Pokémon 30th Celebration is out: what to check before grading
The anniversary set launched simultaneously worldwide on September 16, 2026, with over 150 cards and every card foil. Here is what to look at before you pay a grading fee.
By Jamie Budesky · Published September 16, 2026
In short
Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration launched simultaneously worldwide on September 16, 2026, with over 150 cards, every card foil, one of 30 Pikachu rares in each pack and Classic Collection reprints including Base Set Charizard. All-foil cards put surface and centering first on your checklist before you grade.
What is in the set
Pokémon's release-day post says the 30th Celebration expansion “has arrived simultaneously worldwide” with over 150 cards, as part of the Mega Evolution Series. Pokémon's June 1 announcement called it the first expansion with a simultaneous global release and said every card is foil, including Basic Energy.
- Pikachu rares: every booster pack contains one of 30 different Pikachu cards, each with a unique illustration.
- Futuristic rares: a new rarity debuting with Mewtwo and Mew illustrated by YOSHIROTTEN.
- Classic Collection reprints: Pokémon names Charizard from Base Set and Pikachu & Zekrom-GX from Sun & Moon—Team Up. These reprints are not legal in the Standard format.
- More reprints, per PSA: PSA's September 10 preview adds the 2003 Aquapolis Crystal Lugia, Uxie, Genesect EX and Arceus VSTAR, among others, and says the reprints carry the Pikachu-head 30th logo and gold holofoil borders, with some originally non-foil cards given foil illustrations.
What to pre-screen before you grade
An all-foil set changes where the risk sits. Use this list on the cards you plan to submit, and compare against PSA's published standards in our centering ratio guide.
- Surface first. Every card is foil, and foil surfaces show scratches, print lines and dents. Look at each card under angled light before you sleeve it.
- Centering on the reprints. The bordered reprints make centering easy to measure. Check left/right and top/bottom before you pay to find out.
- Edges and corners. Check front and back edges and all four corners for whitening or dings.
- Handle the chase cards once. Sleeve and top-load your Pikachu, Futuristic and Classic Collection hits straight from the pack.
Where to send them
PSA's Value tiers have been paused since June 2. PSA said on September 9 that its new Standard tier would be available September 14 at $59.99 per card; see our September 14 Standard update. At that price, grade the cards you would keep or sell in the slab, not every pull. Our June preview of the set covers what was revealed before release.
Pre-screen your pulls
Before you pay to grade an anniversary pull, get a quick read on its visible condition. CardGrade gives you a photo-based pre-screen of visible condition so you can decide which cards are worth the fee. It is not an official grade, authentication or appraisal, and CardGrade is not affiliated with PSA, BGS, CGC, SGC or TAG. Try a pre-screen
What we could not confirm
- Release dates for every 30th Celebration product. Pokémon says some products release later this year.
- The full Classic Collection list from the publisher. Pokémon has named two reprints; the others above come from PSA's preview.
- How these cards will grade. It is release day, and no meaningful grading data exists yet.
Sources
- Pokemon.com: The Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration Expansion Is Available Now (September 16, 2026)
- Pokemon.com: Get Ready for Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration (June 1, 2026)
- PSA: The Iconic Cards Returning for Pokémon’s 30th Anniversary (September 10, 2026)
- PSA on X: Standard tier announcement (September 9, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
When did Pokémon 30th Celebration come out?
Pokémon TCG: 30th Celebration released simultaneously worldwide on September 16, 2026. Pokémon says it is the first expansion with a simultaneous global release.
How many cards are in 30th Celebration?
Pokémon says there are over 150 cards in the expansion, and every card is foil, including Basic Energy.
Which cards are reprinted in 30th Celebration?
Pokémon names Charizard from Base Set and Pikachu & Zekrom-GX from Sun & Moon—Team Up in the Classic Collection. PSA’s preview also lists the Aquapolis Crystal Lugia, Uxie, Genesect EX and Arceus VSTAR, among others.
Are 30th Celebration Pikachu cards in every pack?
Yes. Pokémon says every booster pack contains one of 30 different Pikachu cards, each with a unique illustration.
Should I grade my 30th Celebration pulls?
Check surface, centering, edges and corners first, and grade the cards you would keep or sell in a slab. As of September 14, PSA Standard costs $59.99 per card, so not every pull will justify the fee.