On what date did the Pokémon franchise reach its 30th anniversary?

The Pokémon franchise reached its 30th anniversary on February 27, 2026.

The anniversary counts from February 27, 1996, the Japanese release date of Pocket Monsters Red and Green for Game Boy. Those games introduced the core collecting, battling, training, and trading formula that became the foundation of the wider franchise.

Pokémon expanded rapidly after the games launched. The anime premiered in Japan in 1997, the first trading-card set followed in 1996, and the first theatrical film arrived in Japan in 1998. Each format helped make Pokémon a global entertainment property rather than only a video game series.

Some anniversary discussions use different dates because international game releases occurred later. The franchise's official birthday is based on the original Japanese game launch, so the 30-year milestone falls on February 27, 2026.