Skip to main content

Pokémon Go Ultra Bonus dates and rewards from Global Challenge 2019 explained

How to be rewarded from various Pokémon Go events wherever you are this year.

Pokémon Go's Global Challenge allows players around the world to get involved in the game's many Go Fest events throughout the summer.

Each Go Fest event - in Chicago, Dortmund and Yokohama - will coincide with a Global Challenge date that all players can participate in. Doing so will result in bonuses being unlocked for everyone in the game - as well as the arrival of shiny beasts.

After those, there will be Pokémon Go Ultra Bonus dates in September, with the tease of some powerful and never-before-seen rewards.

On this page:

Pokémon Go's Ultra Bonus rewards and unlocks explained

After three Go Fest events across the summer, the Jirachi quest has been unlocked and a series of Ultra Bonus rewards will roll out throughout September.

The Ultra Bonus rewards are as follows:

Ultra Bonus weekUltra Bonus start date, timeUltra Bonus end date, timePokémon Go Ultra Bonus rewards
Week 1September 2, 9pm UK / 1pm PDTSeptember 9, 9pm UK / 1pm PDT
  • Unown forms U, L, T, R, A appear in 10km Eggs
  • Raikou, Entei, and Suicune and other Johto Pokémon appear in Raids
  • Shiny Sentret (and evolution) and Gligar (and evolution) become available
  • 2x Incubator effectiveness
Week 2September 9, 9pm UK / 1pm PDTSeptember 16, 9pm UK / 1pm PDT
  • Regional exclusives Farfetch'd, Kangaskhan, Mr. Mime, and Tauros appear in 7km Eggs until September 23rd, with Shiny versions available
  • All Deoxys forms will appear outside of EX Raids for the first time
  • 2x Incubator effectiveness
Week 3September 16, 9pm UK / 1pm PDTSeptember 23, 9pm UK / 1pm PDT
  • Mewtwo returns to raids with special move Psystrike and Shiny version available
  • Gen 5 launches with Klink in raids and Patrat and Lillipup available in the wild, with Shiny versions available of all three
  • 2x Incubator effectiveness

Pokémon Go's Global Challenge dates, times and rewards at a glance

There are three unique events happening in 2019, all under the umbrella of 'Summer Events'. Even if you can't attend them yourself, there will be Global Challenges taking place across all three events, each with unique rewards that then unlock for all players at a later time.

If players can unlock all challenges within an event, a Raid day for the legendary beasts - Raikou, Entei and Suicune - will unlock. Anad, if players can unlock every challenge across all three Go Fest events, there will be a bonus mystery Raid Day in the future.

Last year's bonus Raid Day was the arrival of Mewtwo in Level 5 Raids, and it's likely the current EX Raid occupant, Deoxys, will take its place.

First of all, here are the dates and Pokémon spawns for each event at a glance:

Global Challenge start timeGlobal Challenge end timeAssociated Event and TrainerRewards up for grabsGlobal Challenge reward dates
June 13th 9am PSTJune 15th 5pm PSTGo Fest Chicago / Spark's Candy Research• Raikou Raid Day
• 2x Catch Candy
• Guaranteed 1 Rare Candy per raid
• 1/2 Hatch Distance
• 2x Hatch Candy
June 18th to June 25th (both 9pm BST / 1pm PST)
July 4th, 1am PSTJuly 9th, 9am PSTGo Fest Dortmund / Candela's XP Research• Entei Raid Day
• 3x Catch XP
• 1 hour Lucky Eggs
• 3x Hatch XP
• 2x Raid XP
July 9th to July 16th (both 9pm BST / 1pm PST)
August 5th, 6pm PSTAugust 12th, 1am PSTGo Fest Yokohama / Blanche's Stardust Research• Suicune Raid Day
• 3x Catch Stardust
• Guaranteed 3000 Stardust per raid
• 3x Hatch Stardust
• 1 Hour Star Pieces
August 13th to August 20th (both 9pm BST / 1pm PST)
Watch on YouTube

Go Fest Chicago Global Challenges and rewards

Between June 13th, 9am PST and June 15th, 5pm PST are Spark's Candy Research Global Challenges as part of Go Fest Chicago (which, though not announced before hand, will see the debut of Jirachi for event attendees):

ParticipantsGlobal ChallengeReward
Pokémon GO Fest Chicago event attendeesComplete 1 million research tasks2× Catch Candy
Team InstinctComplete 15 million research tasks globallyGuaranteed 1 Rare Candy per raid
Team ValorComplete 15 million research tasks globally1/2 Hatch Distance
Team MysticComplete 15 million research tasks globally2× Hatch Candy

Completing all the above will introduce a Raikou Raid Day at a later date, with the debut of a shiny version on the day.

Go Fest Dortmund Global Challenges and rewards

Between July 4th, 1am PST and July 9th, 9am PST are Candela's XP Research Global Challenges as part of Go Fest Dortmund:

ParticipantsGlobal ChallengeReward
Pokémon GO Fest Dortmund event attendeesComplete 1 million research tasks3× Catch XP
Team InstinctComplete 15 million research tasks globally1-hour Lucky Eggs
Team ValorComplete 15 million research tasks globally3× Hatch XP
Team MysticComplete 15 million research tasks globally2× Raid XP

Completing all the above will introduce an Entei Raid Day at a later date, with the debut of a shiny version on the day.


The Dual Destiny Season is here! It begins with the Just My Cup of Tea event, which also sees the arrival of Sinistea and the Dual Destiny quest in Pokémon Go! You can now catch Dynamax Pokémon through Max Battles. First, however, you need to visit Power Spots to collect Max Particles and complete the To the Max! quest. Don't forget to try out Routes, Gift Exchange and Party Play while you're hunting down rare Pokémon, fighting in the Go Battle League or competing in PokéStop Showcases.


Go Fest Yokohama Global Challenges and rewards

Between August 5th, 6pm PST and August 12th, 1am PST are Blanche's Stardust Research Global Challenges as part of Go Fest Yokohama:

ParticipantsGlobal ChallengeReward
Pokémon GO Fest Yokohama event attendeesComplete 2 million research tasks3× Catch Stardust
Team InstinctComplete 25 million research tasks globallyGuaranteed 3,000 Stardust per raid
Team ValorComplete 25 million research tasks globally3× Hatch Stardust
Team MysticComplete 25 million research tasks globally1-hour Star Pieces

Completing all the above will introduce a Suicune Raid Day at a later date, with the debut of a shiny version on the day.

Read this next