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Pokémon’s 30th Party at Changi Airport: 27 Starters, Free Shows, and Premiums From S$9.90

PokéXciting!, The Pokémon Company’s 30th anniversary tour of Asia, has been running at Changi Airport and Jewel Changi Airport since Tuesday, 3 November, and it stays until 3 January 2027. The weekend Singapore fans should clear is this one. On Saturday, 7 November and Sunday, 8 November, all 27 first partner Pokémon parade through Jewel’s Forest Valley, and the shows are free if you register onsite.

The parade is the headline, but it sits inside a much bigger programme. There are EDM (electronic dance music) shows starring Pikachu at Terminal 3 (T3), weekend meet & greets until 20 December, game demos you book through an app, a nightly snow show, and a long list of premiums. Those premiums only unlock once you’ve spent S$60, S$100 or S$600, so this guide covers the free stuff and does the maths on the rest.

27 Starters Walk Into Forest Valley

“First partner Pokémon” is the official name for starters, the trio every main Pokémon game asks you to pick from at the very beginning. Nine generations of games add up to 27 of them, and they all march through Level 1, Jewel Forest Valley at 3pm and 6pm on 7 and 8 November, with two Pikachu joining in. That means the fans who picked Bulbasaur three decades ago and the ones who picked Sprigatito more recently finally get the same parade.

Admission is free, but registration is required onsite before entry, capacity is limited and entry is first-come, first-served, so build an early arrival into your plan.

While you’re at Jewel, head to Level 1, opposite Porsche, between 12pm and 9pm on both days. Pikachu sun visors and Pokémon 30th Anniversary stickers are being handed out there on a first-come, first-served basis while stocks last.

Collectors have a separate stop to make that weekend. A “PokéXciting! Pikachu” Bag Charm with Pikachu in a blue costume is sold in Singapore only at Pokémon Center SINGAPORE, and only on 7 and 8 November. Quantities are limited, and the official Pokémon Singapore Instagram account has the details.

Four Zones, 30-Plus Photo Ops

Forest Valley has plenty to see outside parade hours. Jewel has set up more than 30 “PokéXciting!” installations across four themed zones: the Eevee Evolutions Zone, Snorlax Zone, Mewtwo Zone, and Pikachu Zone. One of them is a larger-than-life Pikachu.

A family takes a selfie in front of the giant Pikachu installation in Jewel Forest Valley
A family lines up a selfie with the giant Pikachu, one of more than 30 installations across Forest Valley’s four themed zones

Organisers have hidden more Pokémon decorations in unexpected corners across Changi’s terminals and Jewel. They call these Pokégenic photo spots, a play on photogenic, and they’re there for anyone who wants to try a few poses and post them.

Card fans should walk the corridors from Basement 1 to Level 5. A Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) display runs along them, with enlarged versions of the 30th Anniversary cards covering all 27 first partners. Answer the questions on the TCG Quiz Rally as you go, and you can redeem a limited-edition Pokémon 30th Anniversary Post Card at the Basement 1 redemption counter in front of ZARA.

Two visitors pose beside a large Pikachu figure and TCG Quiz Rally cards showing Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly
The TCG Quiz Rally at Jewel pairs enlarged cards of Sprigatito, Fuecoco and Quaxly with a large Pikachu figure

Content creator Deenise Glitz, who attended the media preview, says the enlarged cards stand beside a seated Pikachu statue. That gives the rally a photo stop along with the quiz.

Terminal 3 Turns Up the Volume

The “PokéXciting!” Stage is at T3 Departure Hall, Level 2, in front of Departure Immigration. On 7 and 8 November, the PokéXciting! Special Night Show runs at 4.30pm and 7.30pm. According to Deenise Glitz, the show runs 30 minutes with loud music and bright lighting effects. The queue opens 60 minutes before each show, and wristbands are handed out at the queue area.

Families with younger fans should aim for the Pikachu Dance Show (Pokémon Kids TV) at 1pm on both days. Two Pikachu and their dance instructors lead the audience through a dance-along to familiar tunes. The queue opens 30 minutes before the show, with wristbands given out in the queue.

Meet & greets run on the T3 stage over the weekends. Each session is free with onsite registration and limited capacity, and the queue opens 30 minutes before. From 14 November, the 2pm and 3pm sessions are at T3 Departure Hall, while the 6.30pm sessions move to ST3PS in T3 Basement 2.

DatePokémonTimes
7 and 8 NovPikachu, Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle12pm, 2pm, 8.30pm, 9.30pm
14 and 15 NovPikachu and Eevee2pm, 3pm, 6.30pm
21 and 22 NovPikachu and Snorlax2pm, 3pm, 6.30pm
5 and 6 DecPikachu and Piplup2pm, 3pm, 6.30pm
12 DecPikachu and Gengar2pm, 3pm, 6.30pm
13 DecPikachu and Mimikyu2pm, 3pm, 6.30pm
19 DecPikachu and Snorlax2pm, 3pm, 6.30pm
20 DecPikachu and Gengar2pm, 3pm, 6.30pm

If you only have one day this weekend, the timings make the choice for you. The 4.30pm Night Show queue opens at 3.30pm, which clashes with the 3pm parade. The better plan is the 3pm parade at Jewel, then the 7.30pm Night Show (queue from 6.30pm), followed by the 8.30pm or 9.30pm meet & greet with the original Kanto trio. That’s the starter story from start to finish in one evening!

Once the big weekend is over, the stage switches to winter mode. From 9 November to 3 January, the Light and Snow Show plays daily at 7.30pm and 8.30pm, with an extra 9.30pm show from Friday to Sunday.

Book the Lounge, Pack Your Switch

The Pokémon Experience Lounge has been open since 4 November near Check-in Row 11 in T3 Departure Hall, from 12pm to 9pm daily until 3 January. Entry is free, but slots are limited and booking through the Changi App is highly encouraged. The capacities are tiny.

ActivityDurationCapacityReward
Pokémon Pokopia demo20 min5Sticker sheet
Pokémon Champions demo20 min4In-game rewards
TCG demo and tutorial30 min16Fun Pack

With only four seats per Champions session, it’s the one to book first. Session availability may be affected on selected Saturdays, because that’s when the tournaments run at 12pm, 3pm and 6pm. Each tournament has 16 players, four elimination rounds of 25 minutes each, and lasts up to two hours.

For the Pokémon Champions Tournament, bring your own fully charged Nintendo Switch or Switch 2 running the latest update, plus a charger if you need one. Matches are Doubles, two Pokémon against two. First place wins a PowerA Pokémon-themed Switch Controller Case and two Funism My First Partner Blind Boxes, and every player gets an in-game coupon.

The TCG Battle asks for a sleeved 60-card Standard format deck with “H”, “I” and “J” regulation marks, replacement sleeves, and your own damage counters, Special Condition markers and a coin or dice. You don’t need to register your deck. The winner takes home eight booster packs, the runner-up six, third and fourth four each, and every participant gets one. Competitions on 14 and 28 November and on 12 and 26 December follow the regulations linked from the official listing.

Basement 2 and Other Side Quests

ST3PS in T3 Basement 2 is screening Pokémon animation from 10am to 10pm on 7 and 8 November. Screenings carry on at various times until 3 January, and the schedule is on Changi Airport’s website.

Two visitors pose on wooden steps at the Pokégenic photo spot in ST3PS, decorated with Charmander, Pikachu, Squirtle and Charizard
The Pokégenic photo spot at ST3PS in T3 Basement 2, where animation screenings run until 3 January

On the same level, Mezastar arcade machines have been running opposite Curry Times since 3 November. Pokémon GO players can spin the “PokéXciting!” PokéStop in T3 Departure Hall to collect the Singapore stamp for the cross-regional GO Stamp Rally. It’s a “PokéXciting! Pikachu” stamp you can only get here, and it comes with an encounter with a special Pikachu that has a local background when caught. Five more PokéStops across Changi and Jewel hand out digital stamps from 7 November to 8 December.

Not heading to Jewel? The horticulture landscapes in all four terminals have Pokémon-themed displays of their own.

Giant Charizard and Charmander figures with neon music-themed decor in front of a Christmas tree at the T1 Arrival Garden
Charizard and Charmander front a Christmas tree in the Terminal 1 Arrival Garden, one of the horticulture displays across all four terminals

You’ll find 30th Anniversary merchandise at the pop-up stores. In public areas, they’re in T3 Basement 2 (opposite Kopitiam, and in the food kiosk area with the personalisation zone), T3 Central Immigration, T4 Departure Hall, and T2 Departure near Kenangan Coffee. The T2 and T3 food kiosk stores stay open until 28 February 2027. There are transit-area stores in T1 opposite Victoria’s Secret, T2 next to SG Discover, and T3 in front of Pret-A-Manger, also running until 28 February.

Flying Out? Catch the Transit Shows

Some appearances are in the airport’s transit areas, so these are for people already flying. Pikachu and Eevee host meet & greets in T1 Transit arrival on 12 December at 12pm and 1pm, and in T3 Transit arrival on 13 December at 8pm and 9pm. They’re in T4 Transit arrival on 19 December, and you should check that day’s times on the Changi website. Pikachu and Piplup appear at T2 Transit arrival on 20 December at 9pm and 10pm.

Pikachu, Eevee, Snorlax, and Piplup parade through the transit departure areas on these dates:

DateLocationTimes
21 NovT3 Transit departure8pm, 9pm
22 NovT1 Transit departure8pm, 9pm
5 DecT4 Transit departure10am, 11am
6 DecT2 Transit departure9am, 10am
19 DecT4 Transit departure11am, 12pm
20 DecT2 Transit departure8am, 9am

What the Premiums Cost, Worked Out

It’s important to know the premiums are purchase-with-purchase. The S$60 spend gives you the right to buy the item, not the item itself.

A person sits on wooden steps holding a Poké Ball crossbody bag with Pokémon caps stacked on their lap
The S$12.90 Pokémon caps and Poké Ball Bag, which can be embroidered with a name at the T3 Basement 2 Personalisation Station
PremiumPriceWhere
Travel blanket with bagS$9.90Changi, Jewel, iShopChangi
900ml insulated tumblerS$18.90Changi, Jewel, iShopChangi
Pikachu or Eevee plushieS$18.90 eachChangi, Jewel, iShopChangi
Cabin-sized luggageS$52.90Not sold at Jewel
Check-in luggageS$74.90T3 B2 public area (beside Swensen’s) or iShopChangi delivery
Umbrella (two designs)S$14.90Jewel only, with a Jewel receipt
Cap or Poké Ball BagS$12.90T3 B2 Personalisation Station

Here’s an example. A Pikachu plushie bought after a S$60 shop costs S$60 plus S$18.90, which comes to S$78.90 in total. Changi Rewards Points can offset the premium price. According to Deenise Glitz, the Pikachu plushie wears a red bucket hat with a small blue camera, and Eevee wears a blue bucket hat with an airport and monstera print.

Two Pokémon umbrellas, one navy with confetti and one yellow with Pikachu and Bulbasaur, on a paved walkway
The two Jewel-only umbrella designs at S$14.90 each, sold and collected only at Jewel’s Basement 1 booth

The cap or bag costs S$12.90, comes with a free Fun Pack, and name embroidery adds S$9.90, so S$12.90 plus S$9.90 makes S$22.80. Mastercard holders can buy one more, so two embroidered items cost 2 × S$22.80, which is S$45.60. Deenise Glitz says buyers get one free charm (Charmander, Bulbasaur or Squirtle, while stocks last), and the top-up adds a Pikachu charm. Extra charms like Psyduck, Sprigatito, Fuecoco, and Snorlax are at the pop-up store. She adds that embroidery is capped at six characters including a star or heart, comes in straight or cursive font with black, white, or brown thread, and can’t be refunded once the needle drops.

Spend S$100 in a single receipt to play the Memory Game Challenge at any redemption booth. High scores can win tenant vouchers, Pokémon Medallions, Funko Pop figures, and trading card sets, but only the free Fun Pack of three cards is guaranteed.

For umbrellas, Mastercard holders can buy both designs for 2 × S$14.90, which is S$29.80. Big spenders who are Changi Rewards members can redeem a free premium on the Changi App for every S$600 accumulated spend, up to four per member. If you collect all four, that’s 4 × S$600 = S$2,400 in qualifying spend, and anything above that earns no more premiums. Premiums drop on 7 November (“PokéXciting! Pikachu” and Pokémon Specials, including a T-shirt, eco bag, and TCG Fun Pack), 17 November (Funko Bitty Pop! Pokémon 2026 Advent Calendar), 1 December (Funko Pop! Jumbo Pokémon in Charizard, Eevee, Gengar, or Pikachu), and 15 December (Funko Pop! Premium Pokémon Duo Set).

Read the Fine Print First

The S$40 Return Vouchers you get with a S$60 receipt are a ceiling, not cash. They break down into S$5 off a S$60 spend and S$15 off a S$200 spend at transit retail outlets, plus S$20 off a S$80 spend on iShopChangi. Electronics, Luxury, Jewellery, and Watches are excluded. To use the full S$40, you’d need to spend another S$60 + S$200 + S$80, or S$340, which works out to about 11.8% off (S$40 ÷ S$340). If you’re not flying, only the S$20 iShopChangi voucher is likely to be useful. Paying with Mastercard adds S$15 off a S$200 spend.

The Personalisation Station only accepts receipts from public areas or airside arrival, Jewel, or iShopChangi, so a duty-free receipt from departures won’t qualify. At Jewel, UOB cardholders get a S$10 Jewel Gift Voucher for spending S$150 (up to three same-day receipts), which is about 6.7% back. The release doesn’t say whether one receipt can unlock several promotions or when the vouchers expire, so check the terms on the campaign page before you plan your spending around them.

Who Should Do What

If you’re not flying and don’t want to spend, you can still have a great weekend. The parade is free with onsite registration, the Quiz Rally postcard is redeemed once you complete the quiz, and the Pokémon GO stamp is collected by spinning the PokéStop. Casual collectors should go for one plushie, and card players should book the Lounge’s TCG demo for the Fun Pack. Changi Rewards regulars who want the Funko Pop! Jumbo should save their S$600 for the 1 December drop.

🗓️ Date: 3 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 (parade and Night Show on 7 and 8 November)
⏰ Time: Jewel parade 3pm and 6pm; Night Show 4.30pm and 7.30pm; Experience Lounge 12pm to 9pm daily
📍 Location: Jewel Forest Valley, Level 1; Changi Airport T3 Departure Hall, Level 2, and Basement 2; displays across Terminals 1 to 4
🎟️ Entry: Free; onsite registration for the parade, shows, and meet & greets
📱 Experience Lounge: Free; book on the Changi App
🛍️ Premiums: From S$9.90 with a S$60 single receipt; Memory Game at S$100; Changi Rewards premium per S$600 accumulated (four max)
❄️ Light and Snow Show: 9 November to 3 January, 7.30pm and 8.30pm daily, plus 9.30pm Fridays to Sundays

Changi has thrown character parties before, like when it celebrated 50 years of Hello Kitty in 2024. This weekend’s 27-starter parade is the rare reason to treat the airport as a destination rather than a stopover. Download the Changi App before you go, check the full schedule on the PokéXciting! campaign page, and follow Changi Airport on TikTok for updates. Pick your starter and get there early!

Photos and Visuals courtesy of Changi Airport Group.

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