Pokémon GO Raid Guide: August 2026 Events and Schedule

Updated: July 23, 2026

It’s shaping up to be a packed month in Pokémon GO. As outlined by Niantic's official channels and detailed by Vandal, August 2026 brings heavy rotations, Max Battles, and the highly anticipated return of some of our favorite legendaries to 5-star raids. If you were looking for an excuse to get out and walk, this is it.

If you want to make the most of the month, sit back because I’m going to break down everything you need to know without beating around the bush. From the Regis to Shadow Giratina, the schedule is designed so everyone has something to farm.

Get your best Raid Passes ready and let’s go over the key dates. This month’s rotations include both global events and some regional exclusives, so it’s important to know what will be available in your area to plan your resources well.

Keep in mind that almost all rotations and main events, unless otherwise stated, start and end at 10:00 AM (local time). This means you don’t have to worry about weird time zone conversions to join the action.

5-Star Raids in August 2026

The main course every month is always the legendary battles. Here is the complete rotation for 5-star raids so you can start setting up your best counter teams:

• Kyurem: Available from July 29 to August 4.
• Uxie: August 5 to 11 (exclusive to Asia and the Pacific).
• Mesprit: August 5 to 11 (exclusive to Europe, Middle East, Africa, and India).
• Azelf: August 5 to 11 (exclusive to the Americas and Greenland).
• Groudon: Available from August 12 to August 18.
• Lunala: Available from August 19 to August 25.
• Regirock, Regice, and Registeel: Active from August 26 to September 8.

Also, if you enjoy the challenge of shadow raids, take note: Shadow Giratina (Altered Form) will be appearing in shadow raids every weekend, starting from August 5 until September 8.

Best Mega Raids of the month

Mega Evolutions are also coming in hot this August. These are the mega-evolved Pokémon you can face in Mega Raids throughout the weeks:

• Mega-Aggron: Available from July 29 to August 4.
• Mega-Blaziken: August 5 to August 11.
• Mega-Garchomp: August 12 to August 18.
• Mega-Swampert: August 19 to August 25.
• Mega-Gyarados: Wrapping up the month from August 26 to September 8.

As if that weren't enough, every Wednesday we will have the classic Raid Hour from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (local time), highlighting the current legendaries: the regionals on the 5th, Groudon on the 12th, Lunala on the 19th, and the Regi trio on the 26th.

Max Battles and Dynamax Pokémon

The power nodes in Max Battles bring the Dynamax phenomenon directly to our phones. These giants will appear globally on the following dates:

• Dynamax Magmar: August 3 to August 9.
• Dynamax Beldum: August 10 to August 16.
• Dynamax Magikarp: August 17 to August 23.
• Dynamax Hitmontop: August 24 to August 30.
• Dynamax Eevee: August 31 to September 6.

Pay special attention to Mondays. On that day, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (local time), there will be a spotlight hour with an increased appearance rate for these Dynamax Pokémon.

Spotlight Hours and Special Events

Tuesdays remain the quintessential day to go out and hunt for bonuses from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (local time). This month the rewards are fantastic:

• August 6 - Delibird: 2x Stardust for catching Pokémon.
• August 13 - Wurmple: 2x XP for evolving Pokémon.
• August 20 - Magikarp: 2x XP for catching Pokémon.
• August 27 - Mankey: 2x Candy for catching Pokémon.

To top it all off, the August calendar is sprinkled with key dates you can't miss:

• Gigantamax Rillaboom Max Battle Day: August 1.
• Summer Marathon: Arctic Fire: August 4 to August 10.
• Hatch Day: Fire and Ice: August 8.
• Nickit Community Day: August 16.
• Ultra Bonus: Water Festival: August 18 to August 24.
• Ultra Bonus: Starmie Super Mega Raid Day: August 22.
• PokémonXP & 2026 Worlds: August 25 to August 30.

Tips to maximize your gameplay

To avoid running out of resources mid-August, I recommend you start hoarding Premium Raid Passes right now. Additionally, save your Star Pieces and Lucky Eggs for specific events. For example, August 6 with Delibird is the ideal time to pop a Star Piece and multiply that double Stardust reward. Likewise, August 13 with Wurmple is the perfect chance to use a Lucky Egg and complete as many evolutions as possible in that hour.

You now have all the information on the table. Manage your item bag well, gather Stardust, and make sure to play smart so you don't miss the best catches of the season. See you out there throwing excellent curves!

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Looking for local trainers to tackle these 5-star raids? Join the OlaGG Discord to coordinate with players in your area, or check out OlaGG Quests to earn rewards while you play!