McDonald’s is bringing back Pokémon Happy Meals for 2026, with the return confirmed by the company and featuring collectible Pokémon trading cards. Multiple outlets report that the promotion will include 15 Pokémon cards, with the cards collected as part of Happy Meal bonuses.
Several publications specify timing and the card format. Nintendo Life, citing PokéBeach, says the promotion runs in the US from 5 November to 9 December and that each bonus consists of a four-card pack containing three normal cards and one holo. Polygon also frames the news as an official confirmation and highlights that the return is sooner than expected. Mashable describes additional physical collectibles, including plastic toy boxes featuring 15 Pokémon as mini Happy Meal boxes.
One outlet, Vice, focuses on a separate development: it describes a reportedly leaked 2026 set list online and says that, if accurate, 14 cards have already reportedly been revealed. Across coverage, the shared emphasis is on the 15-card collectible set and the return of Pokémon items in McDonald’s Happy Meals.
