As a dedicated Pokemon GO trainer since day one, I can’t believe we’re already celebrating nine years of this incredible augmented reality adventure! The Pokemon GO 9th Anniversary Event is here, and trust me, this is one celebration you won’t want to miss. From July 1-6, 2025, Niantic is pulling out all the stops with amazing bonuses, exclusive Pokemon, and features that’ll make your Pokemon journey even more exciting.
The Pokemon GO 9th Anniversary Party is Niantic’s annual celebration marking nine years since Pokemon GO first took the world by storm. This year’s event runs from Tuesday, July 1 at 10:00 a.m. to Sunday, July 6, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. local time, bringing together trainers worldwide for a week-long celebration filled with exclusive content and generous bonuses.
What makes this anniversary special is how Niantic has evolved the celebration over the years. I’ve participated in every single anniversary event since 2016, and I can honestly say this year’s lineup of features and bonuses is the most comprehensive yet. They’re not just giving us cosmetic items – they’re providing real gameplay advantages that will help trainers of all levels.
Let me share something personal with you – anniversary events in Pokemon GO have always been my favorite time of year. There’s something magical about seeing the entire community come together, sharing excitement over new costumed Pokemon and helping each other complete limited-time research.
What I particularly love about this year’s celebration is how Niantic has structured the bonuses across different days. Instead of overwhelming us with everything at once, they’ve created a progressive celebration that keeps the excitement building throughout the week. The staggered bonus system means you can plan your gameplay around what matters most to you – whether that’s hatching eggs efficiently, grinding XP, or maximizing your Stardust gains.
Based on my years of experience with these events, here’s my step-by-step strategy to make the most of the 9th Anniversary Party:
Focus: 1/2 Egg Hatch Distance
Focus: 2× XP for catching Pokemon
Focus: 2× Stardust for catching Pokemon
The anniversary event introduces three exciting new costumed Pokemon:
You’ll find these Pokemon appearing more frequently:
Here’s something cool – you might discover party hats scattered in the wild during the event. Tapping on these awards:
Pro tip from my experience: These raids are perfect for solo players, and the Shiny rates seem boosted during anniversary events. I’ve caught multiple Shiny Eevees during past celebrations!
The event includes free Timed Research with rewards including:
For those wanting extra value, the premium Timed Research includes:
This is the big one – Shiny Jirachi encounter! The Masterwork Research includes:
Personal note: If you don’t have Shiny Jirachi yet, this is absolutely worth it. The Masterwork Research doesn’t expire, so you can complete it at your own pace.
The event offers increased friendship level progression through:
With increased Lucky Friend chances and boosted Lucky Pokemon rates:
The 9th anniversary coin Gimmighoul offers special opportunities:
While we’re celebrating the 9th anniversary this year, I’m already excited about what’s coming for Pokemon GO’s 10th anniversary in 2026. Niantic has announced the “What’s Your Favorite?” campaign that will celebrate both 10 years of Pokemon GO and 30 years of the Pokemon franchise.
This upcoming feature will allow trainers to:
A: No, Timed Research tasks must be completed and claimed by Sunday, July 6, 2025, at 8:00 p.m. local time. However, the Masterwork Research doesn’t expire.
A: The anniversary costumed Pokemon typically become available again in future events, but the 9th anniversary coin Gimmighoul is exclusive to this event.
A: If you’re an active player, the Super Incubator alone makes the ticket worthwhile during the hatch distance bonus period. The guaranteed Gimmighoul encounter is also valuable.
A: No, you can only purchase the Masterwork Research once. If you already have it from previous offers, you can’t buy it again.
A: Yes! The event bonuses stack with existing items. For example, using a Lucky Egg during the 2× XP period gives you 4× total XP.
After nine years of playing Pokemon GO, I can honestly say that anniversary events keep getting better and better. The 9th Anniversary Party strikes the perfect balance between nostalgia and new content, giving both veteran trainers and newcomers plenty to enjoy.
What I love most about this year’s celebration is how Niantic has structured it to reward different playstyles. Whether you’re a casual collector who just wants the costumed Pokemon, a competitive player looking to maximize resources, or a social trainer who enjoys the community aspects, there’s something here for everyone.
The anniversary event is also the perfect time to bring back lapsed players – the generous bonuses and exciting new content make it an ideal opportunity to reconnect with friends who may have stepped away from the game.
As we celebrate nine incredible years of Pokemon GO, I’m already looking forward to what the next year will bring. The 10th anniversary promises to be even bigger, with the “What’s Your Favorite?” campaign bridging the gap between Pokemon GO and the broader Pokemon franchise’s 30th anniversary.
For now, though, let’s focus on making the most of this amazing 9th Anniversary Party. Get out there, catch those party hat Pokemon, complete your research, and most importantly – have fun celebrating nine years of Pokemon GO with trainers around the world!
