Join the worldwide community of video game competitors in the Play! Pokémon Video Game Championship (VGC) Series.

• Play in live, in-person competitions at locations around the world and online events from home.

• The latest season of the VGC Championship Series will be played on the Pokémon Scarlet and Pokémon Violet games for the Nintendo Switch family of systems.

• Earn Championship Points toward an invitation to the annual Pokémon World Championships.

• Win cool prizes and Travel Awards to certain future events.

The VGC Championship Series is a major part of the Play! Pokémon program, which also includes Pokémon League events.

How to Play in the Pokémon Video Game Championship Series

Tournaments at the Regionals level and above typically require preregistration and often have an entry fee. Side events are also frequently held at larger events, giving players more ways to compete and earn prizes!

The tournament format changes periodically to keep the game fun and challenging for competitors. See the Play! Pokémon Video Game Rules document or look out for announcements on Pokémon HOME for details on the current regulations.

To register for VGC Championship Series events, all Pokémon video game competitors will need to have a Pokémon Trainer Club account, have a Play! Pokémon Player ID, and accept the Play! Pokémon Terms of Use.

It’s easy to get started in the Pokémon VGC Championship Series! Use the Event Locator to find out where you can compete in your area.

Pokémon Video Game Championship Events

The following Play! Pokémon Championship Series events are open to all players.

Get started with Pokémon video game competitions at Premier Challenge events. Premier Challenges are the smallest events in Championship Series season and provide a great way for newer players to try competitive Pokémon play.

Put your Pokémon video game battling skills to the test in Video Game Midseason Showdowns. Midseason Showdown events are a step up from Premier Challenge competitions, featuring an increased Championship Point payout.

Select Online Competitions called Global Challenges also award Championship Points. These are run via the Battle Stadium over the span of a few days and feature players from across the globe who are all competing in their home regions for their World Championships invite! The format is a little different from in-person events, but the regulations are the same, so it’ll set a new challenge to tackle.

Regional Championships take place all around the world. After the Pokémon International Championships, the Pokémon Regional Championships are the largest events in terms of both attendance and Championship Point payout.

International Championships draw Pokémon video game players from around the globe during the Championship Series season. These amazing events award more Championship Points than Regionals and feature larger prize pools.

In addition to the regular events in the Championship Series schedule, Pokémon Special Events give players more chances to earn Championship Points. They may occur either as side events at major Championship Series tournaments, as standalone events scheduled at gaming conventions, or in select markets where Regional Championships do not occur. The format and prizes at Special Events may vary.

The best players throughout the season can earn invitations to the Pokémon World Championships! Competitors who have earned the requisite number of Championship Points during the season will receive an invitation to compete, but all fans are welcome to personally witness the excitement of the most prestigious event in the Pokémon Championship Series. The players with the most Championship Points within their rating zone can earn themselves travel support to the World Championships and a Round 1 bye at Worlds. Additionally, guaranteed invites to the Pokémon World Championships will be awarded to the following high finishers in Premier Events regardless of their final Championship Point total:

• Regional Championships: 1st place

• Special Events in the Europe rating zone: 1st place

• International Championships: 1st and 2nd place

Notes:

• Guaranteed invites do not pass down.

• Click here to find out how many Championship Points you need to earn a Worlds invite in your rating zone.

• Some events have limited capacity and require spectators and participants to have badges.

• Attendees must also comply with our COVID-19 policy.

To get started in the Pokémon VGC Championship Series, find an event near you and join the fun. Good luck, Trainers!