Pokémon’s new 30th‑anniversary promo cards look gorgeous — but will you be able to buy them?

What actually landed: premium trainer‑partner promos, arriving March 20

The Pokémon TCG is leaning into nostalgia for its 30th Anniversary with The First Partner Illustration Collection – Series 1: a batch of illustration‑rare promo cards that recast classic trainer-partner relationships as premium, frameable pieces. Series 1 is due March 20, 2026, with preorders expected in early March around $14.99/£14.99; it should show up at major retailers like Pokémon Center, Target and Best Buy in the U.S., and Pokémon Center UK, Smyths, Chaos Cards and Magic Madhouse in the U.K. (The Pokémon Day 2026 Collection is already available.)

• Release: Series 1 on March 20, 2026; preorders likely early March (~$14.99/£14.99).
• Product: Illustration‑rare promo cards celebrating trainer-partner bonds for the 30th Anniversary.
• Availability caveat: ongoing stock turbulence across recent Pokémon TCG launches could affect access and prices.

Breaking down the release – what the set actually is

This isn’t a new expansion set with boosters or an Elite Trainer Box. Think of it as a collectible promo drop: high‑quality illustration‑rare cards designed for display and nostalgia rather than tournament play. That “illustration‑rare” label is telling – Pokémon is selling these as premium pieces intended to celebrate the bond between trainers and their first partners, a sweet angle for collectors who like the emotional thread that runs through the franchise.

Why this matters now — anniversary timing and the bigger supply picture

Timing is everything. The First Partner Collection is tied to Pokémon Day 2026 and the broader 30th Anniversary marketing push, so demand will spike from collectors and casual fans alike. That’s great for hype, but we’ve already seen how Pokémon product launches have behaved this month: Megatins and Ascended Heroes Elite Trainer Boxes sold out almost immediately at many retailers, and singles’ prices have been volatile as supply trickles in.

There’s a glimmer of good news on the distribution front. GamesRadar+ reports The Pokémon Company is acquiring U.S. TCG distributor Excell Brands to consolidate fulfillment and improve order reliability. Pokémon’s president Kenji Okubo framed the move as a commitment to the community — and it could help blunt those wild sell‑outs and overpriced reseller listings. Don’t expect immediate miracles: scalpers and regional supply quirks still complicate things, but greater control over distribution is a step in the right direction.

Availability and collector concerns

If you collect, assume two things: 1) demand will outstrip initial supply at lots of outlets, and 2) the secondary market will try to capitalize. The recent Mega Charizard tins and Ascended Heroes ETBs sold out fast or have been priced up by resellers, even as singles from Ascended Heroes cooled in value once more product entered circulation. That pattern—initial scarcity then gradual normalization—could repeat with these promos.

Practical takeaway: set alerts and be ready at preorder windows in early March if you care about getting these at retail price. If you miss preorders, expect to see them appear briefly at the usual suspects (Target, Pokémon Center, Best Buy, and U.K. hobby retailers), but don’t be surprised if stock disappears fast. The Excell acquisition provides hope for better long‑term availability, but it won’t stop short‑term rushes tied to anniversary drops.

The gamer/collector perspective — why this is worth watching

This collection caught my attention because it’s not just another set of reprints — it’s a deliberate nostalgia play at a moment when collectors are emotionally invested in Pokémon’s history. Illustration‑rare promos like these can be beautiful shelf pieces that resonate with longtime fans. But “premium” packaging and anniversary labeling are also exactly the levers that drive scalpers and inflated listings.

If you’re buying to enjoy the art, these likely deliver. If you’re buying as an investment, be cautious: recent launches have been a roller coaster for resale value. The safest move is preorder at retail, or wait until the market stabilizes after release — that’s when prices and availability become clearer.

TL;DR

Pokémon’s First Partner Illustration Collection — Series 1 is a pretty, nostalgia‑heavy promo drop due March 20, 2026, with preorders expected in early March for about $14.99/£14.99. It’s perfectly timed for the 30th Anniversary, but launch‑period scarcity that’s plagued recent Pokémon TCG products means you should preorder if you want one at retail. The Pokémon Company’s acquisition of distributor Excell Brands might improve long‑term availability, but don’t count on it to neutralize scalpers or immediate sell‑outs this time around.