Pokemon GO Fest 2021 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting events the game has ever seen.

Hot off the heals of last year's highly successful event, Niantic is unsurprisingly returning to the "play from home" formula.

Just like the most recent GO Fest, 2021's edition will be split across two days, each with a very distinctive flavour.

So, with that in mind, here is everything you need to know about GO Fest Day One and Two, including the start dates, times, different themes and more.

GO Fest Day One and Two Start Date and Time

GO Fest 2021 kicks off this weekend, with Day One starting on Saturday, July 17. Day two takes place the following day on Sunday, July 17.

Like most recent events, both days will kick off at 10 am local time and will run through until 6 pm that evening.

Day One Theme and Features

Pokemon GO Fest's Day One theme is "Catch!" This means players will have plenty of catching-based activities to take part in.

Niantic has confirmed that rotating habitats will be back, with Jungle, Desert Mountain, Ocean Beach and Cave being the locales. Each habitat will harbour a range of different Pokemon, with those who pay for a ticket getting access to some very special critters.

There will also be a range of different raid bosses appearing across Day One including Hitmontop, Deino and Cranidos alongside a load of "Pokemon related to music" spawning in the wild, such as Kricketot and Chimecho.

As you'd expect at GO Fest, there are also a bunch of new Shiny Pokemon. They are Whismur, Chimecho, Audino, Tympole, Unown F, Throh and Sawk.

Finally there will be plenty of research and challenges to take part in, including Collection Challenges, the Global Challenge Arena and a Special Research Story which ends in the debut of Meloetta!

GO Fest Day Two Theme and Features

While Day One is focused on Catching Pokemon, Day Two is about Raiding them.

Niantic recently confirmed that every single previous Legendary Pokemon would be returning to Raid Battles during the Sunday of GO Fest.

They will be appearing across four different themed hours, they are as follows:

Wind Hours (10-11 am and 2-3 pm):

  • Mewtwo
  • Ho-Oh
  • Latios
  • Latias
  • Regigigas
  • Altered Forme Giratina
  • Cresselia
  • Virizion
  • Therian Forme Tornadus

Lava Hours (11 am - 12 pm and 3-4 pm)

  • Moltres
  • Entei
  • Regirock
  • Groudon
  • Heatran
  • Reshiram
  • Terrakion
  • Therian Forme Landorus
  • Yveltal

Frost Hours (12-1 pm and 4-5 pm):

  • Articuno
  • Suicune
  • Lugia
  • Regice
  • Kyogre
  • Palkia
  • Kyurem
  • Uxie/Azelf/Mespirit (in their usual regions)

Thunder Hours (1-2 pm and 5-6 pm)

  • Zapdos
  • Raikou
  • Rayquaza
  • Dialga
  • Cobalion
  • Therian Forme Thundurus
  • Zekrom
  • Xerneas

Paid ticket holders will also get a bunch of extra bonuses including 10K bonus EXP per raid, 10 Raid Passes from Gyms, eight Remote Raid Passes from research and a free, three Remote Raid Pass bundle.

Event Bonuses

Across both days, there will also be a bunch of bonuses. They are as follows:

  • Three-hour Lure Modules
  • Special Music
  • 1/2 Egg Hatch Distance
  • Special 7km Egg hatches
  • Field Research Tasks
  • Visual Effects on the Map