Day and Night Pikachu ex Special Illustration Rares Revealed for 30th Celebration

The Pokemon TCG’s 30th Celebration set just got even more exciting. TPCi has officially unveiled the Special Illustration Rare versions of the day and night Pikachu ex cards, and they look absolutely stunning.

The Star Pikachu ex Cards

The day and night Pikachu ex concept is a clever thematic pairing, with each card representing a different time of day. We had already seen the Double Rare versions of both cards, but these new Special Illustration Rares elevate the artwork considerably. Expect these to be among the most chased pulls in the set when products begin releasing worldwide on 16 September 2026.

Both Pikachu ex cards will also appear as promos inside the Ultra-Premium Collections, which are themed around Espeon ex and Umbreon ex respectively, tying neatly into the day and night motif.

A Packed Set

Beyond the headline Pikachu ex reveals, the 30th Celebration set is shaping up to be enormous. A wide range of cards have already been officially shown from both the main set and its Classic Collection subset. Highlights include Greninja ex, Jirachi ex, Espeon ex, Sylveon ex, Umbreon ex, Mewtwo ex, and Mew ex, alongside fan favourites like Charizard and Pikachu & Zekrom-GX as Classic Collection reprints. There is also a generous spread of supporting Pokemon such as Victini, Zeraora, Nidorina, Alolan Meowth, Eevee, Lapras, Drifloon, Lycanroc, Meowth, and Hisuian Zorua.

Perhaps most notable is the promise of 30 different Pikachu cards within the set. Several of these have already been revealed through Japanese card previews, giving collectors a taste of the variety on offer.

With 30 Pikachu cards, a Classic Collection, and some genuinely gorgeous Special Illustration Rares headlining the set, 30th Celebration is shaping up to be one of the most collector-focused releases in recent memory. Mark 16 September 2026 in your calendars.