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Pokémon Go Spotlight Hour January 2026 schedule
Every featured Pocket Monster and bonus event rewards
Niantic
- Ben Williams
Published: Tuesday, 20 January 2026 at 2:07 pm
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January 2026 has already seen a couple of new Spotlight Hour events in Pokémon Go, but a couple are still on the way — including today.
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As usual, for just one hour every Tuesday from 6PM to 7PM, Trainers will see a featured Pokémon spawn massively more than usual in Go, and get tons of extra XP, Stardust, and Candy as a bonus.
These events are always worth taking part in just for the bonuses alone, but the specific Pokémon starring can make them even better. Throughout the rest of January 2026, here are all the Pokémon featured in both today's Spotlight Hour and the rest of the month.
Every January 2026 Spotlight Hour in Pokémon Go
The final Spotlight Hour for Pokemon Go in January 2026 will be for Foongus. Niantic/Scopely
The next Pokémon Go Spotlight Hour for 2026 is today, Tuesday, the 20th January 2026, and is featuring Hatenna — the Generation Eight Psychic-type — with the bonus of Double Transfer Candy.
For the remainder of the month, the last Pokémon Go Spotlight Hour will be on 27th January for Foongus — the Generation Five Grass- and Poison-type — with the bonus of Double Catch Stardust.
For those who've missed the event for the last couple of weeks, here's the full schedule of Pokémon Go Spotlight Hours for January 2026, also including each Pokémon's evolution and their Shiny availability:
-
6th January - Barboach
- Bonus - 2x Catch XP
- Can Barboach be Shiny in Pokémon Go? - Yes
- Barboach's evolution - Whiscash, 50 Candy required
-
13th January - Mareep
- Bonus - 2x Evolution XP
- Can Mareep be Shiny in Pokémon Go? - Yes
- Mareep's evolution - Flaafy with 25 Candy, then Ampharos with 100 Candy
-
20th January - Hatenna
- Bonus - 2 x Transfer Candy
- Can Hatenna be Shiny in Pokémon Go? - Yes
- Hatenna's evolution - Hattrem with 25 Candy, then Hatterene with 100 Candy
-
27th January - Foongus
- Bonus - 2x Stardust Candy
- Can Foongus be Shiny in Pokémon Go? - Yes
- Foongus' evolution - Amoonguss, 50 Candy required
Do Spotlight Hours increase Shiny rates?
All Pokémon featured in Go's January 2026 Spotlight Hours can be Shiny. Niantic/Scopely
While all of January's Spotlight Hour Pokémon like Hatenna and Foongus can be Shiny, the event doesn't increase the odds of a Shiny encounter like Community Days do. However, you can bolster your opportunities to find a Shiny by using an Incense and Lure Module, Pokémon Go's in-game tools to increase spawns altogether.
This way, through increased trial and error, you'll have far more encounters – and hopefully a Shiny with enough luck.
How to prepare for the Pokémon Go Spotlight Hour
Since Spotlight Hour is only available in Pokémon Go for 60 minutes every Tuesday, there are a few extra measures you can take before going after the featured Pocket Monsters in the schedule for January:
-
Save at least one Incense and several Lure Modules for when you're near PokéStops
- Each will increase spawns even further
-
Build up your collection of PokéCoins to buy more storage for all your captures
- So you don't have to spend time appraising each capture
-
Bring a supply of Razz Berries or Pinap Berries
- Will either increase your catch rate or double your Catch Candy
- Make your catches go faster or farm more Candy, depending on your preference
-
Save two Lucky Eggs to use
- Doubles the XP you get for 30 minutes each
-
Bring two Star Pieces with you
- Doubles the Catch Stardust you get for 30 minutes each
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When is Pokémon Go Spotlight Hour?
Every Spotlight Hour in Pokémon Go takes place on Tuesday between 6PM and 7PM local time; this means that whether you're in the US, UK, or anywhere else, a Spotlight Hour will always take place at that exact date and time for where you are.
If Pokémon Go's developer (Scopely, as of 2025) happens to ever change the date and time of the weekly Spotlight Hour event, we'll immediately update this guide to keep you in the know.
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Read more on Pokémon:
- Pokémon Go Raids schedule - upcoming battles
- Best Pokémon gifts - the greatest merch
- Best Pokémon games on Switch - our ranking
- Best shiny Pokémon - the coolest creatures
- Best Dragon-type Pokémon - who's your fave?
- All cat Pokémon - the felines to catch
- Pokémon natures guide - all you need to know
- Pokémon type chart - strengths and weaknesses explained
- Legendary Pokémon - the full list
- Pokémon Scarlet and Violet cheats - handy hacks
- Pokémon Emerald cheats - what you need to know
- Pokémon Fire Red cheats - all codes
- Pokémon Go friend codes - and how to find them
- Pokémon games in order - where to start
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Authors
Ben Williams
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