McDonald's is preparing a special series of Happy Meal children's sets dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Japanese Pokémon franchise. The collection will include two types of collectible gifts: miniature themed toys and cards for the official Pokémon Trading Card Game. According to Wave RBC.UA citing the official Pokémon website, Ukraine will also join the international campaign, with the launch of the themed sets in the Ukrainian market scheduled for December 2026, although the company has not yet named the exact start date for sales.
Geography and Launch Timeline
The collection has already begun appearing in select countries: buyers in Canada were the first to receive the new Happy Meals on November 3, 2026. Throughout November, the series will be introduced in Australia, the US, France, Spain, New Zealand, and Fiji. Poland, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Hungary, and other states will join the same launch wave. In Ukraine, the start is expected in December 2026. The collection will be available for a limited time until supplies run out; the company does not specify how long the promotion will last in Ukraine or how many sets will be prepared for the local market.
15 Box Toys with Practical Purpose
A total of 15 toy models have been developed, differing from usual figurines: each character is presented in the form of a small plastic box decorated according to the Pokémon's appearance, reproducing characteristic colors and recognizable details. The miniatures also have a practical purpose—thanks to a special attachment, they can be turned into keychains for keys, bags, or backpacks, and the design allows cards to be placed inside to display them. The Happy Meal boxes themselves have also received themed designs, with three packaging options featuring Pikachu, Umbreon, and Torchic. In a number of markets, buyers are planned to be offered three new models weekly to present the entire series over five weeks; whether this schedule will apply in Ukraine is currently unknown.
Pokémon TCG Collectible Cards with M26 Marking
A separate part of the collection will be 15 Pokémon Trading Card Game cards—not souvenir images, but official tabletop game cards with character stats. Seven of them will receive a special holographic design with a confetti effect: Pikachu, Lucario, Mimikyu, Tyranitar, Jirachi, Palafin, and Chandelure. Another eight cards will have a regular finish featuring Eevee, Snorlax, Absol, Zoroark, Metagross, Wooloo, Hawlucha, and Decidueye. All copies are created based on previous Pokémon TCG releases, but received a separate M26 marking for McDonald's, indicating the 2026 collection and helping to distinguish the series from others.
Regional Features and Price in Ukraine
Despite the general concept, the contents of the sets may vary depending on the country. For example, in Quebec, Canada, instead of a plastic toy, buyers will receive a Pokémon sticker and a pack of four cards, while a digital game is provided for the US: QR codes will be placed on the boxes to access interactive entertainment. The company has not reported whether this opportunity will be available to Ukrainian buyers. The price of the Pokémon Happy Meal for the Ukrainian market has also not been announced yet, nor is information about whether the themed toys can be purchased separately from the children's menu.
