McDonald's Pokémon cards 2026 (Australia): full list, values and how to spot fakes
Pokémon is back in Happy Meals at Macca's. Here is what is in each meal, every card in the 15-card set, which ones are foil, and an honest answer to the question everyone is searching: are they worth anything?
In short
Pokémon Happy Meals are running in Australia now: The Pokémon Company lists Australia for November 2026, and Vooks reported dates of 5 November to 9 December 2026, while stocks last. Each Happy Meal includes two random cards from an official 15-card set with seven foils, plus one of 15 toys. They are real Pokémon cards, but like most fast-food promos they usually sell for small amounts, so collect them for fun rather than profit.
Dates
When are Pokémon Happy Meals on in Australia?
The Pokémon Company's announcement of 29 October 2026 lists Australia in the first wave, alongside Canada, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Spain and the United States, under "November 2026". It does not give Australian dates. McDonald's Australia's Toy Zone page says "Pokémon now available!" and "limited time only, while stocks last", but also gives no dates.
| What | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Australian start | Thursday 5 November 2026 | Reported by Vooks (3 Nov 2026) and cardwatch.com.au |
| Australian end | Wednesday 9 December 2026, or earlier if stock runs out | Reported by Vooks; not published by McDonald's Australia |
| Promotion live in Australia | Yes, as of 15 November 2026 | Confirmed on McDonald's Australia's Toy Zone page |
| United States | 10 November to 14 December 2026 | Official (Pokemon.com) |
| United Kingdom and Ireland | February 2027 | Official month (Pokemon.com) |
Vooks pointed out that restaurants often use up the previous Happy Meal toys before switching over, so the start varied by store. The same applies at the end: when a store runs out, it is over at that store.
What you get
What is in a Pokémon Happy Meal?
- Two Pokémon TCG cards from a 15-card set, seven of which are foil (The Pokémon Company). The cards are random.
- One toy: a miniature Happy Meal box shaped like a Pokémon. There are 15 to collect: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Weedle, Pikachu, Eevee, Umbreon, Torchic, Piplup, Munchlax, Minccino, Espurr, Rowlet, Sobble and Sprigatito (all listed on McDonald's Australia's Toy Zone page).
- A themed box: Pikachu, Umbreon or Torchic (The Pokémon Company).
- A book option: McDonald's Australia also lists a "Pokémon Essential Handbook" as the book choice, with "one toy or book per Happy Meal".
McDonald's Australia says different toys are available each week. Vooks reported the Australian toy order as three a week over five weeks:
| Week (as reported by Vooks) | Toys |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Squirtle, Piplup, Rowlet |
| Week 2 | Espurr, Bulbasaur, Eevee |
| Week 3 | Torchic, Sobble, Umbreon |
| Week 4 | Minccino, Charmander, Sprigatito |
| Week 5 | Pikachu, Weedle, Munchlax |
Checklist
All 15 McDonald's Pokémon cards (2026)
The card names below are read from the 15 official card images The Pokémon Company published (files M26_EN_1 to M26_EN_15). The images show the artwork but not the finish, so which cards are foil comes from reports, not from Pokémon. VICE lists seven foils including Lucario; cardwatch.com.au says card lists disagree on whether the seventh foil is Lucario or Eevee. If you have both cards in hand, tilt them under a light: a foil card shows a holographic pattern, a non-foil card does not.
| No. | Card | Foil? |
|---|---|---|
| 001/015 | Decidueye | Non-foil (reported) |
| 002/015 | Chandelure | Reported foil |
| 003/015 | Palafin | Reported foil |
| 004/015 | Pikachu | Reported foil |
| 005/015 | Mimikyu | Reported foil |
| 006/015 | Lucario | Disputed (VICE: foil) |
| 007/015 | Hawlucha | Non-foil (reported) |
| 008/015 | Tyranitar | Reported foil |
| 009/015 | Absol | Non-foil (reported) |
| 010/015 | Zoroark | Non-foil (reported) |
| 011/015 | Metagross | Non-foil (reported) |
| 012/015 | Jirachi | Reported foil |
| 013/015 | Eevee | Disputed |
| 014/015 | Snorlax | Non-foil (reported) |
| 015/015 | Wooloo | Non-foil (reported) |
Card names: Pokemon.com card images, checked 15 November 2026. Foil status: VICE and cardwatch.com.au, both checked 15 November 2026. There is no secret or chase card in the set, according to cardwatch.com.au.
Value
Are McDonald's Pokémon cards worth anything?
Honestly, not much. McDonald's promos are printed in large numbers for a promotion that runs in dozens of countries between November 2026 and February 2027, and the 2026 set has no chase card. Common promos like these usually sell for small amounts, with foils and complete sets of 15 doing a bit better. Prices tend to be highest in the first weeks, when people want a card they missed, and soften once the promotion ends and supply floods in.
We are not quoting prices here because we cannot verify them as of today, and asking prices on listings are not what cards actually sell for. Instead, here is how to check the real number in two minutes:
- 1
Search eBay Australia
Search ebay.com.au for the exact card, for example "McDonald's 2026 Jirachi 012/015". Include the number so you do not get older McDonald's sets.
- 2
Filter to sold items
Open the filters and tick "Sold items". Sold prices are what buyers really paid. Ignore listings that are only "for sale".
- 3
Match the finish and condition
Compare like with like: foil with foil, raw with raw, single card with single card. A full set or a graded card is a different product.
- 4
Take off the costs
If you are selling, subtract eBay fees and postage. A card that sells for a few dollars may net you very little once posted in a sleeve and toploader.
Do not buy extra Happy Meals expecting to make money from the cards. The cards are a fun bonus, not an investment.
Real or fake
Are McDonald's Pokémon cards real, and how do you spot fakes?
They are real, official Pokémon Trading Card Game cards. The Pokémon Company announced them on Pokemon.com and published images of all 15. Each is numbered out of 015, and Vooks noted they are numbered but have no special marking this time.
Fakes of popular promos do turn up, especially in "complete set" listings on marketplaces. Quick checks:
- Compare with the official images. The name, HP, artwork and number should match the Pokemon.com image exactly. Spelling mistakes, odd fonts or wrong HP are red flags.
- Check the numbering. 2026 cards run 001/015 to 015/015. A "2026" list that includes Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle as cards is the wrong set.
- Be wary of "rare variant" claims. The Pokémon Company lists 15 cards. A listing that claims a 16th card or a secret rare is either a different promotion or not genuine.
Our fake card guide covers the light test, print quality and what to do if you bought a fake.
Grading
Should you grade McDonald's Pokémon cards?
For almost everyone, no. Here is the maths. PSA's Value tier was listed at US$39.99 per card from 29 October 2026. That is more than A$50 at recent exchange rates before you add postage to the US or to a PSA dealer, insurance, return shipping and any dealer handling fee. The total is usually higher than what a common promo sells for, even in a high grade.
Grading only pays when graded copies of your exact card sell for clearly more than a raw copy plus every cost above, and only if the card is close to flawless. For current fees and how Australians submit, see our PSA grading Australia guide.
History
Past McDonald's Pokémon card promotions in Australia
This is not the first time Pokémon cards have come with Happy Meals in Australia. As reported by Vooks:
| Year | Promotion | What was reported |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 25th Anniversary | 50 cards in total (the 24 starter Pokémon and Pikachu, plus holo versions of those 25), four cards per Happy Meal |
| 2022 | Match Battle | Match Battle cards in Happy Meals |
| 2023 | Pokémon cards | Another card Happy Meal run |
| Early 2025 | Dragon-themed set | 15 cards, 6 holos, a 4-card booster pack plus a sticker poster in each Happy Meal |
| 2026 | Current promotion | 15 cards, 7 foils, two cards plus a mini box toy per Happy Meal |
FAQ
Questions Australians ask
When do McDonald's Pokémon cards end in Australia?
The Pokémon Company lists Australia in the November 2026 wave but gives no Australian dates. Vooks reported a start of 5 November and an end of 9 December 2026, and McDonald's Australia's own Toy Zone page says "limited time only" and "while stocks last". Busy stores can run out before the end date, so ask your local restaurant.
How many McDonald's Pokémon cards are there in 2026?
There are 15 cards, numbered 001/015 to 015/015, and seven of them are foil, according to The Pokémon Company. Each Happy Meal comes with two cards, so you need at least eight Happy Meals to have any chance of the full set, and in practice many more because the cards are random.
Which McDonald's Pokémon cards are rare?
None is officially rarer than the others. The seven foils are the ones collectors chase. VICE lists them as Chandelure, Palafin, Pikachu, Mimikyu, Lucario, Tyranitar and Jirachi, while cardwatch.com.au says lists differ on whether the seventh foil is Lucario or Eevee. The Pokémon Company has not published which cards are foil in text.
Are McDonald's Pokémon cards worth anything?
Mostly a few dollars at most. Fast-food promos are printed in huge numbers, so most sell for small amounts, with foils and complete sets worth a little more. Check eBay Australia's sold listings (not asking prices) for the exact card and finish before you buy or sell.
Are McDonald's Pokémon cards real Pokémon cards?
Yes. They are official Pokémon Trading Card Game cards made for the promotion and shown on Pokemon.com. They are promo cards, not cards from a main expansion, so they are not part of the Delta Reign or 30th Celebration sets.
Can you buy the cards without a Happy Meal?
McDonald's Australia does not advertise selling the cards on their own. Its Toy Zone page says one toy or book per Happy Meal, and cardwatch.com.au reported on 7 November that standalone toy sales had been removed from the menu because of demand. Outside McDonald's, the only option is the second-hand market.
Should I grade McDonald's Pokémon cards?
Usually not. PSA's cheapest listed tier was US$39.99 per card on 29 October 2026, before shipping both ways and any dealer fee. Unless graded copies of your exact card are selling for well above that total, grading costs more than the card is likely to return.
Is the 2026 set M26 or M27?
Cardwatch.com.au reports that Pokémon's first announcement briefly showed cards from the 2027 McDonald's set and that the images were then replaced. If a "2026" list includes Bulbasaur, Charmander or Squirtle as cards, it is the wrong list: those Pokémon are 2026 toys, not 2026 cards.
Sources
- Pokémon Happy Meals Are Coming to McDonald's in an Exciting New Way (country schedule), The Pokémon Company International (checked 2026-11-15)
- Pokémon Happy Meals Return to McDonald's in the US (card images M26_EN_1 to 15), The Pokémon Company International (checked 2026-11-15)
- Toy Zone: Pokémon Happy Meal, McDonald's Australia (checked 2026-11-15)
- Pokémon returns to Maccas Happy Meals this week with new toys and cards (3 Nov 2026), Vooks (checked 2026-11-15)
- McDonald's Pokémon Cards 2026 Set List: All Cards and Happy Meal Release Dates, VICE (checked 2026-11-15)
- McDonald's Pokémon Cards Australia 2026: Happy Meal Card List and Dates, cardwatch.com.au (checked 2026-11-15)
- Pokémon cards are returning to Happy Meals at Maccas soon (8 Jan 2025), Vooks (checked 2026-11-15)
- 25th Anniversary Pokémon cards are headed to Macca's in Australia (22 Jul 2021), Vooks (checked 2026-11-15)
- PSA reopens Value service level, PSA (checked 2026-11-15)