Searches for the McDonald's Pokémon cards 2026 set jumped on Google Trends this week, and the reason is simple: the Pokémon Happy Meal returns to McDonald's restaurants nationwide on November 10, 2026. Each Happy Meal includes 2 Pokémon TCG cards from a set of 15, with 7 foil cards, per Pokémon's announcement. For resale, earlier McDonald's sets are the guide: on eBay on November 1, 2026, a complete 2022 set of 15 sold for $45, while single packs sold for $5 to $8.
When is the McDonald's Pokémon Happy Meal release date?
November 10, 2026 in the United States. McDonald's menu spotter says the Pokémon Happy Meal "returns to participating McDonald's restaurants nationwide" starting that day, with 15 collectible toys and 15 collectible trading cards. Pokémon's page lists November for Canada, the United States, Australia, France and a few other countries, with more countries in December and later. The meal is available for a limited time, while supplies last.
How much is the McDonald's Pokémon Happy Meal?
Neither McDonald's nor Pokémon lists a price. Happy Meal prices are set by each restaurant, so you pay your local price. What the cards cost you is a Happy Meal for every two cards. Quebec is an exception: the box toys are not available there, and fans get a Pokémon sticker and a booster pack with four Pokémon TCG cards instead.
What is in the set? How rare are the cards?
- 15 cards total, with 7 foil cards, per Pokémon.
- 2 cards per Happy Meal. Pokémon shows all 15 cards on its announcement page.
- 3 box themes: Pikachu, Umbreon and Torchic, and 15 mini box-shaped toys (Pikachu, Rowlet, Sprigatito and others).
- A QR code on the box opens a digital game where you search for the 15 toys.
Pokémon has not published how often each card appears, so there is no pull rate to quote. With only 2 cards per meal and no published distribution, assume duplicates.
What did earlier McDonald's Pokémon cards sell for on eBay?
We checked eBay sold listings for "mcdonalds pokemon match battle cards" on November 1, 2026. These are earlier McDonald's sets, not the 2026 cards, which aren't out yet:
- Complete 2022 set of 15: $45.00
- 2022 non-holo sets and single packs: $4.99 to $10.99
- 2023 single sealed pack: $5.98; 10 sealed 2023 packs: $69.95 (about $7 each)
- 5 sealed 2025 packs: $40.17 (about $8 each)
The sets that held value were the complete ones and sealed multi-pack lots. Most single cards and packs sat in the single digits.
Flip, hold or pass? Our take
This is analysis, not a promise. Cards are only available with food, you can't control which two you get, and the 2022 complete set sold for $45 on eBay. After eBay's 13.25% Collectible Card Games fee plus $0.40 per order (per eBay's selling fees page), that is about $38.60 before shipping. To collect all 15 you would likely need several meals, and duplicates are a given.
- Flip: Only realistic if you can buy cards or packs cheaply in bulk. Buying many Happy Meals for resale looks like a loss at normal Happy Meal prices.
- Hold: A complete set is the version with a sold price on eBay. Wait to see how demand looks once the cards are in people's hands.
- Pass: If you're not collecting these or the toys, skip it.
Launches like this are why we watch retail drops day to day. Our Pokémon group covers Pokémon drops, restocks and drawings, and members on the TCG and Complete plans get free ACO (auto checkout) for Pokémon and One Piece drops. To see how retail buying works, read how to buy Pokémon cards at retail, our Target drawing article, and the rest of our Pokémon TCG articles.
Pokémon and the Pokémon Trading Card Game are trademarks of Nintendo, Creatures Inc. and GAME FREAK inc. Friends & Family is an independent reselling community and is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Pokémon Company International.
Sources
- Pokémon — Pokémon Happy Meals Are Coming to McDonald's in an Exciting New Way (October 29, 2026)
- McDonald's — New Menu Item Spotter: Pokémon Happy Meal
- eBay — Sold listings for "mcdonalds pokemon match battle cards" (checked November 1, 2026)
- eBay — Selling fees