Pokémon TCG 2026 Judge and Organizer Exams Open Nov. 6 With Pre-Selection
Japan's 2026 Judge and Event Organizer exams drop first-come sales for a Players Club pre-selection. Applications run November 6–13, 2026, and residency in Japan is required.
The 2026 Pokémon Card Game Judge Exam and Event Organizer Exam in Japan no longer reward whoever clicks fastest: applicants now go through a pre-selection, and only those who pass can buy the right to sit the test. Applications run from Friday November 6, 2026, 14:00 to Friday November 13, 2026, 14:00.
The application goes through the lottery event application function on the exam page of the Pokémon Card Game Players Club. An account verified with a My Number Card, Japan's national ID card, is required.
TCGKing's take: a selection with undisclosed criteria and no explanations for rejections turns a sign-up queue into a gate, and applicants who want a seat should treat the November 13 deadline as the real first exam.
Judge and Event Organizer Exam Eligibility and Rules
This is a Japan-only program. Candidates must meet all of these conditions:
- Motivated to promote the Pokémon Card Game and familiar with the basic way to play
- Holding an identity-verified Players Club Player ID
- Aged 20 or older (born on or before December 18, 2006)
- Living in Japan
Applicants choose one exam only. Applying to both invalidates both applications.
The two qualifications differ in scope:
- Passing the Judge Exam grants both the Judge and Event Organizer qualifications.
- Passing the Event Organizer Exam grants the Event Organizer qualification only.
- Judges can work tournaments, and Event Organizer activities come with the qualification.
- Event Organizers can hold organizer events supported by The Pokémon Company, announced on the Trainers Website, with possible prize and equipment support.
Exam Fees and Purchase Window
Passing selection (results scheduled for Friday November 27, 2026) only unlocks the purchase.
- Purchase period: Thursday December 3, 2026, 12:00 noon to Monday December 7, 2026, 12:00 noon, on a dedicated page at Pokémon Center Online shown only to selected applicants.
- Judge Exam: ¥1,650 tax included (about $10.40).
- Event Organizer Exam: ¥1,100 tax included (about $6.90).
- The second exam and the training are free.
The email address on the Players Club account and on Pokémon Center Online must match exactly, including upper and lower case, or the purchase is impossible. Players enter their Player ID at checkout.
Miss the noon deadline on December 7, or cancel after buying, and the candidate counts as withdrawn with no re-purchase. Existing holders who earn the same qualification again get no renewal or extra equipment, and the fee is not refunded.
Pokémon Card Game First Exam: Web Test Format and Pass Marks
The stages are pre-selection, a web test, an online interview, and online training.
- Window: Friday December 11, 2026, 0:00 to Friday December 18, 2026, 17:00, finished by 18:00.
- 60 minutes, multiple choice, one attempt, on a PC because card images are referenced. No extensions.
- Login details arrive by email by Thursday December 10, 2026, 18:00; allow @pokemon.co.jp and @pokemon-support.com.
To reach the interview, candidates need both a ranking and a score of 80 or more: top 200 for the Judge Exam, top 300 for the Event Organizer Exam.
The Judge Exam covers the ruling case collection and penalty guidelines on top of rules, floor rules, and Trainers Website information. The Event Organizer Exam leaves those two out and stresses running an event from preparation to the day.
Interview and Training Dates for 2027
The online interview is planned for Saturday January 16, 2027: about 15 minutes on Zoom, covering goals, spreading the game, motivation, and the candidate personally. Scheduling comes by email.
Training is about an hour on Zoom, 19:00–20:00, and attending the designated session is mandatory:
- Event Organizer training: Saturday February 27 or Wednesday March 3, 2027 (attend one)
- Judge training: Saturday March 6 or Wednesday March 10, 2027 (attend one)
Judge candidates must attend both. Missing the training means failing the exam.
Cheating, multiple attempts, or disclosing exam content brings disqualification, and a leak can cancel the whole exam.
What is still unknown
- How many applicants will be selected is not given in the announcement.
- The selection criteria are not disclosed.
- Whether the program will ever be opened to candidates outside Japan: it is Japan-only this year.
TCGKing updates this article as soon as The Pokémon Company announces these details. Follow all Pokémon TCG news or get it in our newsletter.
For the wider Japanese calendar, see how the Champions League 2027 Chiba side events and the WCS 2027 qualification paths fit into the season.
Written with the help of AI from the sources listed below, then checked automatically for accuracy and originality under TCGKing's editorial responsibility. Methodology →
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