In Pokémon GO starts the GO Fest 2021. Here we have summarized all the details about the date of the event and the ticket price. We also report on which Pokémon and bonuses you can look forward to at the big summer event.
What is the GO Fest? Originally, Niantic held this festival once a year at a previously announced location, like in 2019 in Dortmund. However, due to the Corona pandemic, this live event at a fixed location had to be canceled last year.
Instead, there was a global live event – and in 2021, the GO Fest will take place again in this form. You can once again look forward to exciting challenges, great Pokémon, and many bonuses worldwide.
Update on July 16, 2021: The GO Fest is just around the corner! We have updated the article with all current information.
Update on June 25, 2021: We have updated the article with new information about the legendary raids as well as the costumes and the selection of a band. It is now known that on the 2nd event day, July 18, 2021, you can encounter all legendary Pokémon that have been in the game so far in raids. We will also show you the costumed Pokémon that you can put together into a band.
What is the date of the GO Fest 2021?
Like last year, the GO Fest will again be available worldwide. You can play it at any location.
These are the dates:
- Saturday, July 17, 2021, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Sunday, July 18, 2021, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Update on July 2, 2021: As Niantic has now announced, there will also be smaller live events in several cities worldwide this year (via pokemongolive.com). These will take place exclusively on July 17, 2021, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM outdoors, following the applicable hygiene measures such as social distancing.
In Germany and Austria, the following cities will participate:
- Dresden (Germany)
- Essen (Germany)
- Hamburg (Germany)
- Linz (Austria)
If you want to be part of the live events at the GO Fest 2021, you should be quick, as the spots are limited. Please register in advance via this link through Nianticlabs.
On site, there will be “great photo spots” for the participants. In addition, players will have the opportunity to make new friends or trade Pokémon. No further bonuses are known for the live events so far.
Pokémon GO Fest 2021: Tickets and Prices
How much are the tickets? To fully enjoy the GO Fest 2021, you need an event ticket. You can obtain these in the in-game shop of Pokémon GO. The ticket is available this year at a reduced price of 5.49 euros and includes participation for the entire event weekend.
This price is a big surprise, because last year the ticket was about three times as expensive. The reason for the reduced price for GO Fest 2021 is the five-year anniversary of Pokémon GO. We looked into it for you, for whom the ticket purchase is worthwhile.
How does the GO Fest work? The Pokémon GO Fest spans two days.
You will have the opportunity to use all features of the event between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM each day. The first event day this year is themed “Catching”. The second festival day will focus on “Raids”.
Event Day 1: Saturday, July 17, 2021
According to official information from Niantic, this day will focus on catching Pokémon (via pokemongolive.com). There will be monsters from the following 4 habitats, which will change hourly:
- Jungle habitat
- Desert mountain habitat
- Sea shore habitat
- Cave habitat
For all ticket holders, there will also be an exciting special research as well as 4 collector challenges and additional bonuses available. In addition, you can choose between a rocker and a star Pikachu. This decision will also determine whether you hear rock or pop music in the background that day.
Event Day 2: Sunday, July 18, 2021
Sunday is dedicated to raids, and there will be many of them on this day. This day will also provide trainers of Pokémon GO the first chance to encounter all legendary Pokémon that have been in the game so far.
As on Saturday, July 17, 2021, the Pokémon in the raids will change hourly. These will be divided into the following thematic raid hours:
- The Wind Hour (10:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM)
- The Lava Hour (11:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM)
- The Frost Hour (12:00 PM to 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM)
- The Thunder Hour (1:00 PM to 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM)
All ticket holders can also look forward to additional bonuses related to completing raids. You can also catch all Pokémon from Saturday on this day.
What bonuses can you expect with and without a ticket?
Without a ticket: Trainers who do not wish to purchase a ticket for GO Fest 2021 still have the opportunity to utilize the following bonuses. These will be available for all players in Pokémon GO on both days:
- free t-shirt for the avatar in the shop
- trainer photos in the today view
- lures last 3 hours
- 1/2 hatch distance for eggs
- exclusive research tasks & visual effects on the map
- special music from Pokémon composer Junichi Masuda
- crafting templates for trainers worldwide
Bonuses with ticket
All trainers holding a ticket for GO Fest 2021 will receive additional bonuses that are only available to ticket holders alongside the general bonuses. We have summarized how these look and when you will receive them below
- Saturday:
- Special research
- Surprise after a snapshot upon completion of the special task
- Global challenges in the today view: you will have the opportunity to complete a challenge together hourly to activate a bonus for the remaining hour
- Collector challenge for each individual habitat
- Sunday:
- you receive an additional 10,000 XP for each raid battle won
- up to 10 raid passes by spinning the gym
- up to 8 remote raid passes from limited research
- free event box with 3 remote raid passes (available July 18, 2021, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM)
- both days:
- special event stickers through gifts and PokéStops
- surprise from snapshots
- special Pokémon from incense
As dataminers discovered in their last leak, there will also be a golden medal for participation in the GO Fest 2021.
Hyper Bonus for GO Fest 2021
Update on July 16, 2021: As Niantic has announced, there will again be a global challenge for players this year (via pokemongolive.com). So, the trainers participating in the GO Fest must collectively solve a task hourly to unlock a bonus for the remaining hour.
If players also manage to solve 8, 16, or 24 tasks, they will unlock additional events through the so-called hyper bonus in the coming weeks. We looked into which legendary monsters the community suspects in the hyper bonus.
Special attacks and additional bonuses
Update on July 16, 2021: In addition, trainers can expect further bonuses and special attacks during the GO Fest:
For all trainers:
- 6 special trades from July 16, 2021, 10:00 PM, until July 19, 2021, 08:00 AM
- Gardevoir with Synchronoise if you evolve Kirlia during the event period on Saturday or Sunday
- Flygon with Earth Power if you evolve Trapinch during the event period on Saturday or Sunday
For ticket holders:
- additional special attacks for various Pokémon
- Star Pikachu
- with special attack Thief’s Kiss
- trainers receive an iconic pose
- Rocker Pikachu
- with special attack Star Shatter
- trainers receive a rock pose
- the chosen Pikachu variant can appear in a snapshot after the special research on Saturday.
- choose between Gardevoir and Flygon with Meloetta hat in the special research
- master their respective community day attack
- can also appear in snapshots after the research
- After completing the research, there is a Meloetta shirt for your avatar
Items for GO Fest from Google
Update on July 1, 2021: As Google announced via Twitter, there will be an additional free gift for GO Fest 2021 for all Play Store users of Pokémon GO (via twitter.com). This includes the following items:
- A super incubator
- A incense
- 30 Ultra Balls
As Google is the main sponsor of the GO Fest this year, this gift is only available to Google users. Unfortunately, Apple users miss out. When you can claim the gift and how it works is still not known. We will report on new information as soon as it becomes available.
Update on July 16, 2021: Further sponsored gifts are received by trainers in-game today via a pink balloon. This includes various items like berries, revives, and potions, but also stardust. What is included in each gift varies from player to player.
Sponsored gifts and bonuses
Update on July 16, 2021: But players will not only receive items for the GO Fest. Google offers trainers of Pokémon GO even more bonuses:
- four times points in the Play Store for purchases related to Pokémon GO
- 3-month free trial for YouTube Premium
- Videos about GO Fest 2021 on the YouTube channel of The Try Guys
In addition to Google’s bonuses, there is also a promo code that gives gifts to your avatar. You will receive new clothing such as a cap and a t-shirt.
What Pokémon can you expect at GO Fest 2021?
As Niantic has already announced, you can expect a variety of interesting Pokémon this year. Since the GO Fest 2021 is themed around music, there will also be corresponding musical monsters. You can choose between a costumed Pikachu as a pop star or a rocker.
Costumed Pokémon: In addition, Pikachu will be supported by costumed bandmates like Galar Ponyta, Galar Zigzagoon, Gardevoir, or Flygon. These will be dressed in a small hat during the event. Read here what the community says about the costumes for GO Fest 2021.
The costumed Galar Ponyta and Galar Zigzagoon can be obtained during raids on those days. Furthermore, as Pokémon GO announced on Twitter, these Pokémon are part of the planned experiences during the GO Fest (via twitter.com). You will be able to assemble your own band from the costumed Pokémon.
Depending on which Pokémon you choose, this decision is likely to influence the further gameplay, such as solving tasks. However, what you can specifically expect when choosing the individual Pokémon is still unknown.
Kapoera, Trapinch, and Flygon will also be found in raids during the event. In addition, you can catch other musical Pokémon such as Whismur, Audino, or Palimpalim in the wild, alongside the costumed Pikachu.
Update on July 16, 2021: As Niantic has now announced, certain costumed Pokémon will appear for all trainers (via pokemongolive.com). You may be lucky enough to encounter a shiny Pikachu with a Meloetta hat. It is also now known which monsters can be found in which raid:
- Level 1 raids: Galar Ponyta, Galar Zigzagoon with Meloetta hat, and Flygon (also as shiny)
- Level 3 raids: Galar Weezing, Kapoera, and Trapinch
Which Pokémon do you get in which habitat? At the Pokémon GO Fest 2021, Pokémon from 4 different habitats will be available to catch. We have listed which those are below:
| Habitat | Pokémon in the wild | Pokémon from incense (for ticket holders only) |
| Jungle | – Scyther – Drifloon – Froakie | – Unown F – Unown G – Darmanitan – Noctowl – Leafeon – Serperior |
| Desert- Mountain | – Pansear – Maractus – Hippopotas | – Flareon – Unown F – Unown G – Dusknoir – Flygon – Galar Weezing |
| Sea- Shore | – Dratini – Swablu – Mamolida | – Gyarados – Vaporeon – Azumarill – Unown F – Unown G – Karadonis |
| Cave | – Roggenrola – Galar Weezing – Flygon | – Umbreon – Unown F – Unown G – Gardevoir – Absol – Joltik |
Are there special Pokémon from eggs? On both event days, you can hatch Pokémon like Klingplim, Fluffeluff, and Audino from 7 km eggs.
New Shinies like Hydreigon and Karadonis at GO Fest 2021
As Niantic announced, new shiny Pokémon will also be released in the game in connection with GO Fest. You may luck to encounter the shiny forms of Flurmel, Audino, Schallquap, or Palimpalim for the first time.
In addition, during the event time, Unown F, Hydreigon, and Karadonis will also spawn for the first time in their shiny variant. However, these will only be attracted by incense from ticket holders. According to Niantic, the chance of a shiny during Pokémon GO Fest, especially on Saturday, is increased (via pokemongolive.com).
Mysterious Pokémon at GO Fest 2021
Will there be a mysterious Pokémon? Niantic has confirmed that you can encounter a mysterious Pokémon at Pokémon GO Fest 2021. This will be a reward for successfully completing the special research. It is the singing Pokémon Meloetta, which was officially confirmed for the GO Fest.
Meloetta is a mysterious Pokémon of the Psychic and Normal type. It is one of the monsters that can change its form. It can thus switch from singing form to dance form. This also changes the type from Psychic to Fighting. For Go Fest 2021, it is expected to be available only in singing form.
Update on July 16, 2021: Dataminers have discovered hints of another mysterious Pokémon in the game code just before the start of the GO Fest. This involves information from a special research, which is expected to be found in the game on the second event day.
Are you curious and want to know what to expect? Then read here, which mysterious Pokémon could play a role on Sunday.
Legendary Pokémon in Raids
As Niantic has already communicated on their page, the second event day, Sunday, July 18, 2021, will revolve around raids (via pokemongolive.com). They have announced that all legendary Pokémon in level 5 raids that have been in the game up to now will appear on this day. However, there will be no mysterious Pokémon in raids on that day.
Like the previous day, there will again be specific time windows in which the individual Pokémon can be found. When you can encounter which legendary Pokémon has been summarized for you.
The Wind Hour
The Wind Hour takes place from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM local time and from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM local time. During this time you can encounter the following Pokémon in the raids:
- Mewtwo
- Ho-Oh
- Latias
- Latios
- Regigigas
- Giratina in altered form
- Cresselia
- Virizion
- Thundurus in Therian form
The Lava Hour
Following the Wind Hour, the Lava Hour begins at 11:00 AM and ends at 12:00 PM local time. It will repeat from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM local time. The following Pokémon will be in the raids during these times:
- Moltres
- Entei
- Regirock
- Groudon
- Heatran
- Reshiram
- Terrakion
- Landorus in Therian form
- Yveltal
The Frost Hour
It will be frosty cold and wet in raids from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM local time and from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM local time. During these times, the Frost Hour will take place, where you can defeat the following monsters in the raid:
- Articuno
- Suicune
- Lugia
- Regice
- Kyogre
- Palkia
- Kyurem
- Selfe, Vesprit, and Tobutz are also available in their usual regions
The Thunder Hour
The conclusion of the thematic raid hours is the Thunder Hour. This takes place between 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM local time and again from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM local time. Defeat the following legendary Pokémon in the raid during the Thunder Hour:
- Zapdos
- Raikou
- Registeel
- Rayquaza
- Dialga
- Kobalion
- Thundurus in Therian form
- Zekrom
- Xerneas
This large number of legendary Pokémon in one day offers many trainers the opportunity to catch previously missing Pokémon. This is thus your chance to acquire rarer monsters like Mewtwo. With a bit of luck, you might even encounter some Pokémon in their shiny form.
Update on July 16, 2021: To ensure that GO Fest 2021 is a success for you, you should be adequately prepared. So that nothing goes wrong, we have put together 6 useful tips for preparing that you should definitely consider.
Therefore, it makes sense to think beforehand about which raids you want to participate in, given the number of raid bosses. Which legendary monsters are particularly worthwhile, we have checked out and summarized for you.
Please also note that Niantic is currently reporting problems with their shop in Pokémon GO. There may currently be delays in purchasing. Plan accordingly in your endeavors.
We will regularly update this article as new information about GO Fest 2021 becomes available.
What is your opinion about the Pokémon and bonuses at Pokémon GO Fest 2021? Which monsters would you like to encounter that weekend? Feel free to share your thoughts here on MeinMMO in the comments.
Do you want to know what other events are taking place this month? We have summarized all the important dates and information about the events in July.
