The Festival of Colors is coming back to India in Pokémon GO for 2026, which is scheduled from Wednesday, March 4, at 10:00 a.m. to Sunday, March 8, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. For this year’s celebrations exclusive to Trainers in India get ready for the return of Pikachu wearing a saree and Pikachu wearing a kurta, both with a chance to have a Special Background, along with some event-themed Pokémon!
Pokémon GO Festival of Colors Celebratory Colors
Check it out! Trainers will find a colorful surprise around PokéStops when they get close to them.
Special Background
The following Pokémon may have a Special Background when caught from Raid Battles or during Colorful O’Clock.
- Pikachu wearing a saree*
- Pikachu wearing a kurta*
*If you’re lucky, you may encounter a Shiny one!
Colorful O’Clock
The following Pokémon will appear more frequently in the wild for five minutes at 10:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.: Pikachu wearing a saree, Pikachu wearing a kurta, Medicham, Plant Cloak Burmy, Sandy Cloak Burmy, Trash Cloak Burmy, Red Flower Flabébé, Orange Flower Flabébé, White Flower Flabébé, and Bruxish.
*If you’re lucky, you may encounter a Shiny one!
Raids
The following Pokémon will appear in one-star raids.
- Pikachu wearing a saree*
- Pikachu wearing a kurta*
The above raids will be available only at sponsored Gyms in the following locations.
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Park, Mumbai
- Dr. Visvesvaraya Tower Park, Chennai
- Indira Park, Hyderabad
- Lodhi Gardens, New Delhi
- Rabindra Sarobar, Kolkata
- Saras Baug, Pune
- Sri Chamarajendra Park (Cubbon Park), Bengaluru
*If you’re lucky, you may encounter a Shiny one!
Collection Challenge
Complete Collection Challenges by catching the Festival of Colors–themed Pokémon to receive Stardust and XP.
Timed Research
There will be a free Timed Research opportunity available. Timed Research rewards include the following.
- Lucky Egg
- Rare Candy
- Stickers of Pikachu wearing a kurta and Pikachu wearing a saree
- Branched research offering an encounter with Pikachu wearing a saree with a Special Background or Pikachu wearing a kurta with a Special Background
- And more!
Please note that Timed Research expires. The tasks associated with this Timed Research must be completed and their rewards must be claimed before Friday, March 11, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. local time.
Event Bonuses
- Lure Modules activated during the event will last for three hours.
- 2× Stardust from catching Pokémon.
- Get Stickers of Pikachu wearing a kurta and Pikachu wearing a saree from spinning PokéStops.