The Pokémon Company has officially announced that the Pokémon Video Game Championships (VGC) will transition to a new format called Pokémon Champions starting in 2026. This change aims to establish Pokémon Champions as the standard platform for competitive play in the Pokémon community.

The shift to Pokémon Champions was first hinted at last year, and the announcement has now confirmed that this new competitive structure will take effect in just a few years. This transition is part of a broader strategy to enhance the competitive environment surrounding Pokémon video games.

With the release date for the free-to-start Pokémon Champions now locked in, players and fans alike can look forward to a revitalized competitive scene. The Pokémon Company is expected to provide more details on how this transition will impact current VGC competitions and what players can expect in terms of gameplay and tournament structure.