Ethan Crossfield 
Promotional card drops remain a major part of the Pokémon Trading Card Game ecosystem, giving collectors and casual players alternative ways to find fan-favorite characters outside standard booster sets. Now, The Pokémon Company appears to have shown its 2027 McDonald’s promo selection far earlier than planned through material tied to the next US restaurant event.
A future McDonald’s card set was shown in a 2026 promotion
The apparent early reveal was spotted in promotional material for the 2026 McDonald’s Pokémon event in the United States, which is scheduled to begin on November 10. That material reportedly included cards intended for the following year’s McDonald’s promotion instead. The annual McDonald’s collaboration has become one of the TCG’s most visible recurring tie-ins, so an advance look at its card pool quickly drew attention from collectors. The 2027 pack is expected to arrive sometime later in 2027, following the broad timing of previous restaurant promotions, though no precise release date has been confirmed.
The lineup leans heavily on recognizable Pokémon
The revealed selection contains 15 Pokémon: Bulbasaur, Rowlet, Sprigatito, Charmander, Torchic, Squirtle, Piplup, Pikachu, Raichu, Clefairy, Slowpoke, Marill, Gengar, Eevee and Snorlax. The mix gives the promotion a clear collector-focused identity, combining starters from multiple generations with enduring mascots and popular evolution-line picks. Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle provide the original Kanto starter trio, while Rowlet, Sprigatito, Torchic and Piplup broaden the set’s starter representation. Pikachu, Eevee, Gengar and Snorlax further ensure the assortment includes characters with wide appeal beyond dedicated tournament players.
Squirtle has prompted speculation about 2027’s wider release slate
Several cards in the lineup have not formally debuted in the Pokémon TCG, with Squirtle becoming the focal point of early community discussion. Its appearance has led to speculation that it could connect to the Flowing Fists expansion or another future release. Some fans have also suggested the card could point toward Mega Blastoise receiving a new TCG card, as it is the remaining Kanto starter Mega Evolution not yet represented during the current Mega Evolution era. That connection remains unconfirmed, and the early promo material does not establish which expansion, if any, the Squirtle card belongs to.
Key points
- A 2026 McDonald’s promotional post appears to have displayed the 2027 promo cards.
- The future set includes 15 cards, featuring starters, Pikachu, Eevee, Gengar and Snorlax.
- The US 2026 McDonald’s Pokémon event is scheduled to start on November 10.
- An unreleased Squirtle card has fueled unconfirmed Mega Blastoise speculation.
Confirmed Pokémon TCG dates mentioned
| Release or event | Date | Confirmed detail |
|---|---|---|
| Delta Reign | November 6, 2026 | Final major Pokémon TCG expansion planned for 2026 |
| US McDonald’s Pokémon event | November 10, 2026 | Promotion whose material reportedly showed future cards |
| Flowing Fists | February 5, 2027 | Expansion announced with Mega Lucario Z as its cover Pokémon |
Expert View
The early exposure highlights how powerful restaurant promos remain for the Pokémon TCG market. Unlike a conventional expansion reveal, a McDonald’s set can reach collectors, families and players at once, making recognizable Pokémon especially important. The Squirtle discussion also shows how quickly fans connect a single unreleased promo to the broader product roadmap. Until The Pokémon Company confirms card origins or the 2027 promotion’s timing, Mega Blastoise theories should be treated as community speculation rather than a reliable indicator of upcoming sets.
