San Francisco's Howard Street Becomes 'Rayquaza Road' as Pokémon World Championships 2026 and PokémonXP Open
San Francisco's Howard Street has been renamed "Rayquaza Road" for the Pokémon World Championships 2026 and the debut of PokémonXP, a first-of-its-kind fan convention running alongside the competitive tournament. Both events open on August 28 and run through August 30, held across the Moscone Center and Chase Center in downtown San Francisco VGC.
Over 50,000 Pokémon fans are descending on the San Francisco area for the three-day spectacle, according to VGC. The street itself — which runs next to the Moscone Center — has been transformed into a fan zone with photo opportunities, product demonstrations, and Pokémon-themed food vendors. A campus map also lists a Pokémon Center Outpost, a Pin Rally, and a "Rayquaza Trolley Wharf" along the route.
Chris Brown, The Pokémon Company's director of global esports and events producer, opened the show alongside local politicians and two Pikachu mascots — one dressed in Pokémon Worlds 2026 gear, the other in a PokémonXP costume. Each day's proceedings begin at 9:00 a.m. PDT.
The two events serve different audiences. The World Championships are a competitive tournament where players battle for cash prizes across multiple Pokémon games. PokémonXP, by contrast, is built around fan activities: panels, signings, and interactive attractions designed for the broader community rather than ranked competitors.
Attendees of either event are set to receive an exclusive Rayquaza promo card stamped with the PokémonXP logo — a collectible tied to both gatherings Pokémon.com. Fans can also help build a life-sized Lego Rayquaza at the Lego stand on Rayquaza Road, and a life-sized model of the Legendary Pokémon Koraidon — built by Honda and dubbed the Honda Koraidon — is on display.
Santa Cruz, the skateboarding brand, showed off new skateboard decks featuring popular Pokémon Trading Card Game artwork. The Lego Group also used the occasion to spotlight its first-ever LEGO Pokémon sets, which are set to launch on February 27, 2026 Pokémon.com.
San Francisco's transit authority has warned that street closures and traffic impacts will accompany the events throughout the weekend SFMTA. Attendees looking to shop at the on-site Pokémon Center store were invited to make reservations in early August, given the expected crowds.
For fans, the draw is straightforward: a competitive world championship, a brand-new convention format, and a city block turned over entirely to Pokémon — from Lego builds to skate decks to a street sign that, for a few days, reads "Rayquaza Road."
