• One sticker sheet
While specific card images haven’t been revealed yet, the inclusion of Illustration Rare promos suggests these collections will lean heavily into full-art designs created specifically for the anniversary.
Series 1 Starter Pokémon Lineup
Series 1 will spotlight Starter Pokémon from three generations:
**Kanto**
• Bulbasaur
• Charmander
• Squirtle
**Sinnoh**
• Turtwig
• Chimchar
• Piplup
**Alola**
• Rowlet
• Litten
• Popplio
Series 2 and Series 3, arriving later in 2026, will cover the remaining generations.
Not Our First Look at the Product
PokeBeach first reported on the existence of the First Partner Illustration Collections last month, but this announcement marks the first official confirmation tied directly to Pokémon’s 30th anniversary. As of now, no images or card previews have been shared.
A Familiar Anniversary Idea
The concept will feel familiar to longtime collectors. Back in 2021, Pokémon released First Partner Packs to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Those products featured jumbo cards of each generation’s Starter Pokémon, along with two booster packs. The jumbo cards were reprints of each Pokémon’s first-ever TCG appearance.
The new Illustration Collections are a modern evolution of that idea, trading jumbo reprints for Illustration Rare promos.
Possible Ties to Japan’s Celebration Collection
It’s also worth noting that Japan is expected to receive a Celebration Collection sometime this year to mark either the franchise’s 30th anniversary or the TCG’s own milestone. There’s a strong chance the Illustration Rare promos in these collections could originate from that Japanese set or related products.
For now, details are limited, but with a year-long rollout planned for 2026, the First Partner Illustration Collections are shaping up to be a significant part of Pokémon’s 30th anniversary celebration. More information, including card reveals, is likely not far off.