Pokémon Go 9th Anniversary Party: All Bonuses, Shiny Gimmighoul, and Party Hat Pokémon Explained

The big party is here! Pokémon Go is celebrating its massive 9th Anniversary Party and if you’re a fan of party hats, shiny Pokémon, and bonus rewards, you’ll want to catch all the details. This event runs from July 1-6 and is packed with perks, special research, and lots of costumed Pokémon. Let’s dive into everything you need to know so you don’t miss out!

Event duration and special bonuses
Unique Pokémon spawns and new Shinies
Free and paid Timed Research tasks
Event Field Research and rewards
Raid targets with increased shiny chances
Special day-by-day bonuses

When and what’s happening?

From July 1 to July 6, Pokémon Go’s 9th Anniversary Party brings party-themed Pokémon, shiny debuts, and a bunch of awesome bonuses. The event is perfect for both new and returning players—especially if you love friendship boosts, Lucky trades, and collecting rare costumed Pokémon.

Biggest bonuses during the event

There’s a ton of bonuses to take advantage of during the anniversary. Here are the highlights:

Increased chance to become Lucky Friends
More friendship XP for all interactions
Boosted odds for Lucky Pokémon from trades
Gimmighoul special features: new 9th Anniversary Coin version, chance for shiny Gimmighoul for the first time ever, and PokéStops turning gold (spin for 9 or 99 Gimmighoul Coins!)

On top of that, there are special daily perks:

July 1-3: 1/2 hatch distance for eggs placed in incubators during the event
July 3-5: 2x XP for catching Pokémon
July 5-6: 2x Stardust for catching Pokémon

Bonuses swap at 10 a.m. local time, and the event wraps up on July 6 at 8 p.m.

Pokémon in party hats and more

Keep your eyes peeled for party hat Pokémon on the map and even on the ground—just like apples! You’ll find Grimer, Eevee, Wobbuffet, and Wurmple with festive hats. Plus, for the first time, you can evolve party hat Bulbasaur into party hat Ivysaur and Venusaur. That’s a collection you don’t want to miss!

Special Research: Free and Premium Timed Tasks

There’s both a free and a paid Timed Research (for $1.99) running through the event. Both have the same tasks, but the premium track gives you more valuable items instead of costumed Pokémon. Here’s what you’ll need to do:

Free Timed Research tasks

Catch 99 Pokémon (Bulbasaur [party hat] encounter)
Make 99 curveball throws (Charmander [party hat] encounter)
Spin 9 different PokéStops or gyms (Squirtle [party hat] encounter)
Evolve 9 Pokémon (Wurmple [party hat] encounter)
Earn 9 hearts with your buddy (Eevee [party hat] encounter)
Make 9 great throws (Wobbuffet [party hat] encounter)
Earn 9,999 XP (Grimer [party hat] encounter)
Earn 9,999 Stardust (Raticate [party hat] encounter)

Rewards: Gimmighoul (9th Anniversary) encounter, 9,999 Stardust, 9,999 XP

Premium Timed Research tasks

Catch 99 Pokémon (1 Incense)
Make 99 curveball throws (1 Incubator)
Spin 9 different PokéStops or gyms (1 Rocket Radar)
Evolve 9 Pokémon (1 Premium Battle Pass)
Earn 9 hearts with your buddy (1 Poffin)
Make 9 great throws (1 Max Mushroom)
Earn 9,999 XP (1 Lucky Egg)
Earn 9,999 Stardust (1 Star Piece)

Rewards: Gimmighoul (9th Anniversary) encounter, 9,999 Stardust, 1 Super Incubator

Event Field Research tasks and rewards

Spin PokéStops during the event for a chance at these tasks:

Catch 7 different species of Pokémon (Rowlet, Litten, or Popplio encounter)
Catch 9 Pokémon (10 Poké Balls, 5 Great Balls, or 2 Ultra Balls)
Earn 4 hearts with your buddy (Turtwig, Chimchar, or Piplup encounter)
Earn 9,999 Stardust (Gimmighoul [9th Anniversary] encounter)
Make 5 curveball throws (Snivy, Tepig, or Oshawott encounter)
Make 8 great throws (Grookey, Scorbunny, or Sobble encounter)
Power up Pokémon 9 times (Sprigatito, Fuecoco, or Quaxly encounter)
Send a gift with a sticker (Bulbasaur [party hat], Charmander [party hat], or Squirtle [party hat] encounter)
Spin 2 PokéStops or gyms (Chikorita, Cyndaquil, or Totodile encounter)
Take 3 snapshots of wild Pokémon (Treecko, Torchic, or Mudkip encounter)

Boosted wild spawns and raid targets

During the event, these Pokémon will be popping up more frequently:

Bulbasaur (party hat)
Charmander (party hat)
Squirtle (party hat)
Treecko (July 1-2)
Torchic (July 1-2)
Mudkip (July 1-2)
Turtwig (July 1-2)
Chimchar (July 1-2)
Piplup (July 1-2)

And for raid fans, one-star raids are bringing:

Pikachu (cake hat) (with increased shiny chance!)
Eevee (party hat) (also increased shiny chance!)

Other cool extras

The Masterwork Research “Wish Granted” for shiny Jirachi is back for purchase at $4.99, giving you double Incense and Lucky Egg duration during the event. If you already bought it, you’ll still get those perks. And don’t forget, you can find party hats lying around the map—just like apples!

Ready to celebrate? Grab your phone, stock up on Poké Balls, and let’s make the 9th Anniversary Party the best one yet. Good luck, Trainers!