Pokemon

Pokémon fans have a major reason to head downtown at the end of May. The 2026 Indianapolis Pokémon Regional Championships take over the Indiana Convention Center from May 29-31, bringing competitive Pokémon Trading Card Game, video game and Pokémon GO play to Halls H and I, with more than $130,000 in prizes, scholarships and gift cards on the line. This is not a small local card shop tournament. Regional Championships are part of the official Play! Pokémon Championship Series, where players compete for Championship Points, prizes and a possible path toward the Pokémon World Championships. For families, it is also a chance to see serious Pokémon play up close, browse event gear, watch matches and let kids realize there are, in fact, adults who know even more Pokémon rules than they do. There is also a big deal happening here for Pokémon fans: The Indianapolis Regional is the first live, official Pokémon Championship Series event to use the new Pokémon Champions video game as its exclusive competitive platform. Pokémon Champions launches on Nintendo Switch on April 8, 2026, so families who have been playing it since release can see how top competitors use it in tournament play. Related Article: Things to Do in Indianapolis with Kids What Families Will Find at the Indianapolis Pokémon Regional Championships The Indianapolis event includes competition across Pokémon TCG, Pokémon VG and Pokémon GO. Main competition begins Saturday morning, with Masters TCG and VG starting at 8:30 a.m., Junior and Senior TCG and VG competition starting at 9 a.m., and Pokémon GO competition starting at 9 a.m. Sunday brings Day 2 play, top cut rounds and a full lineup of side events. Beyond the main championship, the schedule includes side events that may be more approachable for families than the main tournament. Saturday at 11 a.m. brings a TCG Parent Tournament, a nice option for the grown-up who has been quietly learning the game alongside their kid. There is also a Pokémon Sisterhood League across all three formats, mini game tournaments, Build & Battle events, a Puzzle League Tournament, Pokémon TCG Pocket events and casual on-demand pods running throughout the day. Side events require either a competitor pass or a spectator pass. Related Article: Things to do in Downtown Indianapolis with Kids Good to Know Before You Go Spectator passes are $20 through RK9 and are non-refundable and non-transferable. Families planning to attend should buy passes ahead of time, especially if a child has already started discussing deck strategy over breakfast. Friday is the lighter arrival day, with wristband pickup at 11:30 a.m., doors at noon and the hall closing at 7 p.m. Saturday wristband pickup opens at 6:30 a.m. and doors open at 7 a.m., with main competition starting shortly after and the hall scheduled to close around 8 p.m. Sunday doors open at 7:30 a.m., with the hall scheduled to close around 8 p.m., though final times can shift based on tournament play. The event has a bag policy. Bags larger than 9 inches by 14 inches by 22 inches are not permitted, and all bags are subject to search. The policy also bans items that would not pass airline-style security, electronic smoking devices, alcohol, illegal substances, explicit signs or apparel and animals other than service animals. Is This a Good Event for Kids? For Pokémon-loving kids, yes, with the right expectations. This is a competitive event first, not a character meet-and-greet or children’s festival. Families should expect long rounds, lots of players focused on tournament play and a convention center setting that may feel busy, loud and structured. That said, kids who enjoy the cards, video games or Pokémon GO may love seeing how competitive play works beyond the kitchen table. The side events, especially the casual on-demand pods, Build & Battle events, Pokémon Sisterhood League and the TCG Parent Tournament, can make the weekend feel more approachable for attendees who are not playing in the main championship. Parents of younger kids may want to plan a shorter visit on Friday afternoon, when the pace is gentler, rather than treating it like an all-day Saturday outing. Plan Your Visit Event: 2026 Indianapolis Pokémon Regional Championships Dates: May 29-31, 2026 Location: Indiana Convention Center, Halls H and I Address: 100 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46225 Spectator Passes: $20 Official Event Page: Indianapolis Pokémon Regional Championships Buy Spectator Passes: Order spectator badges through RK9 Full Event Schedule: Gaming Generations Indianapolis Regional schedule

Pokemon

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