Gotta Catch ’Em All: eBay Celebrates 30 Years of Pokémon with a Landmark Live Auction
From PSA 10 Charizards to global premium listings, eBay’s Pokémon Day celebration honors three decades of one of collecting’s most powerful franchises.
This Friday, collectors around the world are gearing up for a celebration that’s been 30 years in the making. To mark Pokémon’s big three-decade anniversary, eBay is hosting a special live auction event, “The 30/30 Collection,” that brings together 30 of the franchise’s most iconic collectibles spanning its history. From vintage trading cards and sealed games to limited-edition memorabilia, this curated lineup spans generations of fans.
Set to kick off on Pokémon Day, Feb. 27, the auction takes place exclusively on eBay Live, the marketplace’s interactive livestream shopping experience, beginning at 3:00 p.m. PT / 6:00 p.m. ET. What makes this event especially exciting is that each piece in the 30/30 Collection will start at its original retail price, giving bidders a rare chance to chase iconic items at nostalgic entry points.
Among the standout items are several of the holy grails that have helped define the Pokémon collectible market over the years. Highlights include the 1996 Pokémon Base Set Japanese #6 Charizard Holo graded PSA 10, representing the fire-breathing favorite’s first printed appearance; a sealed 1998 Pokémon Red and Blue Game Boy Edition (CIB) graded PSA 9.2; and a 2003 Rayquaza EX Holo PSA 10, a fan-favorite from the early English-language TCG era. Other treasures include a 2021 limited-edition Seiko Pokémon Blastoise watch and a card that blends pop culture with fine art, the 2023 Pokémon x Van Gogh Black Star Promo featuring Pikachu with a grey felt hat, graded PSA 10.
The celebration isn’t just virtual. eBay is also hosting an in-person Pokémon Day celebration in New York City at The Standard Biergarten from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET. Attendees can enjoy trading tables, PSA grading services, live demonstrations, games, giveaways, and other programming leading up to the live auction. Whether you’re watching from your couch or in person among fellow fans, the weekend promises to be a lively tribute to everything Pokémon.
Beyond the headline 30/30 live event, Pokémon collectors around the globe can dive even deeper into the celebration through a curated selection of more than 500 premium Pokémon listings sourced from the United States, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, and Germany. These listings will be available via auction through March 1, offering an international sweep of rare cards, sealed products, and standout memorabilia. Fans can also hunt down the much-in-demand Pokémon x LEGO collaboration sets on eBay, further underscoring how the franchise continues to bridge generations and collecting categories with equal parts nostalgia and innovation.
According to eBay’s collectibles leadership, the franchise remains one of the platform’s most searched and enthusiast-driven categories, a testament to Pokémon’s lasting impact across generations. In a company press release, Adam Ireland, Vice President and General Manager of Global Collectibles at eBay, said, “For 30 years, eBay has been the go-to destination for rare and coveted Pokémon inventory. The ‘30/30 Collection’ brings 30 years of Pokémon history to life through eBay Live, with a range of inventory you can only find on our marketplace, and a thrilling live shopping experience that fosters community in real-time…”
Whether you’re a seasoned collector or a casual fan who is interested in rare cards, nostalgic gaming, and collectible memorabilia, this live-stream auction could be one of the most exciting moments of the year. It’s a reminder of how Pokémon has evolved from a child’s card game to a global collector’s phenomenon.
Pokémon by the Numbers
Pikachu Power: The number of Pikachu items sold on eBay.com increased by more than 120% as excitement built toward Pikachu as the featured character for Pokémon’s 30th anniversary.*
Nostalgia-Fueled Collecting: eBay.com users searched for Pokémon Nintendo items more than 160 times per hour in 2025, with recent mainline releases and retro gaming trends keeping Pokémon gaming top of mind.
Fashion Statement: As Pokémon became more visible in fashion and lifestyle spaces, searches for Pokémon bags spiked by more than 270% on eBay.com.*
Pokémon on eBay Live: Pokémon shows rank among the highest-streamed categories on eBay Live.
*Based on eBay.com data year-over-year (2025 vs 2024).
For more information about the company and its global portfolio of online brands, visit www.ebayinc.com.
30/30 images courtesy of eBay.
You may also like:
