For three years, New Orleans has served as the home of the Pokémon North America International Championships. It has hosted thousands of competitors, welcomed Pokémon fans from around the world, and become one of the biggest stops on the road to the Pokémon World Championships. This weekend’s event was no different, with competitors battling across the Pokémon Trading Card Game, Pokémon GO, Pokémon UNITE, and Pokémon Champions while fans packed the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
As the 2026 championship came to a close, however, The Pokémon Company International revealed that the event is preparing for a major move. Beginning in 2027, the Pokémon North America International Championships will relocate to Chicago’s McCormick Place Convention Center, ending a successful three-year run in New Orleans and opening the door for even more growth.
Pokémon Is Moving For One Simple Reason: Growth
While the official announcement highlighted Chicago as the next host city for NAIC, the move is also a reflection of just how quickly competitive Pokémon has expanded in recent years. Speaking at a round table interview where Collider was present during NAIC weekend, Director of Global Esports & Events Chris Brown explained that attendance growth has significantly outpaced expectations. “We’re up 150 plus percent in terms of what our attendance is,” Brown said. “The big shocking thing is we actually kind of reached our three-year goal in two years.”
That growth created a new challenge. According to Brown, demand for the event continues to rise, but the current setup in New Orleans no longer allows Pokémon to meaningfully expand either its competitive offerings or fan-focused experiences. “This year, everything sold out,” Brown said…