Winter Holiday Part 1 begins on December 18 in Pokemon GO, and players have received a look at what to expect from the festive event. While the year is wrapping up, Pokemon GO players still have the opportunity to earn more rewards and catch more critters.
Like previous years, 2025 has featured events with Pokemon debuts. Some of the new additions this year include Tarountula, Spidops, Dipplin, and Hydrapple, to name a few. In fact, so many creatures have been introduced that the developers are beginning to run low on Pokemon to add to Pokemon GO. Additionally, the Trainer level cap was increased from level 50 to level 80 in October, bringing more rewards for players to earn. Despite 2025 being almost over, Pokemon GO still has more events for its community to take part in, including Winter Holiday Part 1.
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Pokemon GO’s Winter Holiday Part 1 Adds New Costumed Pokemon
Ahead of the start of the event, Scopely has detailed what players can expect. Specifically, the annual event runs from Thursday, December 18, at 10:00 am to Wednesday, December 24, 2025, at 10:00 am local time. During Winter Holiday Part 1, players can collect several new costumed Pokemon. These debuts include festive versions of Sudowoodo, Charjabug, and Vikavolt, all wearing holiday attire. Furthermore, wild encounters will include event-themed Pokemon, such as Swinub, Snorunt, and Spheal, and holiday-themed Sudowoodo and Charjabug could also appear. There is a chance these Pokemon could be shiny. For those who are interested in grabbing a holiday-themed Vikavolt, Pokemon GO has detailed a way to get one. As long as a player has caught a Charjabug wearing holiday attire, they can evolve the creature into a Vikavolt with holiday attire by using 100 Grubbin Candy when near a Magnetic Lure Module.
It is worth noting that this is not the only opportunity players will have to claim some festive items for the Christmas season. 7 km eggs hatched during Winter Holiday Part 1 include Pichu wearing a festive hat and Cubchoo wearing a holiday ribbon. In addition, several other Pokemon that feature the Ice type can be hatched from these eggs, including Smoochum, Cryogonal, and Snom. Besides hatching eggs, players can take part in three-star raids against the following Pokemon: Sudowoodo wearing holiday attire, Hisuian Avalugg, and Charjabug wearing holiday attire. This provides another opportunity to claim the new holiday-themed critters in Pokemon GO.
Beyond adding new costumed Pokemon, Winter Holiday Part 1 introduces new items for Pokemon GO’s Avatars. Themed around the new Pokemon designs, players can purchase the Charjabug Bag and the Sudowoodo Holiday Sweater. Both items can be bought in the in-game store and will be available even after the event ends.
Winter Holiday Part 1 also features a new GO Pass that runs from Thursday, December 18, at 10:00 am to Monday, December 29, 2025, at 8:00 pm local time. As with previous passes in Pokemon GO, there are free and paid tracks with various rewards. The free option includes encounters with Snom and event-themed Pokemon, along with more Stardust, XP, Poke Balls, Candy, and more. However, the paid track, which costs $7.99, includes a Snom Beanie for players’ Avatars and additional benefits. It is worth noting that there are also event bonuses that unlock at corresponding milestones for the GO Pass and Deluxe variant.
GO Pass: Winter Holiday 2025 — Featured Pokemon and Rewards
Complete Pass Tasks to rank up your GO Pass to earn the following rewards.
- Encounter with Snom
- Encounters with event-themed Pokemon
- Stardust
- XP
- Poke Balls
- Candy
- And even more goodies!
Trainers who upgrade to the GO Pass Deluxe can also earn the following rewards.
- Snom Beanie
- Additional encounters with even more event-themed Pokemon
- Premium Battle Passes
- Rare Candy XL
- Candy XL
- And even more goodies!
With this upcoming event right around the corner, Pokemon GO players have more to look forward to before welcoming the new year. While Part 1 wraps up on December 24, Part 2 is expected to follow, giving players more Pokemon and rewards to collect. Time will tell what Pokemon GO events the community can look forward to in 2026.
