Pokémon Go ‘Bug Out 2026’ event guide

Pokémon Go’s yearly “Bug Out” event has kicked off for 2026, running from March 17-23. This year’s event features the debut of Blipbug, the larva Pokémon from Galar. Shiny Sizzlipede will also be making its debut during this event.

Rather than paid Timed Research, there’s a Go Pass specifically catered for the Bug Out event. After hitting rank 10 in the pass, you’ll get doubled XP for catching Pokémon with nice or better throws. At rank 20, you’ll get doubled catch candy. If you buy the deluxe version of the pass for $4.99, you’ll get tripled catch candy at rank 20 instead.

We list all the Pokémon Go “Bug Out 2026” event perks below, including how to catch a Blipbug.

How to catch Blipbug in Pokémon Go

With its debut during this event, Blipbug is actually pretty slippery. There are a few ways you can find Blipbug during this event:

• Find Blipbug in one-star raids during the event period.
• Get Blipbug as a reward for hitting rank 30 in the Go Pass: Bug Out on the free track.
• If you’re OK with spending money, you’ll also get a Blipbug encounter for hitting rank 25 on the deluxe version of the Go Pass: Bug Out.

It also isn’t literally a Blipbug, but reaching rank 30 on the deluxe version of the event Go Pass will also get you an encounter with Dottler, Blipbug’s first evolution. Blipbug evolves into Dottler using 25 Blipbug Candy. It costs another 100 Blipbug Candy to evolve Dottler into Orbeetle.

Before you blow all your Rare Candy to evolve your Dottler into Orbeetle, know that Orbeetle does have a Gigantamax form, so that will make its debut down the line. You might want to hold on to your Blipbug Candy and wait for that instead.

That being said, keeping your eye out on raids until the event ends is the way to go.

Pokémon Go ‘Bug Out 2026’ event Field Research and rewards

Spinning a PokéStop during the event period may yield one of these tasks:

• Catch 5 Pokémon (10 Poké Balls, 5 Great Ball, 3 Ultra Balls)
• Catch 10 Pokémon (Nincada encounter)
• Catch 15 Pokémon (Burmy encounter)
• Catch 25 Pokémon (Volbeat or Illumise encounter)
• Trade a Pokémon (Karrablast or Shelmet encounter)
• Win a raid (Durant encounter)

Pokémon Go ‘Bug Out 2026’ event boosted spawns

These Pokémon will spawn more frequently during the event period, according to the event blog:

• Caterpie
• Scyther
• Dwebble
• Sizzlipede
• Nymble

As mentioned above, this event debuts Sizzlipede’s shiny form.

Graphic: Julia Lee/Polygon | Source images: Niantic

These Pokémon will spawn from lures placed on specific event days:

• Paras* (March 17-19)
• Cutiefly* (March 19-21)
• Combee* (March 21-23)
• Sizzlipede (all days)

*There is an “increased chance” of finding this shiny as part of the event.

Pokémon Go ‘Bug Out 2026’ event raid targets

The following changes to the raid schedule will take place as part of the event: