Pokémon is suddenly becoming a much more valuable piece of the entertainment industry’s biggest rivalry.
For years, Universal has looked like the obvious home for an expanded Pokémon presence. Its partnership with Nintendo has already produced SUPER NINTENDO WORLD, transforming Mario, Donkey Kong, and other gaming characters into major theme park attractions in the United States and Japan.
Pokémon has gradually entered that ecosystem, too. Universal Studios Japan has featured the franchise through parades, character appearances, shows, and seasonal entertainment, building a relationship with The Pokémon Company that increasingly appeared destined to become something much larger.
That expectation intensified in January 2026, when Universal Studios Japan and The Pokémon Company announced plans for a new project involving immersive Pokémon experiences.
Japan is expected to receive the concept first before it eventually expands across the broader Universal Destinations & Experiences portfolio.
What happens after that, however, remains unclear.
Universal Still Hasn't Revealed Where Pokémon Is Going
Seven months after the announcement, Universal has not confirmed which additional resorts will receive Pokémon experiences.
There is still no announced U.S. location, opening timeline, attraction lineup, or detailed description of what Universal intends to build around one of the most commercially powerful entertainment franchises in the world.
That silence has become particularly noticeable at Universal Orlando Resort, where Islands of Adventure is undergoing significant change.
The Lost Continent, once one of the park’s original lands, is steadily disappearing. Poseidon’s Fury and The Eighth Voyage of Sindbad are already gone, demolition has accelerated during 2026, and Mythos Restaurant is expected to close in 2027.
Attention has therefore turned to what Universal could build between Seuss Landing and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter – Hogsmeade.
Pokémon has emerged as one of the most persistent possibilities.
Rumors have included concepts such as a Pokémon Snap-inspired dark ride and interactive experiences built around catching or encountering Pokémon. Universal, however, has not confirmed any of those reports.
Universal has publicly committed to expanding its Pokémon partnership beyond Japan, while simultaneously clearing a substantial piece of real estate at one of its flagship Orlando theme parks.
A Pokémon land would also give Islands of Adventure another major family-focused intellectual property alongside Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, Marvel, and Dr. Seuss.
Yet the distinction between speculation and confirmation remains important.
Universal has never announced Pokémon for Islands of Adventure. Nor has it confirmed Orlando, Hollywood, Beijing, Singapore, or another specific destination as the next stop following Japan.
As demolition continues, the company has remained notably quiet about The Lost Continent’s replacement.
Meanwhile, another entertainment giant has unexpectedly entered the Pokémon conversation.
Disney Lands Its Own Major Pokémon Agreement
Disney announced a global distribution agreement with The Pokémon Company International on August 28, expanding Pokémon’s presence across Disney+ and Disney XD.
The centerpiece is Pokémon Tales: The Misadventures of Sirfetch’d & Pichu, a new stop-motion series produced by The Pokémon Company International in collaboration with Aardman Animation.
The series follows Sirfetch’d and Pichu through the Galar Region as they undertake missions involving other Pokémon, rivals, alliances, and increasingly unpredictable adventures.
It is scheduled to debut on Disney XD and Disney+ in 2027.
The agreement also covers Pokémon the Series: The Beginning, bringing Ash Ketchum and Pikachu’s earliest animated adventures into Disney’s streaming ecosystem.
The classic series began airing on Disney XD earlier in August and is now available on Disney+ in the United States and select international markets.
For Disney, it represents a notable addition to a streaming service already built around some of the world’s largest franchises, including Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar, and Disney Animation.
There is currently no evidence that the agreement gives Disney any Pokémon theme park rights.
Universal remains the company with the publicly announced partnership to create new Pokémon theme park experiences, and its January announcement specifically described plans to expand those experiences throughout Universal Destinations & Experiences’ global footprint.
Disney has now revealed exactly how it intends to use Pokémon, putting the franchise prominently on Disney+ and Disney XD beginning with classic episodes and expanding with a brand-new series.
Universal has arguably promised something even bigger — physical Pokémon experiences at its theme parks — but has revealed remarkably little about where most of them will actually go.
What are your predictions for Universal's Pokémon plans?
