Orlando hosted the inaugural Pokémon World Championships in 2004.
The first event took place at the Wyndham Palace Resort & Spa in Orlando, Florida. It marked an important transition from local and regional Pokémon competitions to an organized international championship structure.
The event history can be confusing because later championships used different game formats, venues, and event names. The 2004 location table identifies Orlando as the first championship site, while San Diego hosted the 2005 event and Anaheim hosted the 2006 event.
Modern Pokémon World Championships include competitions for video games and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, with additional titles sometimes added. The championships have moved among cities in North America, Europe, and Asia. Yokohama hosted the 2023 event, the first World Championship held in Japan.