Twitch has launched Pokémon Chat Badges, a collectible programme built with The Pokémon Company International. Viewers earn badges by watching qualifying streams and can display them in any channel’s chat; the opening set is Pichu, Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle.
How Pokémon Chat Badges work
Watching 20 minutes a day for three days in a qualifying category earns the first Poké Ball, which reveals the Pichu badge. The days do not need to be consecutive, and progress is tracked automatically. It is a loyalty scheme built out of the watching Twitch was already getting.
Subscribing or gifting a subscription to a qualifying channel earns another Poké Ball, revealing one of the three Kanto starters. Three subscriptions guarantee all three. Qualifying categories cover the Pokémon directories plus Just Chatting, DJs, Sports, Music and Art.
Badges earned now will evolve later, simply from watching more qualifying content. Anyone who misses the current window will not be able to earn the evolved forms afterwards. The first set is collectible until 1 October, with new Pokémon rotating in over time.
The World Championships weekend
From 28 to 30 August, during PokémonXP and the 2026 Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco, two exclusive badges appear for that weekend only. Watching 60 minutes on the PokémonXP channel earns the Costumed Pikachu badge; 60 minutes on any of the official Pokémon channels earns the World Championships version.
A new Collections feature tracks every badge earned and every Pokémon still available. Prime subscriptions and existing recurring subscriptions do not count towards the collection, and Twitch reserves the right to end the offer. Full terms are on the Twitch blog, with the mechanics spelled out in the help article.
The launch follows a busy stretch for Twitch, which opened sponsorships to Affiliates for the first time this month. Pokémon’s original series, for its part, is streaming on Disney+.
Are Pokémon Chat Badges free?
Yes. Watching 20 minutes a day for three days in a qualifying category earns the free Pichu badge, no subscription needed. The Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle badges require a subscription or gifted subscription to a qualifying channel.
When do the Pokémon Chat Badges expire?
The first set — Pichu, Bulbasaur, Charmander and Squirtle — can be collected until 1 October 2026. Badges collected in time evolve later by watching more qualifying content; badges missed in their window cannot be earned in evolved form afterwards.
How do I get the exclusive Costumed Pikachu badges?
During the 28–30 August World Championships weekend, watch 60 minutes on the PokémonXP channel for the PokémonXP Costumed Pikachu badge, or 60 minutes on the official Pokémon, Pokémon TCG, Pokémon GO or Pokémon UNITE channels for the 2026 World Championships version. Both are available only that weekend.
