Pokémon LAIC 2027 Registration Is Open: Dates, São Paulo Venue and Competitor Guide

Registration is opening for the 2027 Pokémon Latin America International Championships (LAIC), the first International Championships event of the 2027 Championship Series season. The tournament runs November 20–22, 2026, at Distrito Anhembi in São Paulo, Brazil, with competition in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon Champions and Pokémon GO.

The first competitor registration wave opened September 22 at 7:00 p.m. BRT (3:00 p.m. PDT). A second competitor wave opens September 23 at 9:00 a.m. BRT (5:00 a.m. PDT). Pokémon’s official championship page lists spectator registration for September 23 at 5:00 a.m. PDT.

Featured image: Sambódromo at the Anhembi complex in São Paulo. Photo by Beraldo Leal, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Pokémon LAIC 2027 dates and location

LAIC 2027 takes place from November 20 through November 22, 2026 at Distrito Anhembi, Av. Olavo Fontoura, 1209, Santana, São Paulo, Brazil.

The event is the first International Championships stop of the 2027 season. International Championships award more Championship Points than Regional Championships and feature larger prize pools. Pokémon says its International Championships events feature more than $500,000 in prizes, along with booster packs, commemorative prizes and direct invitations to the Pokémon World Championships.

Anhembi complex area in São Paulo, Brazil
Distrito Anhembi is the São Paulo venue for LAIC 2027. Wikimedia Commons image; see the source file page for author and license details.

LAIC 2027 registration times

  • Competitor Wave 1: September 22, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. BRT / 3:00 p.m. PDT
  • Competitor Wave 2: September 23, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. BRT / 5:00 a.m. PDT
  • Spectators: Pokémon’s official Championships page lists September 23 at 5:00 a.m. PDT

Competitors must be in good standing with the Play! Pokémon program and should make sure their Play! Pokémon and tournament-platform account information is current before attempting to register. Registration can close early if available passes sell out.

One detail worth checking at the moment of purchase: the official Pokémon Championships page and the event registration platform have displayed differing spectator timing information. Pokémon’s Championships page lists 5:00 a.m. PDT, while the registration platform should be treated as the final checkout authority if its live sale time differs.

Which games are at LAIC?

LAIC features three competitive tracks: Pokémon TCG, Pokémon Champions and Pokémon GO.

For Pokémon Champions, competitors must follow Pokémon’s device policy, which requires a system from the Nintendo Switch family. Players who are under 14 on the first day of LAIC must use the upcoming Junior version of Pokémon Champions on Nintendo Switch for the full event.

Pokémon GO competitors must be at least 16 years old on the first day of the tournament. The LAIC limited metagame also introduces Mega-Evolved Pokémon to this competition format, with specific type and species restrictions published by Pokémon.

São Paulo city skyline
São Paulo hosts the 2027 Latin America International Championships. Wikimedia Commons image; licensing and attribution are available on the source file page.

What competitors receive

Pokémon says every competitor will receive a welcome kit containing Pokémon merchandise including a cap, playmat, card sleeves, deck box and an International Championships-stamped promo card, among other items. The 2027 LAIC event branding centers on Salamence.

These event-exclusive items are a notable part of International Championships culture, but collectors should avoid assuming a future resale value. Pokémon has not published production quantities for the welcome-kit items.

LAIC adds a cosplay showcase

LAIC 2027 will also feature a cosplay showcase. Pokémon describes this as the first cosplay showcase at the Latin America International Championships for the 2027 season, giving attendees another activity beyond the competitive halls.

Sambódromo do Anhembi in São Paulo
A view of the Anhembi event complex area in São Paulo. Wikimedia Commons image; see the source file page for licensing details.

What to do before registration

  • Confirm that your Play! Pokémon account information is accurate.
  • Review the live registration platform before the relevant wave opens.
  • Check the game-specific eligibility and equipment rules for your division.
  • If you are under 18, review the guardian requirements before checkout.
  • Do not book nonrefundable travel solely on the assumption that a tournament pass will remain available.

For competitors who miss the first wave, the second competitor window on September 23 provides another opportunity. Spectators should use the official LAIC registration platform for the live on-sale status and final pass details.

Official sources

Event details and rules were checked against The Pokémon Company International’s LAIC 2027 event page and the official LAIC registration site. Registration information can change as capacity fills, so those pages should be treated as the final source for availability.

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