Video games news, releases, esports and culture — all the biggest gaming stories in one place.
Pokémon Go ‘Ultra Unlock Water Festival’ 2026 event guide
Pokémon Go has launched a new "Ultra Unlock: Water Festival" event, running from 18 to 24 August 2026, focused on water-type Pokémon. The event marks the debut of Arrokuda, its evolution Barraskewda, and Cramorant, giving players fresh creatures to hunt while offering escalating bonuses that reward regular play throughout the week.
Catch XP and Stardust multipliers increase in three stages, from 2x/3x on 18-20 August up to 4x/5x by 22-24 August, encouraging players to play across the full event window. A 30-rank Go Pass (plus 30 bonus ranks, or a $4.99 deluxe upgrade) offers guaranteed encounters with the new Pokémon, alongside Field Research tasks, boosted spawns of species such as Psyduck, Goldeen and Feebas, and special methods to obtain Cramorant, including egg hatches, photobombs and Go Battle League rewards.
In short
- Pokémon Go's Water Festival event runs 18-24 August 2026.
- New Pokémon Arrokuda, Barraskewda and Cramorant debut.
- Catch XP and Stardust bonuses rise through three stages during the event.
Explained simply
Pokémon Go is a mobile game in which players explore real-world locations to find and catch Pokémon. Each Pokémon has a type, such as Water, and some events temporarily increase the appearance of certain types or introduce species not previously available in the game.
The event features Arrokuda, its evolution Barraskewda, and Cramorant. Players can encounter Pokémon through several parts of the game, including map spawns, research tasks, eggs and battles. Event bonuses and a Go Pass add ways to earn rewards, with some options available through a paid upgrade.
These events can affect how players spend time in the game, as limited-time encounters and rewards may be harder to obtain once the event ends. Catching Pokémon also earns experience points and Stardust, resources used to progress and strengthen a player’s collection.