Guide
Pokémon TCG release calendar for South Africa
Last checked: 26 October 2026
New Pokémon Trading Card Game sets come out about every two months. This page lists the recent and upcoming English sets with their worldwide release dates, explains how those dates work for South Africa, and how to pre-order.
Upcoming
| Set | Worldwide release | At Galaxy Boxx |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Evolution: Delta Reign | 6 November 2026 | On pre-order: booster box, Elite Trainer Box, 3-pack blister, booster box case |
| Next set after Delta Reign | not announced yet | Added here when Pokémon announces it |
Delta Reign is led by Mega Rayquaza ex, with Mega Golurk ex, Mega Malamar ex and Mega Golisopod ex, and has over 135 cards. Its Elite Trainer Box holds 9 booster packs and a full-art Kyogre promo card.
Released in 2026
| Set | Worldwide release | Cards | Headline Pokémon |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30th Celebration (special set) | 16 September 2026 (Booster Bundle 2 October 2026) | over 150 | celebrates 30 years of the card game |
| Mega Evolution: Pitch Black | 17 July 2026 | over 115 | Mega Darkrai ex, Mega Zeraora ex, Mega Chandelure ex, Mega Excadrill ex |
| Mega Evolution: Chaos Rising | 22 May 2026 | over 120 | Mega Greninja ex, Mega Pyroar ex, Mega Floette ex, Mega Dragalge ex |
| Mega Evolution: Perfect Order | 27 March 2026 | over 120 | Mega Zygarde ex, Mega Starmie ex, Mega Clefable ex, Mega Skarmory ex |
| Mega Evolution: Ascended Heroes | 30 January 2026 | over 290 | – |
Released in 2025 (the start of the Mega Evolution series)
| Set | Worldwide release | Headline Pokémon |
|---|---|---|
| Mega Evolution: Phantasmal Flames | 14 November 2025 | Mega Charizard X ex |
| Mega Evolution | 26 September 2025 | Mega Lucario ex, Mega Gardevoir ex, Mega Venusaur ex, Mega Kangaskhan ex |
Before the Mega Evolution series came the Scarlet & Violet series (2023 to 2025). Single cards from older sets are in our Pokémon singles binder.
What comes out with each set
A main set usually launches with the same family of products: a booster box of 36 packs, an Elite Trainer Box, a booster bundle of 6 packs, blisters and sleeved booster packs, and a Build & Battle Box for prerelease events. Special products follow in the weeks and months after: tins, ex boxes, premium collections, poster and binder collections. Between main sets Pokémon also releases battle decks and collection boxes that are not tied to one set, such as the Mega battle decks.
Not every product reaches South Africa, and some arrive later than the main release. Each product page on our shop says exactly what is inside and the date we expect it.
How release dates work in South Africa
The worldwide date
Pokémon announces one release date for each English set, the day it goes on sale at participating shops around the world. Prerelease events at local game stores usually happen a week or so before, and the set appears in the Pokémon TCG Live app a day or so before release.
When stock arrives here
South African shops get their stock through local distributors. Stock can arrive on the worldwide date, but often a few days or weeks later, because of shipping and customs. Some products of a set also arrive later than others. That is why every pre-order on our shop says “subject to change”: the date shown is the one we expect, and it moves if the distributor’s date moves.
Japanese sets
Pokémon releases sets in Japan first, often a few months before the English set built from them. Japanese packs and cards sometimes appear in our Rip n Ship openings and in the singles binder (marked “Japanese”). Japanese and English sets do not always match one to one, so a Japanese set name may not exist in English.
Pre-ordering at Galaxy Boxx
New sets go on pre-order on the Pokémon TCG page once we know what we will receive.
- You pay in full when you pre-order. Pay by card, Instant EFT or the other methods PayFast offers.
- Your price is locked in and does not change.
- Some products have a limit per order, shown on the product page.
- It ships when the stock reaches us, then 3 to 5 working days with the courier (R119) or to a Pudo locker (R79).
- Order pre-orders separately from in-stock items: an order ships only when everything in it is in stock.
- If the date moves, we let you know by email and on our WhatsApp channel. If a pre-order has not shipped within 30 days after the release date shown when you ordered, you can cancel it by email for a full refund. Other cancellations of a pre-order carry a 10% admin fee outside the 7-day cooling-off period. Section 6 of our Terms has the details.
Which product to pre-order?
Booster boxes give you the most packs for your money; Elite Trainer Boxes add a promo card, sleeves, Energy and dice; booster bundles and blisters are a smaller start. Our guide Booster box vs ETB vs booster bundle compares them.
Never miss a release
New sets, pre-orders and restocks are announced on our WhatsApp channel first; join it from any page of the shop. For everything else about buying cards here, see where to buy Pokémon cards in South Africa and our FAQ.
Sources
Pokémon: Delta Reign, Delta Reign products, 30th Celebration, Pitch Black, Chaos Rising, Perfect Order, Ascended Heroes, Phantasmal Flames, Mega Evolution, product schedule (press site).