The Pokémon 25th anniversary gave collectors Celebrations, one of the most loved special sets of the modern era. Five years earlier, the 20th anniversary brought Generations and Evolutions, and in 2026 the 30th anniversary added 30th Celebration. This guide compares all three so you know what makes each one special and which boxes to look for.

Pokémon anniversary sets at a glance

Generations (20th anniversary): released February 22, 2016, with 115 cards.
Evolutions (20th anniversary): released November 2, 2016, with 113 cards.
Celebrations (25th anniversary): released October 8, 2021, with 50 cards.
30th Celebration (30th anniversary): released September 16, 2026, with 191 cards.

Each set mixes new cards with a nod to the past, but they do it in very different ways.

Pokémon 20th anniversary: Generations and Evolutions

Generations

The Pokémon 20th anniversary started with Generations on February 22, 2016. The set has 83 main cards plus a 32-card Radiant Collection (RC1 to RC32), for 115 cards in total. Its packs held 10 cards, eight from the main set and two from the Radiant Collection, and they were sold only inside special 20th anniversary products rather than as loose packs.

The big cards were the Mega Evolution EX cards, such as M Charizard-EX, M Blastoise-EX and M Venusaur-EX, alongside an anniversary Pikachu. Generations products included Mythical Pokémon Collections, Red and Blue Collections, an Elite Trainer Box and the Mew and Mewtwo Super Premium Collection.

Generations Elite Trainer Box from the Pokémon 20th anniversary — The Generations Elite Trainer Box is still a favorite with collectors.

Evolutions

Later that year, Evolutions arrived on November 2, 2016, with 113 cards. It was the English version of Japan’s Expansion Pack 20th Anniversary set from September 16, 2016, and it remade classic Base Set cards with the original Kanto Pokémon. For many players it was the first time since 1999 that Base Set designs appeared in new packs.

Pokémon 25th anniversary: Celebrations

Celebrations released on October 8, 2021. It is a small set: 25 new cards plus a 25-card Classic Collection, 50 cards in total. Every pack held four foil cards marked with the 25th anniversary logo, and packs were sold only inside collection boxes. In Japan, the matching 25th Anniversary Collection followed on October 22, 2021, with five-card packs.

The Classic Collection

The Classic Collection is what made Celebrations famous. It recreated iconic cards such as Base Set Charizard, Umbreon ☆ and Tapu Lele-GX with a 25th anniversary stamp. You can see the original line-up in the 2021 Celebrations announcement.

The best 25th anniversary Pokémon cards

The 25th anniversary Pokémon cards most collectors chase are the Classic Collection Charizard, the Flying Pikachu and Surfing Pikachu V and VMAX cards, and the secret rare Mew. Because the set is small, completing it is realistic, which is a big part of its appeal.

Which Pokémon 25th anniversary box to look for

The Celebrations Elite Trainer Box is the classic Pokémon 25th anniversary box. It includes Celebrations packs, a foil Greninja ☆ promo, anniversary sleeves, Energy cards, dice, condition markers and a player’s guide. A Pokémon Center edition added extra packs and premium accessories, and the Ultra-Premium Collection from October 22, 2021, included metal Base Set Pikachu and Charizard cards and a gold Pikachu V.

Pokémon 30th anniversary: 30th Celebration

30th Celebration released on September 16, 2026, and it is the biggest anniversary set by far, with 191 cards. Every card is foil, every pack includes one of 30 different Pikachu cards, and a 30-card Classic Collection brings back favorites such as Base Set Charizard and Pikachu and Zekrom-GX. It is also the first Pokémon TCG set released worldwide on the same day as Japan, according to the official announcement.

The Elite Trainer Box has 9 packs and a Nidorina promo, and the Ultra-Premium Collections have 29 packs plus a Classic Collection pack. Read the full 30th Celebration set guide for the card list and chase cards.

How the three anniversaries compare

Set size: Generations had 115 cards, Celebrations 50 and 30th Celebration 191, almost four times the size of Celebrations.
Classic reprints: 2016 had the Radiant Collection and Evolutions’ Base Set remakes, 2021 had 25 Classic Collection cards, and 2026 has 30.
Pack style: Generations packs had 10 cards, Celebrations packs 4 foils, and 30th Celebration packs 5 foils plus a foil Energy.
Release timing: the 2016 and 2021 English sets came out after Japan. The 2026 set launched everywhere on the same day.
Biggest box: the Celebrations Ultra-Premium Collection was the 2021 centerpiece. In 2026, the 30th Celebration Ultra-Premium Collections hold 29 packs plus a Classic Collection pack.

What they share is the same idea: celebrate the past with reprints and remakes, add a few new chase cards, and make every pack feel special with foil cards and anniversary stamps.

The Japanese anniversary releases

Japan has its own version of each celebration, and the differences are worth knowing if you collect both languages:

2016: Expansion Pack 20th Anniversary released on September 16, 2016, with 103 cards. Its Base Set remakes became the English Evolutions set.
2021: the 25th Anniversary Collection released on October 22, 2021, two weeks after Celebrations, with five-card packs instead of four.
2026: MEGA expansion pack 30th CELEBRATION released on September 16, 2026, the same day as the English set. Its packs hold six foil cards, including a guaranteed Pikachu.

For the newest celebration, the Japanese MEGA 30th Celebration booster box is the easiest way to open a full box of Japanese packs.

How to build an anniversary collection

You do not need every product to tell the story of the hobby. A simple plan works well:

One sealed box per celebration: an Elite Trainer Box from 2016, 2021 and 2026 makes a neat shelf display.
One binder for the reprints: put the Classic Collection and Radiant Collection cards side by side, and add an original card when you find one.
Mix the languages: Japanese packs are a fun way to open more anniversary cards at a lower cost per pack.
Protect the stars: sleeve and toploader your best pulls straight away, and keep binders away from heat and sunlight.

Starting small keeps the hobby fun, and you can always add a bigger collection box later.

Are 25th anniversary Pokémon cards still worth collecting?

Five years on, 25th anniversary Pokémon sealed product has become much harder to find, and many collectors who missed it in 2021 are now looking for an Elite Trainer Box to complete their shelf. The set is small enough to finish, the Classic Collection is fun to put in a binder next to the original cards, and the 25th anniversary logo makes the cards instantly recognizable.

If you are building an anniversary display, a Celebrations box next to a 30th Celebration box tells the story of the hobby nicely. Buy what you enjoy, keep sealed boxes upright in a cool, dry place, and remember that prices of older sealed product can move in both directions.

Celebrations and Generations are older sets, so stock is limited. Check availability on the product page before you plan a purchase.

Pokémon anniversary sets FAQ

What was the Pokémon 25th anniversary set?

Celebrations, released on October 8, 2021, with 25 new cards and a 25-card Classic Collection.

What was the Pokémon 20th anniversary set?

Generations, released on February 22, 2016. Evolutions, released later in 2016, was also part of the 20th anniversary.

How many cards are in Celebrations?

Fifty: 25 main set cards and 25 Classic Collection cards.

Which anniversary set is the biggest?

30th Celebration, with 191 cards including its Classic Collection and secret rares.

More anniversary guides

Read our Pokémon 30th anniversary overview, check every 30th Celebration box in the pre-order guide, or browse all our TCG news and guides.

Pokémon 25th Anniversary vs 20th and 30th: Celebrations, Generations and 30th Celebration Compared

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