Everything you need to know about Pokémon GO Fest 2021
GO Fest is the biggest annual event in Pokémon GO and just like last year, you can play anywhere in the world.
That means tickets aren’t limited and, thanks to the fact that it’s the game’s fifth anniversary, they’ve been reduced in price to just $4.99 / £4.99 and the equivalent in other currencies, down from $14.99.
How to get a GO Fest ticket
In the game, tap the Pokéball at the bottom, then tap Shop. You’ll see the ticket prominently displayed. Note that you can’t pay with Poké Coins.
You don’t have to buy a ticket: many of the Pokémon will appear regardless of whether you have a ticket, but holders will get some exclusive content including avatar items, face stickers and a guitar-case packpack as well as new poses.
When is GO Fest 2021?
It’s happening across two days:17 – 18 July.So make sure you don’t have other plans that weekend.
Each day, the event will run from 10am to 6pm (local time).
Will it be the same as GO Fest 2020?
Yes and no. You can play anywhere as before, but this year the Sunday will be focused on raids, not catching wild Pokémon. This means you’ll probably want to arrange to play with friends, as you won’t be able to defeat Legendary Pokémon by yourself.
Here’s are the key features of the weekend.
Here’s a quick overview of exclusive content that only ticket holders will get:
Schedule: Saturday 17 July
Habitats will rotate hourly, so you’ll see different Pokémon appearing, and each one will be repeated later in the day.
These are the four:
There will also be raids on Saturday.
Ticket holders will get Special Research tasks, and will be able to choose between different costumed Pokémon to encounter. The ‘choices’ in the Bidoof Special Research were clearly a test to make sure this would work during GO Fest.
Your choice will determine if you encounter Gardevoir wearing a Meloetta-inspired hat or Flygon wearing a Meloetta-inspired hat during the event. Whichever one you don’t choose will be attracted to Incense during event hours, but it won’t be wearing a hat.
Ticket holders will also get Pikachu Pop Star or Pikachu Rock Star from taking snapshots after completing the Special Research (during event hours)
Schedule: Sunday 18 July
There won’t be rotating habitats, but instead there will be different Legendary Pokémon appearing in raids. Here’s what you can catch at the following times (no ticket required, but you will need raid passes):
Wind Hour, 10-11am, 2-3pm:Mewtwo, Ho-Oh, Latias, Latios, Regigigas, Altered Forme Giratina, Cresselia, Virizion, and Therian Forme Tornadus
Lava Hour, 11am-12pm, 3-4pm:Moltres, Entei, Regirock, Groudon, Heatran, Reshiram, Terrakion, Therian Forme Landorus, and Yveltal
Frost Hour, 12-1pm, 4-5pm:Articuno, Suicune, Lugia, Regice, Kyogre, Palkia, and Kyurem
Thunder Hour:1-2pm, 5-6pm: Zapdos, Raikou, Registeel, Rayquaza, Dialga, Cobalion, Therian Forme Thundurus, Zekrom, and Xerneas
Ticket holders will get the following on Sunday:
Tips for GO Fest 2021
Ultra Unlock – Global Challenges
Each hour, ticket holders will be able to complete global challenges, just like previous GO Fests. There will be a bonus available for the rest of the hour once complete.
After GO Fest, the following bonuses will be unlocked if enough challenges are completed (and they always are).
23 July – 3 August: Time – Pokémon from various eras will appear (no details of which ones yet.)
6 -17 August: Space – Again, different Pokémon will appear, but we don’t know which ones.
20-31 August: No details available
Author: Jim Martin, Executive Editor, Tech Advisor
Jim has been testing and reviewing products for over 20 years. His main beats include VPN services and antivirus. He also covers smart home tech, mesh Wi-Fi and electric bikes.
