Kuala Lumpur is stepping further into the spotlight for Pokémon’s 30th anniversary, with new details confirming how the city’s role fits into a much larger regional celebration across Asia.
The update was shared at a press conference on June 16, 2026, where The Pokémon Company outlined additional experiences alongside partners Nintendo, Niantic, Inc. and KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd.
One of the biggest additions is how the Kuala Lumpur programme is expanding beyond what was previously announced for the September event at KLCC Park.
While earlier details focused on interactive zones, installations and merchandise drops, the latest rollout confirms a broader citywide entertainment push that ties the local event into a multi-country touring format across five Asian cities.
Kuala Lumpur will now officially open “PokéXciting!”, a travelling anniversary experience that moves on to Taipei, Singapore, Manila and Bangkok over the following months. The KL edition remains scheduled for September 12–13, 2026 and remains free to enter, but it now sits as the launch point for a wider series rather than a standalone stop.
A standout feature added to the Kuala Lumpur edition is a large-scale drone performance above KLCC Park, marking a first for the franchise in Malaysia. The display will animate Pokémon characters across the night sky, supported by live stage performances and appearances from PokéXciting! Pikachu — a city-specific version of Pikachu created for the tour.
The character will change outfit design depending on location, with Kuala Lumpur receiving a turquoise-themed version. It will also appear in Pokémon GO through a limited in-game activation developed with Niantic, Inc.
Alongside the main September programme, organisers have confirmed that Pokémon RUN 30 will return to Malaysia later in the year, scheduled for November 21–22, 2026. The event is structured as a themed participation run rather than a standard race, with players moving through interactive checkpoints inspired by the Pokémon universe.
Participants will select a starter Pokémon before entering a course built around challenges such as gym-style encounters and progression tasks linked to a Pokédex system. A public festival area will run in parallel, featuring an exhibition-style walkthrough of Pokémon’s 30-year history and zones focused on newer content.
Retail and experiential shopping are also being expanded in Kuala Lumpur. From September through December, Ombak KLCC will host Malaysia’s first official Nintendo pop-up store alongside the country’s first Pokémon Centre pop-up store. The space will carry a mix of current merchandise, Japan-exclusive imports and anniversary-themed releases, alongside interactive gaming elements.
For KLCC (Holdings) Sdn Bhd, which manages the wider precinct including PETRONAS Twin Towers and Suria KLCC, the collaboration continues its push to position the area as a hub for large-scale cultural and entertainment activations.
While full schedules and registration details for each component are still to be released, organisers have indicated that more information will be rolled out closer to each event.
