Pokemon Launches 2026-27 Thailand Premier Ball League in Bangkok
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On October 24, The Pokémon Company officially opened the 2026-27 Thailand Premier Ball League at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. The tournament is a flagship event under the Pokémon Asia Championship Series for the 2026-27 season, spanning seven countries and territories: Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines. Competitions cover both Pokémon TCG and VGC formats, with this season using Pokémon Champions as the competitive platform. Beyond official matches, the event features hands-on demos, exhibitions, and entertainment zones open to media and the general public.
Jushiro Kitamura, Director of Pokémon TCG Tournament Operations for Asia and Director of The Pokémon Company Asia, said the company aims to create more opportunities for players in Thailand and other countries with growing communities to enjoy the game through activities tailored to different player needs and experience levels. The large-scale Premier Ball League is a key part of that strategy.
Beyond the premier tournament, the company is also developing the Great Ball League, held at Pokémon Gym stores, and the Ultra Ball League, a mid-tier competition bridging Great Ball and Premier Ball Leagues, to give players more accessible entry points.
For the 2026-27 season, Ultra Ball League events will introduce age divisions so younger players can participate comfortably and enjoy the game. Formats will be adjusted based on turnout and player feedback.
Kitamura added that The Pokémon Company wants to make it easier for players to find accurate event information, so it is applying the Pokémon GAME ON! concept across activities. Players are invited to choose events matching their interests and experience via the project website. The company is also collecting feedback from Premier Ball League and Great Ball League participants through surveys to improve future tournaments and elevate the player experience nationwide.
In the 2025-26 season, Premier Ball League and Master Ball League participation hit record highs across all seven regions, with many locations seeing average entrants more than double compared to two years ago. This growth has forced Thailand's 2026-27 events to expand venue capacity to accommodate the booming Pokémon community.
Another key highlight for 2026-27 is the full integration of the Pokémon GAME ON! initiative into the Pokémon Asia Championship Series, following its launch on August 7, 2026. The goal is to let players of all levels, from newcomers to veterans, access battles and enjoy Pokémon activities more easily.
The concept will appear on posters, venue decor, prizes, and opening calls of "Game on!" Players can also receive Pokémon GAME ON! promo cards at participating Pokémon TCG Gym stores starting September 1, 2026, while supplies last.
Inside the event venue...
