•Kristina Horvat• 8 min read
Pokemon GO
Pokemon GO Raid Hour Today: Current Bosses and Schedule
Last Updated: September 3rd, 2026: Mega Ascension and Pokémon GO Fest 2026 News Added
Raid Hour is one of Pokémon GO's longest-running weekly features, dating back to March 2019 when Niantic first tested it under the name Legendary Lunch Hour. The original midday schedule was quickly moved to the evening, but the main concept remained: five-star Raid Bosses appear at many more Gyms for one hour, making them easier to find and battle.
Raid Hour normally takes place every Wednesday from 6:00–7:00 p.m. local time. However, the usual Raid Hour schedule is temporarily paused during Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale activities from August 31 through September 6. The next standard Raid Hour is expected on Wednesday, September 9, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. local time, featuring Hero of Many Battles Zacian.
In this article, we'll explain how Pokémon GO Raid Hour works, reveal the current featured boss, cover the complete August 2026 schedule, and explain which Raid Passes you can use to participate.
Pokemon GO Raid Hour Summary
The usual September 2 Raid Hour will not take place because Mega Ascension and Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale replace Seasonal Raid Hours from August 31 through September 6.
The next standard Raid Hour is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. local time, featuring Hero of Many Battles Zacian.
Raid Hour normally takes place every Wednesday from 6:00–7:00 p.m. local time.
During the Forever Forward Season, players receive one Rare Candy XL for completing an in-person Raid Battle on Wednesday.
The standard Remote Raid limit is 10 per day, although special events may increase or remove it temporarily.
What Is Raid Hour?
Raid Hour is a recurring Pokémon GO feature during which the scheduled five-star Raid Boss appears at many more Gyms than usual. This creates more opportunities to battle the featured Pokémon, collect Candy, earn raid rewards, and search for its Shiny form when one is available.
Niantic first tested the concept in March 2019 under the name Legendary Lunch Hour. The original event took place around midday, but the schedule was moved to the evening shortly afterward. The feature eventually adopted the Raid Hour name and settled into its familiar Wednesday evening slot.
Most Raid Hours feature one five-star Raid Boss, but some rotations include multiple Pokémon. The August 26 Raid Hour, for example, featured Regirock, Regice, and Registeel simultaneously. Standard Raid Hours normally focus on five-star bosses, although major events can temporarily replace the usual weekly schedule with special raid rotations.
How the Raid Hour Schedule Works
Under normal circumstances, Raid Hour takes place every Wednesday from 6:00–7:00 p.m. local time. Because the event follows local time, it begins at 6:00 p.m. in each player’s own time zone rather than launching globally at the same moment.
Special events can occasionally alter or replace this schedule. This is happening from August 31 through September 6, 2026, when Mega Ascension and Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale replace Seasonal Five-Star Raids, Mega Raids, Raid Hours, and other regular weekly rotations. Because of this, the normal September 2 Raid Hour will not take place.
During the Forever Forward Season, players receive one Rare Candy XL for completing an in-person Raid Battle on Wednesday. This Daily Discovery bonus is active throughout Wednesday rather than only during the 6:00–7:00 p.m. Raid Hour. Forever Forward runs until September 8, 2026, so this bonus should be rechecked once the Twilight Trails Season begins.
Pokemon GO Raid Pass for Cheap
Current Pokemon GO Raid Hour Boss
There is no standard Raid Hour on Wednesday, September 2, 2026. Pokémon GO’s Mega Ascension event and Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale temporarily replace Seasonal Raid Hours from August 31 through September 6.
The next standard Raid Hour is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, from 6:00–7:00 p.m. local time, featuring Hero of Many Battles Zacian. September’s later Raid Hours are scheduled to feature Hero of Many Battles Zamazenta, region-specific Ultra Beasts, and Xerneas.
Date | Featured Raid Hour Boss |
|---|---|
September 2, 2026 | No standard Raid Hour – Mega Ascension / Mega Finale replaces the usual schedule |
September 9, 2026 | Hero of Many Battles Zacian |
September 16, 2026 | Hero of Many Battles Zamazenta |
September 23, 2026 | Xurkitree in Asia-Pacific, Buzzwole in the Americas and Greenland, Pheromosa in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and India |
September 30, 2026 | Xerneas |
Standard September Raid Hours run from 6:00–7:00 p.m. local time unless otherwise announced.
How to Join a Raid
Joining a Raid Battle requires a Raid Pass. Three pass types are commonly used for standard raids, with each offering a different way to enter a battle.
Raid Pass (Orange): Obtained for free by spinning a Gym’s Photo Disc. Players can receive one per day and normally hold only one free Raid Pass at a time. It must be used for an in-person raid.
Premium Battle Pass (Green): Purchased from the in-game shop for 100 PokéCoins or obtained through selected rewards. It can be used for additional in-person raids or to unlock the premium reward track in GO Battle League.
Remote Raid Pass (Blue): Costs 195 PokéCoins individually or 525 PokéCoins for three. It allows players to join eligible raids remotely through the Nearby screen or an invitation from another Trainer.
Niantic introduced Remote Raid Passes in April 2020, initially without a daily participation limit. A five-raid daily cap was introduced in April 2023 alongside increased prices. The standard Remote Raid participation limit is currently 10 raids per day, although special events can temporarily increase or remove this limit. For example, Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale removes the Remote Raid limit entirely on September 5 and September 6.
Players can normally hold up to three Remote Raid Passes. However, purchasing a three-pass bundle while holding two passes can temporarily increase the inventory total to five. Pokémon used by remote participants also deal less damage than those used by Trainers attending the raid in person.
FAQs About Pokemon GO Raid Hour
Final Words
Pokémon GO Raid Hour remains one of the easiest ways to battle a featured five-star Raid Boss repeatedly, but the normal schedule is temporarily interrupted at the start of September. There will be no standard Raid Hour on September 2 because Mega Ascension and Pokémon GO Fest 2026: Mega Finale replace the usual seasonal raid rotations through September 6.
The next standard Raid Hour is scheduled for September 9 from 6:00–7:00 p.m. local time, featuring Hero of Many Battles Zacian. Prepare your counters and Raid Passes in advance, and always check the latest event calendar because major Pokémon GO events can temporarily change the normal Wednesday schedule.
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