Pokémon Day2026 · Date · History · Messages
Official Pokémon sources identify February 27 as Pokémon Day because the first Pokémon video games launched in Japan on February 27, 1996; contemporaneous 2016 reporting documents The Pokémon Company declaring February 27, 2016 Pokémon Day for the franchise’s 20th anniversary, and current official channels continue the annual observance.
About Pokémon Day
Pokémon Day is the Pokémon franchise’s annual February 27 anniversary celebration.
Official Pokémon sources connect the date to the February 27, 1996 Japanese release of Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green, while the modern recurring Pokémon Day program is documented from the franchise’s 20th-anniversary celebration in 2016.
Why Pokémon Day matters
The day is an official franchise/fandom observance rather than a government or civic holiday.
It is used for franchise announcements, community celebrations and reflections on Pokémon’s games and wider entertainment history.
History of Pokémon Day
The first Pokémon video games, Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green, were released in Japan on February 27, 1996.
Contemporaneous 2016 reporting documented The Pokémon Company declaring February 27, 2016 Pokémon Day for the franchise’s 20th anniversary, with events tied directly to the 1996 launch date.
Current official Pokémon channels continue to call February 27 Pokémon Day and use it for annual announcements and celebrations.
Earlier events have also used the words Pokémon Day in other contexts; this guide is specifically about the modern recurring February 27 franchise anniversary and does not treat the name as a U.S. civic designation.
How the observance developed
This timeline uses documented milestones from reviewed sources. Missing stages are left out rather than guessed.
The Pokémon Company (modern recurring February 27 Pokémon Day program)
Contemporaneous 2016 professional reporting states that The Pokémon Company was declaring February 27, 2016 Pokémon Day for the franchise’s 20th anniversary.
The Pokémon Company / The Pokémon Company International (franchise organizer)
The modern recurring February 27 program is documented as a Pokémon franchise initiative. This is corporate/franchise establishment, not government proclamation.
First documented observance
Contemporaneous 2016 reporting documents February 27, 2016 as Pokémon Day for the 20th anniversary; this is treated as the first verified edition of the modern recurring anniversary program, not the first-ever event to use the words Pokémon Day.
The Pokémon Company and official Pokémon channels
Official Pokémon sources continue annual Pokémon Day programming and announcements, including Pokémon Day 2026.
What the evidence establishes
Confirmed institutional roles and milestones are shown first. Details that could not be established from the reviewed sources are listed separately below.
4 fields not established in reviewed sources
Also known as
National Pokemon Day
How to Observe Pokémon Day
Play a Pokémon game you already own, revisit a favorite part of the franchise, or follow official Pokémon Day announcements.
Share a favorite Pokémon memory or create original fan art while respecting platform rules, intellectual property and other people’s privacy.
If buying cards, games or merchandise is part of the day, set a budget and avoid treating spending or randomized purchases as required participation.
For children or shared online activities, use age-appropriate account/privacy settings and avoid posting personal information.
Pokémon Day Facts
Pokémon Day is observed on February 27.
Official Pokémon sources say the date commemorates the February 27, 1996 Japanese release of Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green.
The modern recurring franchise celebration is documented from the 20th anniversary in 2016.
The Pokémon Company and its official channels continue to facilitate Pokémon Day programming.
This project treats Pokémon Day as an official franchise anniversary/fandom observance, not a statutory public holiday.
Pokémon Day Messages
Happy Pokémon Day—February 27 celebrates the franchise anniversary that traces back to the first Japanese Pokémon game releases in 1996.
Happy Pokémon Day! Celebrate the fandom your way, with official announcements, a favorite game or an original creative project.
Here’s to Pokémon Day—an annual franchise anniversary built around the February 27, 1996 launch of Pokémon Red and Green in Japan.
Topic and context
What this page does not assume
- Keep the source-defined country, community, organizer or institutional scope; do not silently broaden it.
- Do not treat the title alone as proof of government recognition or public-holiday status.
- Do not add a creator, founding story or origin claim unless the supporting evidence establishes it.
Evidence & sources
Sources used across the guide are gathered here. Labels show how each source supports the page, and contextual references are kept separate from primary evidence.
Pokémon — Celebrate Pokémon Day on February 27, 2023
Pokémon — Pokémon Day 2026 Pokémon Presents
GamesBeat — Pokémon Day and 20th anniversary announcement (2016) (opens in a new tab)
Contemporaneous Professional Reporting
Pokémon — Celebrate Pokémon Day on February 27, 2023 (opens in a new tab)
First Party
Pokémon — Pokémon Day 2026 Pokémon Presents (opens in a new tab)
First Party
GamesBeat — contemporaneous 2016 report of The Pokémon Company declaring February 27 Pokémon Day
Understand it, compare it, then explore further
Start with the most common factual questions, then compare closely related observances and explore useful connections.
Frequently asked questions
When is Pokémon Day?
27 February annually The documented recurrence rule is: 27 February.
Does Pokémon Day fall on the same date every year?
Yes. It uses a fixed annual date unless stronger evidence changes the pattern.
Is Pokémon Day an official public holiday?
The reviewed sources verify it within this scope: Official Pokémon franchise anniversary/fandom observance on February 27; the modern recurring program commemorates the February 27, 1996 Japanese launch of Pokémon Red and Green and is not a U.S. civic holiday.. That recognition does not by itself make it a statutory public holiday; the site only makes public-holiday claims when reliable evidence explicitly does so.
Who established or recognizes Pokémon Day?
The reviewed sources identify The Pokémon Company / The Pokémon Company International (franchise organizer) as the proclaiming or establishing body. The proposer or originator is recorded separately as The Pokémon Company (modern recurring February 27 Pokémon Day program). Current facilitation or coordination is recorded as The Pokémon Company and official Pokémon channels.
Is Pokémon Day international or country-specific?
No single country is assigned to this observance. Its documented scope is: Official Pokémon franchise anniversary/fandom observance on February 27; the modern recurring program commemorates the February 27, 1996 Japanese launch of Pokémon Red and Green and is not a U.S. civic holiday.. Use that scope rather than assuming worldwide or country-specific status.
How is this page verified?
The factual information is checked against reviewed sources, including the date pattern, scope and institutional history. This page was checked on 2026-10-07.
When is Pokémon Day?
Pokémon Day is observed on February 27 each year.
Why is Pokémon Day on February 27?
Official Pokémon sources tie the date to the February 27, 1996 Japanese release of Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green.
When did the modern recurring Pokémon Day begin?
Contemporaneous reporting documents The Pokémon Company declaring February 27, 2016 Pokémon Day for the franchise’s 20th anniversary; this guide uses that as the first verified edition of the modern recurring anniversary program.
Is Pokémon Day a public holiday?
No. It is an official Pokémon franchise/fandom observance, not a civic or statutory public holiday.
Who runs Pokémon Day now?
Current official Pokémon channels and The Pokémon Company organization continue to present Pokémon Day programming and announcements.
Other observances on February 27
These observances are also listed on February 27, 2027.
Anosmia Awareness Day
Anosmia Awareness states that the observance began in 2012 and is observed every February 27; Monell independently identifies Daniel Schein as its founder.
Independence Day
Dominican government sources verify the February 27, 1844 independence anchor, and Law No. 139-97 plus the 2026 holiday calendar preserve February 27 as the non-working National Independenc…
International Polar Bear Day
Polar Bears International’s official event page identifies 27 February as International Polar Bear Day and describes the organization’s campaign around polar bear conservation.
National Strawberry Day
ANFP chapter calendars plus university horticulture/campus sources identify February 27 as National Strawberry Day.
World NGO Day
World NGO Day initiative; independently recognized in European External Action Service statements