LEGO Kicks Off Its Biggest Partnership Ever, And My Wallet Isn’t Ready
Every year, LEGO releases a ton of sets themed after popular IP it has partnered with, from Harry Potter to Marvel to DC. But this year is different. In 2026, LEGO is set to kick off its biggest partnership yet.
For gamers, LEGO’s latest partnership has been a long time coming, and the brick-building company is not going to skimp on this first outing either. LEGO has huge plans for this latest collaboration, and the first sets should start releasing very soon.
LEGO Pokemon Sets Hit in 2026 with Massive Rollout
2026 marks the kick-off for LEGO’s big partnership with Pokemon, which is easily one of the biggest collaborations for the company. While LEGO has featured Nintendo IP like Mario and The Legend of Zelda in its sets, Pokemon is arguably the hottest commodity within the Switch 2 manufacturer’s stable.
And for LEGO, this is likely to be one of its biggest partnerships ever. Pokemon has been a massive revenue-generating machine for anything and everything, whether it is the Trading Card Game, plushes, mobile experiences, and more. It feels like every Pokemon partnership is a slam dunk, and I expect LEGO won’t be any different.
LEGO and Pokemon aren’t testing the waters in 2026; there is a massive rollout allegedly planned for this first year. It makes sense given that 2026 is the 30th anniversary of Pokemon, and LEGO and Nintendo likely want to take full advantage of all the conversations that will be centered around the Pocket Monsters brand.
Things will reportedly kick off with a handful of sets in the early part of 2026, one modestly priced and themed after Pikachu and another featuring Charizard. Then, if rumors are to be believed, a huge set featuring the three original Pokemon Red/Blue starters and their evolutions will set the tone for how pricey this collaboration can get. And finally, the summer will see the release of a slew of sets, including some interactive ones that function similarly to the Mario sets that feature a mobile app tie-in.
I know that LEGO has another Legend of Zelda set planned for this year that may or may not be Ocarina of Time themed, but as an overall collaboration, this Pokemon partnership is a big deal. When the sets first leaked and it looked like Pokemon was playing it safe with Pikachu and Charizard, I wasn’t surprised. Then, subsequent leaks proved that LEGO and Pokemon wanted to give fans a variety of sets and that an interactive experience was planned.
What to Expect from LEGO and Pokemon’s Collaboration in 2026
While I’m not the biggest fan of the interactive Mario experience, the sets themselves are still pretty fantastic, and I’m curious to see how LEGO iterates on that concept with Pokemon. More than that, though, I have been exceedingly impressed with the detail and variety in the LEGO sets as of late, from the LEGO Game Boy set that packs a ton of clever touches you don’t even see to the Stranger Things Creel House that pulls apart in a really fun piece of interactivity. LEGO Pokemon has a ton of possibilities, and I can’t wait to see what the sets bring to the table.
Official LEGO Pokemon Sets Are Coming in 2026, But So Far, They’re Underwhelming & Pricy
LEGO is starting 2026 with a bang by releasing around 200 new sets, but its collaboration with Pokemon may not as exciting as it seems.
While this partnership is huge for LEGO fans, it is not the only thing that Pokemon fans have to look forward to this year. As mentioned, this is the 30th anniversary of Pokemon, and there are plenty of events and reveals planned for the next 12 months. New TCG sets are on the horizon starting with Ascended Heroes this month. McDonald’s is partnering with Pokemon once again for Happy Meals. Adidas has a Mewtwo-themed sneaker in the works. And, of course, Pokemon Gen 10 is expected to be revealed this year and could release before the end of 2026.
It is going to be a big year for Pokemon fans, but I’m most looking forward to seeing these sets. It feels like there is a little something for everybody planned, and while my wallet is nervous about the potential price tags, my enthusiasm is sky high.