Last week, I had the chance to attend the Pokemon North American International Champions, or NAIC for short, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Having only ever seen Pokemon competitive Trading Card Game (TCG) and video game (VGC) events on livestreams, it was a unique opportunity to immerse myself in the competitive scene and experience all it has to offer. Surprisingly, after spending a full weekend walking the show floor, sitting with fans and watching matches, and exploring every nook and cranny I could, NAIC felt like much more than a Pokemon tournament.

NAIC is a crucial event for a lot of competitors because it is the final stop on the road to the Pokemon World Championship. It’s the last major event where competitors can earn points to get them over the threshold needed to qualify for Worlds. But so, and The Pokemon Company knows that. They have structured events like NAIC to be an experience that’s as fulfilling and engaging, regardless of whether you’re a competitor or an attendee, if you’re just there to support an older sibling, or a casual observer looking to dip their toes in the world of Pokemon competition.

Stepping onto Pokemon NAIC’s show floor that first morning, and being greeted by 100+ clapping employees and judges set the tone for a weekend filled with excitement and smiles. The environment is bursting with so much joy that you can’t help but leave any cynicism at the door. You’re in an incredible city with a rich history, with their own strong lineage. I came away from Pokemon NAIC with a new admiration not just for competitive Pokemon but the IP’s fandom as a whole.

For the second year in a row, the Pokemon North America International Championships chose New Orleans as its host city. The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center is a massive space capable of holding multiple conventions at a time, and walking from one end to the other is a trek. For 2025, TPCi carved out roughly half of the convention center’s footprint to give attendees enough space to compete, spectate, and more. Although I haven’t been to a ton of convention centers, the . If TPCi wants to continue using this space, and even expand to use up more of it, there is plenty of room to grow. Whether they plan to do so will have to wait until 2026, when the Pokemon North America International Championships will return to New Orleans.

Choosing a venue and a host city is something that The Pokemon Company International takes very seriously. For NAIC, considerations include how central the city is relative to the rest of the population and how much it can offer attendees beyond hotel space and walkability. While the competitive tournaments are the appeal, TPCi hopes that attendees take some time to enjoy the host city.

Obviously,, whether it’s just walking around the French Quarter or visiting the World War II museum. Swamp tours, river boat cruises, and ghost tours offer more curated ways to explore New Orleans and are quick ways to get started. I’ve always been curious about the ghost tours of New Orleans, and I was surprised by my experience with one. More of a historical tour than anything else, my ghost tour explored the history of some of the French Quarter’s oldest buildings, albeit with a sinister, potentially supernatural twist. Our tour guide said upfront that this was not a haunted house and there were no jump scares or men running around with masks, but if you’re looking for something a little spooky while jaunting around New Orleans, I highly recommend booking a ghost tour.

For me, food was a primary motivator when it came to experiencing New Orleans, and it did not disappoint. From delicious Po Boys to rich gumbo, there are so many dishes to try, and all of them are incredible. Yes, you need to be mindful to avoid the tourist traps, but New Orleans is bursting with options when it comes to food. If there is one thing you must do, though, it’s visit Cafe Du Monde and order beignets. This is experience in New Orleans, and I’m ashamed to say how many times I visited Cafe Du Monde.

In addition to dedicated activity areas, the major show floor for the Pokemon North America International Championships is dedicated to competition. Helpfully color-coded areas and tables demarcate which section is meant for which game (green for Pokemon GO, blue for Pokemon TCG, red for Pokemon VGC, and purple for Pokemon Unite), giving a clear picture of the scope of the event. Red and blue tables dominate NAIC, with competitors packed in as tightly as possible while still feeling comfortable. Walking the show floor, you can see a mixture of competitive intensity and smiling faces. I spent the majority of my time during NAIC’s first day trying to soak up the atmosphere, seeing competitors connect with old friends and make new ones. I sat with parents anxiously watching their children compete in the Junior division. , even if you can only watch from a distance and can’t fully understand the moment-to-moment beats of a match.

Luckily, NAIC also has a main stage where an individual match from each segment is put front and center. You can see the competitors up on the stage and watch their match play out on a massive screen, complete with caster commentary. At times, it can be a bit overwhelming when four different matches are going simultaneously, but . I found it really easy to dial in on a specific game, or to take a peek at the other screens and see what was going on nearby.

It’s here where you can learn the most about the specific choices that each competitor makes and discover the ins and outs of their deck or team comp. Being amongst the crowd, hearing their cheers during crucial moments, is an infectious atmosphere.

Those first two days of competition pale in comparison to the last day, which features the finals for each of those four segments in the Junior, Senior, and Master divisions (where applicable). For Pokemon North America International Championships 2025, there were some incredible storylines to follow, some that resulted in epic wins, like Brazil’s Gabriel Fernandez sweeping all three International Championships in the Senior TCG division, and others that saw devastating defeats, like Apollo Stephens making it to the Senior VGC finals in his very first tournament but ultimately falling short. Pokemon TCG, in particular, featured some matches that captured what makes an event like NAIC so special.

In the Masters TCG Finals, the storyline centered on Isaiah Bradner, who had two 2nd place finishes, one at the EUIC and one at last year’s NAIC. While Bradner has had plenty of success in Pokemon TCG, including an NAIC win in the Seniors division, he was gaining the “always a bridesmaid” label. Bradner’s match with Riley Mckay (who had beaten TCG icon Tord Reklev in his semifinal match) went to time, meaning whoever ended up with the most prize cards after 3 turns would be declared the winner. Think of it like a Game 7, where every turn is as tense as can be.

Luckily for Bradner, he had the final turn and used it to beat Mckay and seal the deal. Emotions flowed immediately, signifying how important the win was for Bradner. In talking to him after the match, you could feel how badly Bradner wanted this win. This was just as inspiring a moment as any major sporting event, drawn up with a picturesque moment of victory.

Perhaps the most heartwarming story of the weekend was the Oono siblings, Annabelle and Kenji, who faced off in the Junior TCG finals. Not only was this a brother versus a sister for the trophy, but Annabelle and Kenji were also using the exact same deck. According to the duo, Kenji had settled on the deck he wanted to use early on, but and eventually decided on using the same deck as her brother. It was a mirror match in more ways than one.

While Annabelle bested her younger brother, the two came away all smiles and were proud of their accomplishments. In fact, the two were warned by judges because they spent a little too much time chatting, forgetting that they were competing on the main stage. For the Oono’s parents, they told me that it was a dream come true to see their two kids competing together. It was something the Pokemon competitive scene had never seen before – two siblings in a final – and easily one of the most engaging moments from the NAIC.

Although the show floor is the main draw for Pokemon NAIC, . Whether you’re looking to pick up tournament exclusives or merch featuring your favorite Pokemon, the Pokemon Center has a plethora of items to choose from. Shirts in all different styles featuring clever Pokemon mash-ups, playmats and deck boxes, and so many plushes you’d be hard-pressed to purchase just one – the Pokemon Center makes sure that all facets of the fandom are well-represented.

Of course, the exclusive items, many of which feature Psyduck or Ogrepon (in several masks), are going to be the most popular thanks to their 2025 branding. The good news is that The Pokemon Company knows how coveted these items will be and uses a smart reservation system to ensure orderly entry into the Pokemon Center. Moreover, the store earmarks products for each day, so that attendees don’t have to worry about something getting scooped up before the show floor even opens.

I was able to get an early look at the Pokemon Center ahead of Pokemon NAIC’s kick-off and came away impressed by the selection. As a dad looking to get some items for his Pokemon-obsessed son, it was difficult to narrow down the selection, while also satisfying my own interests and not breaking the bank.

I appreciate that everything exclusive has a sale limit so attendees can’t go overboard, and the selection of exclusives is diverse enough that almost anyone can come away with something they’d be happy with. And even if you don’t plan to buy anything, complete with a couple of photo opportunities. If you keep your eyes peeled, you might see Pikachu walking around or even dancing.

For many, the Pokemon TCG hobby is all about the collecting, and Pokemon North America International Championships has that aspect covered as well. Many vendors and merchants are set up in the Convention Center, offering cards, merchandise, and anything Pokémon-related for purchase/trade. You can browse what rare cards the merchants have for sale, or even try to sell some cards from your collection. , especially if a new rule set has recently been announced.

I found that there was a little something for everyone within the merchant sections, be it the ultra-collectors with thousands of dollars to spend or those who want to pick up a holographic EX of their favorite Pokemon. It wasn’t just the ultra-rare cards on display - there are plenty of those, though - but a smattering of cards from across different expansions and rarities.

If you are curious about competitive in any form, Pokemon NAIC has an area called the Play Lab where a trainer will help walk you through the basics. The trainers are welcoming and considerate of your experience level, carefully walking you through everything you need to know to get going. Learning Pokemon can be a daunting task, but as Pokemon has taught us, all you need is a great trainer to get started.

As the main competitive sections see their numbers dwindle throughout the weekend, the side events continue to provide regular opportunities for attendees to compete. Even those who don’t make the main tournaments of NAIC, can sign up for side events within Pokemon TCG, VGC, or GO and scratch that competitive itch. TPCi makes sure that a similar level of care and attention is paid to these side events, which includes having judges to ensure fair play. And if you are successful in these side events, Think of it like a ticket redemption booth at an arcade, with a wide array of Pokemon mechandise to select. There are giant Snorlax plushes, card packs, and more.

For as much as the main draw of Pokemon NAIC is competing for points and a spot at Worlds, some might want to scratch that competitive itch in a more casual setting. There are plenty of smiles to be seen among the competitors in the main tables, but there is a lot on the line. and immerse yourself in the community, while also testing out your skills against other players. It’s a chance to keep the party going, so to speak, and build lifelong friendships if you’re open.

Much like the competitive scene, Pokemon fandom extends across age groups. Competitors and their families plan trips to Pokemon NAIC with the intent to support a child/sibling, but TPCi wants to offer a diversity of things to do. For those older gamers out there (or who maybe aren’t familiar with Pokemon’s video game legacy), there was a set of consoles set up with some classic, alternative Pokemon games like Pokemon Stadium and Pokemon Puzzle League. It was common to see attendees of all ages sitting around with their Nintendo Switch, but getting to experience some of Pokemon’s oft-forgotten side titles is a nice treat. However, hearing young kids ask, “What’s this old game?” is devastating.

In addition to the retro selection, Pokemon NAIC also included two activity areas where you could make Pokemon Origami as well as a coloring area featuring some iconic Pokemon. The Origami setup is particularly cool because the instructions are concise, with multiple difficulty levels, and the paper is colored with clear folding lines. I spent some time making a few Origami Pokemon and was struck by how many younger kids were entertained by the setup. It offered a great way for parents with competing kids to give the younger sibling something to do.

The coloring section was also high quality, with plenty of colored pencils to go around. I also appreciated how the event would display everyone’s work, allowing attendees to show off the unique color schemes they gave their favorite Pokemon.

Pokemon NAIC 2025’s proximity to the Nintendo Switch 2 launch presented a unique opportunity for the event to show off what the new console can offer video game players. While there was only a photo opportunity for Pokemon Legends Z-A, there were kiosks available to check out Scarlet and Violet running on the Switch 2. With the free update, both games look stunning on the Nintendo Switch 2, finally offering the game at a solid frame rate and crisper visuals. No doubt plenty of attendees came away from their demos eager to pick up a Switch 2, if they can find one, of course.

Pokemon NAIC is more than just a tournament, it’s part vacation and part celebration. It has a little something to offer everybody, from those with the skill to go far in Pokemon competition to the casual observer who thinks every Pokemon is Pikachu. Pokemon NAIC will be back in New Orleans for 2026, giving TPCi another chance to improve on the high bar set during this year’s event. But for 2025’s edition, Pokemon NAIC gave me a new appreciation for how wide and diverse Pokemon fandom runs and let me experience the joy of being immersed in it. Next up is the Pokemon World Championships in Anaheim!

The Pokemon World Championships are August 15-17 in Anaheim, California. Game Rant was provided airfare and lodging for Pokemon NAIC 2025.