Pokémon Go and MLB renew stadium partnership for 2026 season

Pokémon Go’s stadium play loop is back on the field, and the payoff for in-person fans is bigger than a logo swap. MLB and Pokémon Go renewed the partnership for the 2026 season, and all 30 ballparks will again carry club-branded PokéStops, Gyms and Official Routes, turning the stadium itself into part of the map.

That matters because the deal is built around actual gameplay, not just branding. Fans inside the park can spin PokéStops for Field Research task rewards, follow Official Routes between sections and chase event bonuses from their seats, the concourse or wherever they move between innings. The program also folds in Timed Research, exclusive in-game avatar items and Raid Battles with a shot at Pokémon carrying a Location Background, which gives the nights a real reason to plan around if you already have a ticket.

The schedule stretches from June through late September, so this is not a one-and-done promo tucked into Opening Week. The first wave includes Brewers night on June 3, Guardians night on July 2, Marlins night on August 7, Diamondbacks night on August 11, Mets night on August 25, Mariners night on September 22 and Red Sox night on September 25. The Mets’ event was already listed as sold out, which is the clearest sign that the crossover still has pull when the date and the ballpark line up.

The team-specific items make the calendar more than a generic stadium activation. The Brewers’ night includes a co-branded item and event-themed Field Research. The Guardians are selling a limited-edition T-shirt tied to Pokémon Go. The Marlins are leaning on their third annual Pokémon Go Night with PokéStops, Gyms and raid battles accessible from anywhere in the ballpark. The Diamondbacks are offering a hat with a Gym Team logo choice, Instinct, Mystic or Valor. The Mariners have a Pokémon Go Team Jersey, and the Red Sox have their own giveaway item tied to the night.

Some venues are changing this year because of stadium changes, so the layout will not look identical everywhere. That is the part players should care about most: the partnership only works if the mapping stays useful, and Pokémon Go still lives and dies on real-world movement. For trainers who already want a baseball game, the ballpark now adds a clean layer of raids, research and Route grinding. For everyone else, it is still mostly promotional theater.