The next McDonald’s Pokémon promotion is already generating interest, even though its release is still months away. The Pokémon McDonald’s 2027 cards have appeared ahead of schedule, revealing 15 familiar creatures and one particularly interesting detail: a Squirtle card that had not previously been released.
While the lineup includes several fan favourites, the accidental reveal also offers an early look at how Pokémon TCG’s promotional calendar could develop throughout 2027. For collectors, the timing is almost as interesting as the cards themselves.
Why an unreleased Squirtle stands out from the collection
Annual McDonald’s collaborations have become a familiar part of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. These promotions give collectors another opportunity to obtain cards featuring popular Pokémon, often bringing together creatures from different generations in a single selection.
However, this particular reveal includes something less predictable. According to specialist website PokeBeach, which spotted the mistake in an official promotional post from The Pokémon Company, several cards had not yet made their official debut.
Among them, Squirtle deserves special attention. Its unreleased card could eventually appear in a future Pokémon TCG expansion, potentially before the McDonald’s promotion reaches customers.
One possibility is Flowing Fists, the first expansion scheduled for 2027. Nevertheless, there is no official confirmation connecting Squirtle to that set. For now, its appearance simply provides an interesting clue about cards that collectors may encounter in upcoming releases.
The Pokémon McDonald’s 2027 cards include 15 familiar faces
The accidental reveal happened during preparations for the 2026 McDonald’s Pokémon campaign, which begins in the United States on November 10, 2026. A promotional post from The Pokémon Company unexpectedly included cards intended for the following year’s collaboration.
As reported by PokeBeach and subsequently covered by GameRant, the 15 Pokémon appearing in the 2027 selection are Bulbasaur, Rowlet, Sprigatito, Charmander, Torchic, Squirtle, Piplup, Pikachu, Raichu, Clefairy, Slowpoke, Marill, Gengar, Eevee and Snorlax.
One notable characteristic is the strong presence of starter Pokémon. Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle represent the original Kanto trio, while Torchic, Piplup, Rowlet and Sprigatito bring additional generations into the collection.
That gives the selection seven starter Pokémon out of fifteen cards, an appealing balance for fans who enjoy collecting the first partners from different Pokémon adventures.
Meanwhile, Pikachu, Raichu, Eevee, Gengar and Snorlax provide some of the franchise’s most recognisable faces. Clefairy, Slowpoke and Marill complete a lineup that mixes classic favourites with creatures introduced in later generations.
Rather than concentrating on a single region, the selection covers several periods of Pokémon history. This variety could make the promotion especially attractive to collectors who prefer completing themed sets instead of focusing on one particular generation.
Delta Reign and Flowing Fists are the next Pokémon TCG releases
Although the McDonald’s promotion belongs to 2027, collectors have two important expansion dates to keep in mind before then. The first arrives almost immediately, with Delta Reign launching on November 6, 2026 as the final Pokémon TCG expansion of the year.
Delta Reign brings back Mega Rayquaza ex, marking its return after Ancient Origins. The expansion also features other Mega Pokémon, including Mega Golisopod and Mega Golurk.
For those following Mega Rayquaza’s return, Battle4Play has also covered the Mega Rayquaza ex promotional box and its Dragon Shield connection, another product worth knowing about as the Pokémon TCG calendar moves into 2027.
After Delta Reign, attention turns to Flowing Fists, scheduled for February 5, 2027. It will be the first expansion of the new year, arriving before the expected McDonald’s collaboration.
These releases provide useful context for the accidental reveal. Since some promotional cards have not appeared officially yet, upcoming expansions could help clarify where certain illustrations originate. However, no direct connection between the unreleased Squirtle and either expansion has been confirmed.
What collectors should know about the 2027 McDonald’s release
Despite the early appearance of all 15 Pokémon, The Pokémon Company has not announced an exact release date for the 2027 McDonald’s promotion. Based on previous annual collaborations, a launch during the second half of 2027 seems possible, although this remains an estimate rather than an official schedule.
There are also no confirmed details about participating countries or the specific distribution arrangements for the 2027 cards. Therefore, collectors should avoid assuming that every market will receive the same promotion at the same time.
The timing is particularly interesting because Pokémon TCG is celebrating its 30th anniversary, with numerous promotional cards forming part of the wider anniversary activity. Another McDonald’s collaboration would give fans an additional collecting opportunity during this period.
Nevertheless, the immediate priority for collectors is to distinguish between the two campaigns. The United States promotion beginning November 10, 2026, is separate from the leaked 2027 selection. The accidental appearance of next year’s cards does not mean they will be available in the upcoming 2026 Happy Meals.
For now, the Pokémon McDonald’s 2027 cards offer an unusually early preview of a popular annual collaboration. With seven starter Pokémon, several iconic favourites and an unreleased Squirtle among the selection, there is already plenty to follow before the promotion officially arrives. Which of these 15 Pokémon would you most like to collect?
Creator of the website, Pokemon trainer by nature. Trying to report on everything related to the world of video games, series and movies. Yu-Gi-Oh is my weakness, collecting cards since the dawn of time.
