The Year’s Most Anticipated Pokémon Event Kicks Off, and I’m Already Feeling the FOMO!

I was really looking forward to attending the annual Pokémon World Championships and XP fan convention in San Francisco this year. Unfortunately, whether it’s The Pokémon Company’s efforts to keep scalpers at bay or just my luck, I couldn’t snag a spot through the lottery. Watching the opening ceremony right now is giving me serious FOMO.

The Grammy-winning 8-Bit Big Band kicked off the event with an incredible tribute to 30 years of Pokémon music. They started with a medley from the original games and then showcased a fantastic selection of tracks from across the entire series.

Honestly, this live performance might just be the best opening ceremony for Worlds ever. ????

It’s a wave of nostalgia, and once again, Sword and Shield have proven to be among the top Pokémon games. ????️????️

When that SWSH music hit, it elevated the entire show to a whole new level.

I had the chance to see the group perform music from Shovel Knight last year in New York City, and I would pay a fortune if they took this concert on tour. They’d likely need to create longer arrangements for each song, given the masterful medley they’re delivering at the convention.

This performance is a heartfelt tribute to the series for its 30th anniversary, but I’d definitely attend if they did a show for the 31st. I’m on the verge of tears. The performance hasn’t been uploaded as a VOD yet, but you can catch it on the livestream.

This weekend is huge for Pokémon fans, with tournaments for most games streaming daily, along with panels from XP, the new fan convention happening alongside the competition in San Francisco. If you’re not just soaking in the atmosphere, there’s usually big news revealed during the closing ceremony on Sunday. You can catch all the action live across five channels: