The Philippines’ First Pokémon Center Pop-Up Store Is Now Open at SM Mall of Asia

Filipino Pokémon fans no longer need to fly abroad for a taste of the Pokémon Center experience. The Philippines’ first-ever Pokémon Center Pop-Up Store is officially open at SM Mall of Asia, bringing official merchandise, collectibles, and Pokémon experiences to Manila for a limited time. The store opened on October 1, 2026, at Level 3 of the North Entertainment Mall and is scheduled to stay open until early 2027. It operates daily from10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The opening is part of Pokémon’s 30th anniversary celebration and marks one of the franchise’s biggest official retail activations in the Philippines to date.

What’s Inside the Pokémon Center Pop-Up?

The biggest reason to visit is naturally the merchandise. The pop-up brings official Pokémon Center Original merchandise to the Philippines, along with collectibles, plushies, and items created for Pokémon’s 30th anniversary. Items spotted and promoted around the opening include collectibles such as

Bitty Pops, model kits, games, and bag charms, giving fans options beyond the usual Pikachu plushie.

Earlier announcements also confirmed plans for Pokémon Trading Card Game products. However, collectors planning an opening-week visit should take note:

Pokémon TCG products will not be available from October 1 to 5, according to the official Pokémon Center entry guidelines.

Availability may also change throughout the pop-up, particularly for popular or limited items.

It’s More Than a Store

Shopping is only part of the experience.

Pokémon’s anniversary celebration at SM Mall of Asia includes gaming areas where visitors can get hands-on with the franchise’s newer titles, including

The wider anniversary program also includes Pokémon Trading Card Game tutorials, Pokémon Mezastar experiences, character appearances, themed displays, and photo opportunities.

That makes the MOA activation feel less like a temporary merchandise booth and more like a small Pokémon destination, particularly for Filipino fans who have seen the elaborate Pokémon Centers available in Japan and elsewhere but have never had an official version this close to home.

There’s No Entrance Fee, But There’s a Queue System

Visiting the store is free, but simply arriving at Level 3 during the first few days will not guarantee immediate entry. Due to expected demand, a same-day ticket system is being implemented from October 1 to 5. The queue begins at 6 a.m. at the Level 1 Ocean Drive Entrance of the North Entertainment Mall. Same-day store entry tickets are distributed starting at 8 a.m., subject to availability. Each ticket is valid for only one person and cannot be transferred.

Pokémon has also specifically warned visitors not to queue or gather before 6 a.m. Anyone attempting to line up earlier may be denied entry. Once visitors receive their ticket, they can proceed to the Level 3 admission area at their assigned time.

Ticket distribution ends once the day's allocation has been reached, so anyone planning an opening-week visit may want to arrive early, just not too early.

Pokémon Is Taking Over MOA This October

The pop-up isn't arriving alone.

From October 1 to 15 , SM Mall of Asia is the first stop of the “Celebrate 30 Years of Pokémon at SM Malls” campaign, which will eventually travel to eight SM malls around the Philippines.

The celebration includes Pokémon merchandise, gaming experiences, Trading Card Game tutorials, themed displays, and Pokémon appearances. There is also Pokémon RUN 30: Philippines Edition, happening at the MOA Complex on October 3 and 4.

The approximately 5-kilometer experience turns runners into Pokémon Trainers. Participants select a first partner Pokémon before encountering themed challenges, Pokémon Gym obstacles, and Pokédex tasks along the route.

Even non-runners can join parts of the celebration through the Festival Zone, which features Pokémon experiences, photo opportunities, and character activities.

The Pokémon Celebration Won’t End in October

SM Mall of Asia is only the beginning. The Pokémon 30th anniversary mall campaign will continue around the Philippines through

March 2027, with stops scheduled at SM East Ortigas, SM Southmall, SM North EDSA, SM Marikina, SM Seaside Cebu, SM Davao and SM CDO Downtown.

Manila will then host another major event on January 23 and 24, 2027. Called PokéXciting! in Manila, the free event at SM Mall of Asia is expected to feature live performances, Pokémon Meet & Greets, a Pokémon parade, and exclusive merchandise.

Manila will even get its own version of PokéXciting! Pikachu dressed in red, with merchandise featuring the special design, is also planned for the event.

Until When Is the Pokémon Center Pop-Up at MOA Open?

There’s plenty of time to visit. The Pokémon Center Pop-Up Store at SM Mall of Asia will remain open until January 4, 2027, giving fans several months to check it out.

The pop-up is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Level 3 of the North Entertainment Mall, SM Mall of Asia.

For now, this remains a limited-time Pokémon Center rather than a permanent Philippine location, so fans hoping to experience it should visit before it closes in January.