Pokemon GO Confirms 9th Anniversary Party Bonuses and Pokemon Debuts

Pokemon GO has announced its 9th Anniversary Party, a week-long event that kicks off on July 1, 2025. The anniversary celebration will feature some long-awaited Pokemon debuts, including Party Hat Ivysaur and Venusaur. A new way of catching Gimmighoul is also coming to Pokemon GO for a limited time.

When Pokemon GO first launched on July 6, 2016, it instantly became a hit among Pokemon fans. The game has become a pioneer in the mobile AR genre, and continues to draw millions of monthly players globally. Pokemon GO recently launched its Delightful Days season, which overlaps with the game’s ninth anniversary. Now, the game has confirmed a new limited anniversary event featuring costumed Pokemon, an exclusive Gimmighoul, and several exciting bonuses.

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Pokemon GO: Should You Get GO Pass Deluxe?

If you want both rewards from the GO Pass events, you may consider getting the GO Deluxe Pass.

Pokemon GO will hold its 9th Anniversary Party between Tuesday, July 1, at 10:00 AM and Sunday, July 6, at 8:00 local time. During the event, Kanto starters Bulbasaur, Charmander, and Squirtle will spawn more frequently in the wild and will wear party hats. Moreover, party-hat Bulbasaur will be able to evolve for the first time in Pokemon GO. Another major debut will be shiny Gimmighoul, and fans can even encounter limited versions of Gimmighoul holding a 9th anniversary coin and a seasonal background. It is worth noting that while catching Gimmighoul in Pokemon GO has been tied to owning Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, the anniversary event will let players encounter the critter with a different, easier method. During the celebration, fans can complete Field Research Tasks and Timed Research to encounter Gimmighoul holding a 9th anniversary coin. Additionally, PokeStops may turn gold without a Golden Lure Module.

Pokemon GO Reveals 9th Anniversary Party Details

Duration: from Tuesday, July 1, at 10:00 AM to Sunday, July 6, 2025, at 8:00 PM local time

Pokemon Debuts

Ivysaur wearing a party hat
Venusaur wearing a party hat
Gimmighoul holding a 9th anniversary coin*^
*Can be shiny
^Golden Lure Modules don’t attract Gimmighoul holding a 9th anniversary coin

Event Bonuses

Increased chance to become Lucky Friends
Increased chance to get Lucky Pokémon in trades
PokeStops may turn gold without a Golden Lure Module
Increased chance to encounter cake-hat Shiny Pikachu and party-hat Shiny Eevee from raids
Gimmighoul holding a 9th anniversary coin will have a 9th anniversary–themed Special Background!
Friendship levels will increase faster than normal through opening Gifts, trading Pokemon, or battling together in raids, Gyms, or Trainer Battles
Chance of finding 9 or 99 (or maybe more!) Gimmighoul Coins when spinning a PokeStop with a Golden Lure Module
During the 9th Anniversary Party, you may discover party hats in the wild. Tapping on them will award items or encounters with event-themed Pokemon

Limited Bonuses

July 1 at 10:00 AM – July 3 at 10:00 AM local time
- 1/2 Egg Hatch Distance when Eggs are placed in an Incubator on these days
July 3 at 10:00 AM – July 5 at 10:00 AM local time
- 2× XP for catching Pokemon
July 5 at 10:00 AM – July 6 at 8:00 PM local time
- 2× Stardust for catching Pokemon

Wild Encounters

Bulbasaur wearing a party hat*
Charmander wearing a party hat*
Squirtle wearing a party hat*
First partner Pokémon will appear on certain dates throughout the event.
*Can be shiny

One-star Raids

Pikachu wearing a cake hat*
Eevee wearing a party hat*
*Can be shiny

Field Research Task Rewards

Encounters with event-themed Pokemon
- Including Gimmighoul holding a 9th anniversary coin

Timed Research Rewards

XP
Stardust
Encounters with event-themed Pokemon, including party-hat Bulbasaur, party-hat Wobbuffet, Gimmighoul holding a 9th anniversary coin, and more

Event Timed Research Ticket Rewards

Cost: US$1.99
One Super Incubator
One Max Mushroom
An encounter with Gimmighoul holding a 9th anniversary coin
And more!

Masterwork Research: Wish Granted

Cost: US$4.99
Grants encounter with Shiny Jirachi
2x Incense duration
2x Daily Adventure Incense duration
2x Lucky Egg duration

New Avatar Items in Store

Team Valor GO Wristband
Team Mystic GO Wristband
Team Instinct GO Wristband

9th Anniversary Party Ultra Ticket Box

Cost: US$4.99
Timed Research ticket
Early access to Party Hat avatar item
3x Max Potions
3x Max Revives
1x Star Piece

Players will also have a chance of finding 9, 99, or more Gimmighoul coins from spinning PokeStops with a Golden Lure Module. These items are used to evolve the Pokemon into Gholdengo. However, fans should take into account that the 9th anniversary coin Gimmighoul cannot be attracted by Golden Lure Modules. On the other hand, one-star Raids will feature Pikachu with a cake hat and Eevee with a party hat. Both Raids will give an increased chance of encountering their shiny forms. Finally, Pokemon GO friendship levels will increase faster than normal, and players will have a higher chance of becoming Lucky Friends and getting Lucky Pokemon from trades.

In almost ten years, Pokemon GO has gained a large fandom and reached some major milestones. The game has also undergone significant changes, with Niantic recently selling the game to Scopely, for example. July will be a big month for the AR title, though. Aside from its anniversary, Pokemon GO is holding a Quaxly Community Day and an Eevee Community Day Classic.