Pokémon TCG 30th Celebration: All Release Dates and Waves (2026)
By Dexhaul Team · August 28, 2026 · 7 min read
Updated October 5, 2026: Restructured as the complete wave guide; corrected UPC Day/Night to November 6 (not September 16); added October 30 Battle Decks, November 6 Ditto Premium Collection, and December 4 Binder Collection and ex Tins; added wave table and FAQ.
The 30th Celebration (product code ME05.5) is not a single launch. It is a five-wave rollout running from September 2026 through December 2026, and the most expensive single day in the lineup is not launch day.
Most early pre-order listings incorrectly showed the Ultra Premium Collections shipping September 16. They do not. According to the ICv2 product preview and confirmed seller listings, UPC Day and Night both ship November 6, 2026, the same date as the Figure Collections and Ditto Premium Collection. That five-product wave represents the highest combined floor spend of any single release date in the set.
This guide maps every product to its wave, links to the individual format guide for each, and flags the budget crunch dates ahead. Dexhaul is an independent, unofficial search engine with no affiliation with The Pokémon Company.
On this page 8 sections
Complete 30th Celebration Release Wave Table
| Wave | Date | Products | MSRP (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 16, 2026 | Elite Trainer Box, ex Boxes (Greninja/Sylveon), Knock Out Collection, Poster Collection | $179.95 / $159.95 set / $29.95 / $44.95 |
| 2 | Oct 2, 2026 | Booster Bundle, Mini Tins | $84.95 / ~$36 |
| 3 | Oct 30, 2026 | Battle Decks (Espeon ex + Umbreon ex) | $19.99 each |
| 4 | Nov 6, 2026 | UPC Day + Night (Espeon/Umbreon), Figure Collections (Mew/Mewtwo), Ditto Premium Collection | From ~$499 / $99.95 each / from ~$195 |
| 5 | Dec 4, 2026 | ex Tins (Sylveon/Greninja), Binder Collection | $59.99 each / $69.95 |
Wave 1: September 16, 2026
Launch day carries four product formats. The Elite Trainer Box is the standard collector entry: 10 booster packs, sleeves, dice, and a coin, currently available from $179.95 at independent shops. The ex Boxes come in two versions, Greninja ex and Sylveon ex, each with four booster packs and a promo ex card; the set of both from one seller runs $159.95. The Knock Out Collection ($29.95) and Poster Collection ($44.95) are the lower-cost Wave 1 formats, each including a promo card and booster packs.
Every booster pack across all 30th Celebration products draws from the same ME05.5 set list. What you are choosing between is the number of packs, the promo card, and the physical accessories in the box.
Wave 2: October 2, 2026
The Booster Bundle is six packs at $84.95, working out to roughly $14.16 per pack. That is a lower per-pack cost than the ex Box format and close to the ETB per-pack rate. The Mini Tins arrive on the same date, available individually from around $36 or in a full display.
Neither format includes a promo ex card. If your goal is opening packs rather than collecting the promo inserts, the Booster Bundle is the most efficient Wave 2 buy.
Wave 3: October 30, 2026
The 30th Celebration Battle Decks land on October 30, 2026: Espeon ex (Psychic) and Umbreon ex (Darkness). These are ready-to-play 60-card decks priced at $19.99 MSRP each, the most affordable entry point in the entire 30th Celebration line. Each includes an Illustration Rare-style Victini or Zeraora promo card alongside the deck's featured ex.
At $19.99, both decks together cost less than a single Knock Out Collection. Pre-orders are currently available from independent shops at $39.99 to $42.95 per deck.
See the full Espeon ex vs Umbreon ex breakdown at the 30th Celebration Battle Deck guide.
Wave 4: November 6, 2026
November 6, 2026, is the most expensive single date in the 30th Celebration lineup. Five products drop simultaneously: two Ultra Premium Collections, two Figure Collections, and the Ditto Premium Collection. Buying all five at floor prices totals well over $800.
UPC Day (Espeon ex) and UPC Night (Umbreon ex) each include approximately 30 booster packs, a premium promo ex, acrylic display, and collector accessories. Current pre-order floors sit between $499 and $649. Despite early retailer listings showing September 16, the confirmed ship date for both UPC variants is November 6, 2026, per the ICv2 product preview and updated seller listings.
The Figure Collections for Mew and Mewtwo each include five booster packs, a collector figure, and a promo card, priced at $99.95 each at the floor. Buying both together at a single seller costs $159.99 for the set, saving roughly $40 against split purchase. The Ditto Premium Collection adds eight booster packs, a Ditto ex promo, and an acrylic display, with pre-orders from $194.95.
November 6, 2026, is also the English release date for Mega Evolution Delta Reign (ME06). If you are collecting both sets, that date requires two separate purchasing decisions at the same time.
Full buying breakdowns: UPC Day vs Night guide · Figure Collections guide · Ditto Premium guide.
Wave 5: December 4, 2026
The December 4, 2026, wave brings two products: the ex Tins (Sylveon ex and Greninja ex) and the Binder Collection. Both are premium but lower-volume formats closing out the 30th Celebration product calendar.
Each ex Tin is priced at $59.99 and contains four booster packs plus a promo ex card in a collector tin. The Binder Collection is a 9-pocket binder with five booster packs and a matching promo, priced at $69.95 from independent shops ahead of the main US retail window.
Detailed guides: ex Tins: Sylveon vs Greninja · Binder Collection guide.
Planning Your Budget Across Five Waves
The gap between Wave 1 and Wave 2 is just sixteen days. The gap from Wave 2 to Wave 3 is four weeks. But the jump from Wave 3 (October 30) to Wave 4 (November 6) is only one week, and Wave 4 is the most expensive single date in the line by a wide gap.
If you are planning purchases across the full rollout, the practical pinch points are: committing to UPC Day vs Night well before November 6, since UPC pre-orders from independent sellers often sell through early; and deciding whether you want the Binder Collection or ex Tins before the December 4 retail window opens, when secondary market prices tend to rise briefly at launch.
Every 30th Celebration product shares identical booster pack contents from the ME05.5 set. The choice between formats comes down to: how many packs you want, which promo card you are after, and what physical collector accessories you value.
30th Celebration Release Dates: FAQ
Does the UPC ship September 16, 2026?
No. Both the UPC Day (Espeon ex) and UPC Night (Umbreon ex) ship November 6, 2026. Early pre-order listings showed September 16, but confirmed seller listings and the ICv2 product preview place both UPC variants in the November 6 wave.
What is the Binder Collection release date?
The Binder Collection's main US retail wave is December 4, 2026. Pre-order listings from independent shops are available now starting at $69.95. The binder is 9-pocket with five booster packs and a promo card.
Are the ex Tins and ex Boxes the same product?
No. The ex Boxes (Greninja ex Box, Sylveon ex Box) shipped on September 16, 2026, and include four booster packs plus an oversized card. The ex Tins are separate products shipping December 4, 2026, in a collector tin format at $59.99 each.
Are all 30th Celebration booster packs the same?
Yes. Every booster pack in every Wave 1 through Wave 5 product draws from the same ME05.5 card set. The set list is indexed at Limitless TCG. Promo cards are separate inserts, not pack pulls.
What is the cheapest 30th Celebration TCG product?
The Battle Decks (Wave 3, October 30, 2026) at $19.99 MSRP each. They are ready-to-play 60-card decks with a Victini or Zeraora promo card. Current pre-orders are available from $39.99.
Is there a 30th Celebration Classic Collection?
Yes. The Classic Collection includes reprints of iconic cards in the 30th Celebration card frame. See the Classic Collection singles guide for what is in it and what the individual cards sell for.
Search current pre-orders and in-stock listings for every 30th Celebration wave at DexHaul's Trading Cards collection. Listings from independent shops update in real time as sellers add stock for each upcoming wave.