The Pokémon Company has confirmed that the North America International Championships are relocating to Chicago's McCormick Place starting in 2027, ending a three-year run at New Orleans' Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Exact 2027 dates haven't been announced yet.

The move comes down to growth outpacing the current venue. Attendance at NAIC has climbed more than 150 percent since the event settled in New Orleans three years ago, with competitors from 48 countries and regions making the trip this year alone. McCormick Place is the largest convention center in North America, giving The Pokémon Company International considerably more room to work with for competitor space, side events, and the broader fan experience that's grown up around Regional and International Championships in recent years. Chicago's accessibility as a travel hub was also cited as one of the deciding factors.

This lands in the same announcement as new details for PokémonXP and the 2026 World Championships, which run August 28 through 30 in San Francisco. The partner list for that event has expanded to include LEGO, Crocs, Funko, Stern Pinball, Build-A-Bear, Jazwares, Bandai Spirits, Sideshow, and others, alongside previews of the Welcome Kit, a new "Champion's" card line, a Paradise Resort promo card, and dedicated World Championships and XP promo cards for attendees.

Taken together, it's a reminder of how much bigger the competitive scene has gotten since Pokémon Champions became the standard VGC platform this year. An NAIC that's outgrown a major convention center after three seasons, plus a Worlds that's sharing its weekend with a full consumer convention for the first time, both point the same direction: this side of the franchise isn't a niche anymore.

Sources for this piece: Collider and The Pokémon Company North America Official Press Site.