The Pokemon Company accidentally revealed the full lineup of its 2027 McDonald's promo cards on November 1, a full year before the set is expected to hit Happy Meals, according to Game Rant.
The slip happened in a promotional post meant to hype the 2026 McDonald's Pokemon event, which launches in the United States on November 10. Somebody at the company grabbed the wrong images, and fans got an early look at 15 cards that are not supposed to exist in public yet.
What the 2027 McDonald's Pokemon cards include
PokeBeach first spotted the mistake. The leaked lineup features plenty of starter Pokemon: Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Torchic, Piplup, Rowlet, and Sprigatito. Fan favorites round out the set, including Pikachu, Raichu, Clefairy, Slowpoke, Marill, Gengar, Eevee, and Snorlax.
The McDonald's promotion has become one of the Pokemon TCG's most popular annual collaborations. Kids get cards with their Happy Meals, collectors line up to complete the set, and secondary market prices do what they always do. It is simple supply and demand, the kind of market logic that needs no government program to work.
The unreleased Squirtle fueling Mega Blastoise speculation
The real prize in the leak is a Squirtle card that has never officially debuted in the Pokemon TCG. Fans believe the card comes from a future expansion, possibly Flowing Fists, and that has set off heavy speculation that 2027 will feature Mega Blastoise.
Mega Blastoise is the last Kanto starter Mega Pokemon without a new card in the current Mega Evolution era. If the speculation holds, 2027 would complete the Kanto Mega set, and collectors would finally get the big turtle in his cannon-loaded glory.
When do the 2027 promos release?
The 2027 McDonald's promos are expected sometime in late 2027, based on the timing of past promotions. TheGamer noted the leak came 12 months too soon, and also pointed out that the set contains no representation from Generation 10.
Wargamer reported that the offending post, which included images of 15 cards bearing an unexpected set symbol, has since been deleted. The internet, as always, kept the receipts.
What else is coming to Pokemon TCG in 2026 and 2027
Fans do not have to wait a year for new product. The Pokemon TCG closes out 2026 with the Delta Reign expansion on November 6, bringing back Mega Rayquaza ex for the first time since Ancient Origins. The set also adds Mega Golisopod and Mega Golurk, which first appeared in the Mega Dimension DLC for Pokemon Legends: Z-A.
The first expansion of 2027 is already confirmed. Flowing Fists arrives on February 5, with Mega Lucario Z on the cover. A Mega Rayquaza ex Premium Tournament Collection is also on the way in early 2027, featuring Dragon Shield sleeves, a deck box, and booster packs.
The 30th anniversary celebrations have kept the promo pipeline full all year, from prerelease stamps on core expansions to premium collectibles like the Futuristic Rare Espeon, Umbreon, and Pikachu cards in the upcoming Ultra-Premium Collection.
A leak, a lesson, and a whole lot of hype
The Pokemon Company made a mistake, plain and simple. But the free market of fan enthusiasm does not punish leaks; it rewards them. Within hours, the 2027 set was catalogued, analyzed, and debated across every corner of the collecting community.
For now, the 2026 McDonald's event starts November 10 in the United States, and the 2027 cards stay officially under wraps. Collectors have a year to save their money.
FAQ
When did the Pokemon Company leak the 2027 McDonald's cards?
The leak surfaced on November 1, 2026, in a promotional post for the 2026 McDonald's Pokemon event that mistakenly included images of the 2027 promo cards.
Which Pokemon are in the 2027 McDonald's promo set?
The leaked lineup includes Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Torchic, Piplup, Rowlet, Sprigatito, Pikachu, Raichu, Clefairy, Slowpoke, Marill, Gengar, Eevee, and Snorlax.
Why is the leaked Squirtle card a big deal?
The Squirtle card has not officially debuted in the Pokemon TCG, leading fans to speculate that a 2027 expansion will feature Mega Blastoise, the last Kanto starter Mega Pokemon without a new card.