More than 50,000 fans will be visiting SF next weekend for the 2026 Pokémon World Championships at Chase Center as well as the new PokémonXP fan convention at Moscone Center, with some streets in SoMa closed through September 1.The 2026 Pokémon World Championships will bring some of the world’s top Pokémon players to San Francisco next weekend, with most competitions taking place at Moscone Center before the final matches move to Chase Center on Sunday, as KQED reports.The championships will feature competitions for the Trading Card Game, Pokémon GO, UNITE, and the newly released Pokémon Champions, with players qualifying through points earned at tournaments throughout the year. Children and adults compete in separate age categories, including a junior division for players 12 and younger.As the Chronicle reported in February, the new PokémonXP fan convention, which coincides with the franchise’s 30th anniversary, will feature cosplay competitions, workshops, scavenger hunts, trading opportunities, DJ booths, panels, and a Pokémon Center pop-up shop. Organizers expect more than 50,000 people to attend throughout the weekend.Some street closures are already underway in SoMa and will continue through September 1. Howard between 3rd and 4th streets is fully closed, while portions of Howard, 3rd, Folsom, and 4th streets have partial closures. Minna Street will also be fully closed between 4th Street and 500 feet west of 4th from August 25 through August 30.Muni will not need to reroute, although delays should be expected. The weekend’s Pokémon festivities will kick off Thursday, August 27, with the Giants’ Pokémon Worlds Night at Oracle Park, featuring Pokémon GO activations and a themed drone show after the game, per KQED. Pokémon Worlds Night is sold out, although single-game tickets remain available for the Giants-Diamondbacks matchup.Related: Curiously, SF Supervisors Declare This Friday ‘Pokémon Day’ in San FranciscoImage caption: Contestants compete during the 2016 Pokemon World Championships on August 19, 2016 in San Francisco, California. Over 1,600 contestants from more than 30 countries are competing in tournaments of the Pokemon video game, Pokken and Trading Card Game events during the 2016 Pokemon World Championships. $500,000 in scholarships and prizes will be awarded to winners. ...read more read less