Pokémon UNITE opens a route to Tokyo with a US$1 million Aeos Crown event
Regional qualifiers begin rolling out on 5 December, with All-Star Draft changing the selection rules.
Pokémon UNITE’s next international competition has firm dates. The 23 September announcement schedules Aeos Crown 2027 qualifiers to begin from 5 December 2026, ahead of the Tokyo finals on 20–21 March 2027.
The advertised US$1 million pool includes cash prizes and supplementary awards. Thirty-one teams from regional qualifiers will join the 2026 world champion at the finals, with travel awards for qualifying teams.
A separate competition after Worlds
Pokémon had already confirmed in July that UNITE would leave the 2027 Pokémon World Championships programme and hold its own tournament. That earlier notice tentatively listed November for qualifiers; the September announcement now specifies December.
All-Star Draft will apply on each qualifier’s final day and throughout the finals. Once a Pokémon is selected, it cannot be picked again within the same match. That rule makes a wider selection of prepared Pokémon relevant across the match.
Check regional eligibility before planning a run
Entry is open to teams that meet their regional requirements. Participating regions, detailed schedules and official rules are still to be announced. Malaysian teams should wait for those details before treating a place in the qualifiers as confirmed.
Sources
- Pokémon UNITE: 23 September announcement, dates, prize scope and entry rules
- Pokémon: earlier Championship Series update and tentative schedule
- Pokémon UNITE Japan: finals field and All-Star Draft rules
Checked on 26 September 2026, Malaysia time. December dates come from the newer announcement. No Malaysian qualifier eligibility or allocation is asserted.