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Pokémon GO Bug Out 2026: Collection Challenge Guide and What’s Confirmed

Bug Out 2026 ran March 17–23, but Pokémon GO’s official announcement does not verify a Collection Challenge roster. Here’s how to check challenge requirements and what the event did confirm.
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There is no verified Bug Out 2026 Collection Challenge checklist to follow. Pokémon GO’s official announcement for the March 17–23, 2026 event does not list a Collection Challenge or its required Pokémon. The event has ended, so any species or rewards claimed as its challenge requirements should be treated as unconfirmed unless an in-game task list or reliable archived evidence establishes them.

What is confirmed about the Bug Out 2026 Collection Challenge?

The official Pokémon GO Bug Out 2026 announcement covers Pokémon debuts, Lure Module bonuses, wild encounters, raids, Field Research and a GO Pass. It does not provide a Collection Challenge checklist or name challenge rewards.

A secondary event page labels a section “Collection Challenge Introduced in Event” and lists Vanillite, Pumpkaboo, Cherubi, Applin and Swirlix. Those entries are not corroborated by the official announcement, so they should not be used as Bug Out 2026 requirements. The event’s featured Pokémon and evolution details also do not establish that those Pokémon were part of a Collection Challenge.

How to check a Collection Challenge in Pokémon GO

Niantic’s Collection Challenge help page gives the general in-game route and explains how to read challenge entries:

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  1. Open Today View in Pokémon GO.
  2. Tap the Events tab and select the Collection Challenge, if one is available.
  3. Inspect each listed Pokémon and its instructions. The challenge details specify whether it must be caught, hatched, evolved or traded; some Pokémon may be available only through research rewards or Raid Battles.
  4. Complete the specified method for each entry. A checkmark appears when a required Pokémon is collected; a first-time catch changes its silhouette to its image.

If an entry does not register, check its method instruction rather than assuming any copy of that species will count. A Pokémon caught in the wild, for example, may not satisfy an entry that specifies an evolution or a particular encounter method.

When did Bug Out 2026 run, and is it still available?

The event ran from Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. through Monday, March 23, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. local time. Those dates have passed. Collection Challenges usually disappear when their corresponding event ends, according to Niantic, but the precise expiration time of a Bug Out 2026 challenge is not established.

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  • Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
  • Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
  • Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
  • There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
  • Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)

What Bug Out 2026 featured instead

The official announcement confirms these event details, but none proves that a Collection Challenge existed:

  • Pokémon debuts: Blipbug, Dottler and Orbeetle debuted in Pokémon GO. Blipbug evolves into Dottler with 25 Blipbug Candy; Dottler evolves into Orbeetle with 100 Blipbug Candy.
  • Lure Modules: Regular Lure Modules attracted changing Pokémon during the event. Paras, Combee and Cutiefly attracted to regular Lure Modules had an increased chance to be Shiny.
  • Wild encounters and raids: The announcement named Caterpie, Dwebble, Sizzlipede, Nymble and Scyther among event-themed wild encounters. One-star raids featured Blipbug; three-star raids featured Pinsir, Scizor and Kleavor. The announcement’s asterisk marked encounters that could be Shiny if lucky.
  • Field Research: Event-themed tasks offered items and encounters, but the announcement did not include a task-by-task reward list.
  • GO Pass: The free pass was automatic. During the event, the announcement listed optional US$4.99 GO Pass Deluxe and US$6.99 GO Pass Deluxe + 6 Ranks upgrades, or local equivalents. The pass ended March 23; unlocked rewards expired March 25, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. local time. These offers have expired.
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What to do if you meant another Bug Out event

Bug Out is an annual event name, and its details can change by year. For an earlier edition, use that year’s event announcement or an archived in-game task list to verify the required Pokémon, acquisition methods and rewards. Do not apply a roster from another year to Bug Out 2026.

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  • Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
  • Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
  • Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
  • There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
  • Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)
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  • Catch Pokémon and track your rest rhythm with the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory!
  • Keep track of your sleep with the press of a button
  • Press and hold the central button on the Pokémon GO Plus + accessory and place it by your pillow to track your rest rhythm on the Pokémon Sleep app
  • There’s a Pikachu within your Pokémon GO Plus + that can sing you lullabies and act as your morning alarm; Pikachu grows friendlier the more you sleep, unlocking even more sounds!
  • Spin PokéStops or throw Poké Balls automatically in Pokémon GO for hands-free gameplay (and Great Balls and Ultra Balls can be thrown too!)

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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