McDonald’s Pokémon Cards Australia 2026: Dates, Cards, Toys and What We Know

TL;DR: McDonald's Pokémon Cards in Australia, November 2026

• Australia is in the first wave. Reports based on the announced rollout list put Australia in November 2026, alongside Canada, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Spain and the United States.
• Exact start date: not confirmed by McDonald’s Australia as far as we could find. Some outlets report 5 November to 9 December, but they cite no official source, so treat it as likely rather than certain.
• What you get: a mini Happy Meal box shaped toy and two Pokémon cards per Happy Meal, drawn from a 15 card set.
• Price: no price has been announced. The cards come with the Happy Meal, not on their own.
• Supply: the promotion runs while stocks last, so popular cards and toys may disappear from restaurants before the end date.

This guide pulls together what has been published so far, separates what is confirmed from what is leaked, and gives you a practical plan for collecting without overspending. We checked the reports on 30 October 2026 and will update this page when McDonald’s Australia publishes its own details.

When Do the Pokémon Cards Start in Australia?

Australia is listed in the first wave of countries, with a November 2026 launch, according to Nintendo Life and PokeGuardian. Neither gives a specific day.

Two other outlets, GamingHQ and Kantopost, report an Australian window of 5 November to 9 December 2026, with Canada from 3 November and the United States from 10 November. Neither cites an official source, and an earlier Dexerto report had put the 5 November to 9 December dates on the United States instead. So the safest plan is to check the McDonald’s app or your local restaurant in the first week of November.

What Is in a Happy Meal?

The most recent reports describe a Happy Meal that comes in one of three boxes themed after Pikachu, Umbreon or Torchic. Each box contains one box shaped mini toy and a pack of two Pokémon cards. According to Nintendo Life, the two cards are drawn from a selection of 15 that includes seven holos.

Earlier reports described a four card booster pack with one holo. The newer two card figure appears in the 29 October update from Nintendo Life and in PokeGuardian, so we use that, but it is worth checking when the promotion opens.

• Cards: two per Happy Meal, random, from a 15 card set.
• Toys: 15 mini Happy Meal box toys. According to Sole Retriever, a leaked US list includes Pikachu, Eevee, Umbreon, Torchic, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Piplup, Rowlet and Sprigatito among others. Australian toy selection is not confirmed.
• Numbering: the cards use M27 numbering, with each card having its own number, per PokeGuardian.
• Artwork: mostly reused art from older sets. PokeGuardian reports that Squirtle is the only entirely new card.

The 15 Cards Revealed So Far

PokeGuardian published two 15 card lists and says it is not yet clear how they will be distributed, for example whether different regions get different sets. Pikachu, Snorlax and Eevee appear in both lists.

How Much Will It Cost?

No price has been published for the promotion. The cards and toy come inside the Happy Meal, so the cost to you is the price of the meal at your restaurant, which varies by store and state. The cards will not be sold on their own at counters as far as the reports say. Check the McDonald’s app for the current Happy Meal price near you before you go.

If your budget is tight, our money saving tips guide and cost of living price guide help you put a collecting hobby inside a realistic monthly budget, and the 50/30/20 budget method is a simple way to cap “wants” spending.

Lessons From Past McDonald's Pokémon Promotions

Past promotions show how fast supply can vanish, so it pays to be early and realistic:

• In 2021, for the 25th anniversary, Nintendo Life reports that scalpers bought dozens of Happy Meals to get the cards, and McDonald’s UK then limited buyers to one extra card per meal.
• In August 2025 in Japan, the same report says a three day Pikachu event ended after 24 hours because demand beat supply, and unopened boxes of cards later appeared for sale online.
• In January 2025 Australia had the Dragon Discovery set. Explosion Network reported that each Happy Meal came with one of twelve booster packs and the promotion ran while stocks lasted.

The pattern is consistent: the first week matters, and secondhand prices spike quickly. Expect stores to run out of some toys before the end date.

How to Collect Without Overspending

1. Set a cap before you start. Decide how many Happy Meals you will buy, and stick to it. With two random cards per meal from 15, duplicates are normal.
2. Go early but do not panic buy. Stock is the real limit, but buying meals you will not eat wastes money and food.
3. Trade instead of rebuying. Local Pokémon groups, school friends and online communities swap duplicates. Keep a list of the cards you still need.
4. Be wary of resale listings. Prices spike in the first days. Cards from the same promotion usually get cheaper as more people finish their sets, though nobody can guarantee this.
5. Check the app for the toy you want. Ask staff politely, but toys are usually handed out without a choice, so do not rely on getting a specific one.
6. Protect what you get. Card sleeves and a binder keep promo cards in good condition at low cost (see the picks below).

Can I Use Delivery or Order Ahead?

It is not clear whether delivery orders will include the toy and cards, or whether stores will allow you to choose a specific Happy Meal box. Ask your restaurant, and check the app listing for the promotion when it appears. If you use delivery apps, our DoorDash Australia guide explains how fees and menu pricing work, which can differ from in store prices.

Dietary Needs and Family Notes

If you or your child follow a halal diet, see our halal food in Australia guide for how to check menus and certification, because Happy Meal contents can differ by restaurant. McDonald’s publishes allergen and nutrition information on its own website and app, so check that before ordering for children with allergies.

The Happy Meal also works as a small treat or a stocking filler. Our Christmas in Australia guide covers how the festive season runs here, and the promotion’s December end date lands just before the holidays.

What We Still Do Not Know

• The confirmed Australian start and end dates.
• Whether the Australian card set matches the US set or uses a different list of 15.
• Which cards are holo, and whether the seven holos reported are the same everywhere.
• Whether there are per customer purchase limits in Australian stores.
• The final toy list for Australia and whether apple slice packaging with Pokémon art is included here.

We could not read McDonald’s Australia’s own website while researching, so the safest source for the final answers is the McDonald’s app and in store signage from the first week of November.

Collecting Supplies

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources

• Nintendo Life: Pokémon cards and toys are officially returning to McDonald’s Happy Meals soon
• PokeGuardian: Pokémon (McDonald’s) Happy Meal 2026/2027 with 15 cards officially revealed
• Sole Retriever: The McDonald’s x Pokémon Happy Meal collab has been revealed
• GamingHQ: McDonald’s Pokémon Happy Meal promotion is back
• Kantopost: The best part of Pokémon TCG’s new McDonald’s collaboration are the toy boxes
• Dexerto: McDonald’s x Pokémon reportedly returning in November
• Nintendo Life: McDonald’s has another TCG promo in the works
• Explosion Network: McDonald’s Dragon Discovery Pokémon set out now in Australia