Universal Just Made a MASSIVE Pokémon Announcement—And It’s Coming to Japan First Before Going Global

Universal Destinations & Experiences just dropped news that’s going to make every Pokémon fan in the world lose their minds.

On January 22, 2026, Universal announced a new partnership with The Pokémon Company to bring “more innovative, immersive, and world-class Pokémon experiences” to Universal Studios Japan—and that’s just the beginning. The plan is to roll these experiences out globally across Universal’s worldwide parks after they debut in Osaka.

This is happening as Pokémon celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, which makes the timing absolutely perfect.

What We Know So Far

Here’s the thing: Universal and The Pokémon Company aren’t revealing specifics yet about what these attractions or experiences will actually be. But the fact that they’re making this announcement now—and timing it with Pokémon’s milestone anniversary—tells us this is going to be big.

Tsunekazu Ishihara, President and CEO of The Pokémon Company, said in the announcement: “As Pokémon celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, we are thrilled to launch this new project,” adding that their mission is to create “surprising theme park entertainment for global audiences.”

Mark Woodbury, Chairman and CEO of Universal Destinations & Experiences, emphasized the partnership by calling The Pokémon Company “one of the most beloved interactive franchises in the world” and highlighting their commitment to innovative collaborations.

Why This Matters for Your Next Theme Park Vacation

If you’re planning a trip to Japan, this announcement puts Universal Studios Japan firmly on your radar. The park has already proven it knows how to do Pokémon right—they’ve worked together since 2021 on projects like the No Limit! Parade and Halloween shows.

And here’s what’s really exciting: reports suggest that when this eventually comes to Orlando, it’s taking over much of the former Lost Continent area at Islands of Adventure. That means we’re not talking about a small addition—this sounds like a full Pokémon land.

For families with kids who grew up catching Pikachu and battling at gyms, this is the kind of immersive theme park experience you’ve been waiting for. Universal has the track record with properties like Super Nintendo World to prove they can turn beloved franchises into mind-blowing attractions.

When Can You Experience It?

Universal hasn’t announced specific opening dates yet, but the project will debut in Osaka first before expanding to other Universal parks worldwide. Given that this is a major partnership announcement tied to Pokémon’s 30th anniversary in 2026, we could see the first experiences opening within the next year or two.

We’ll be watching this story closely and will update you as soon as Universal releases more details about what these Pokémon experiences will include and when you’ll actually be able to visit them.

For now, if you’re planning a trip to Universal Studios Japan, know that something extraordinary is coming—and it’s going to change the park in a major way.

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Source: Theme Park Insider