The Pokémon franchise is set to mark a major milestone in India with its first-ever Pokémon drone shows, scheduled to take place at IIT Bombay’s Techfest later this month. The announcement was made on Friday through the official Indian Instagram account of The Pokémon Company.
The drone shows will be held on December 22, December 23, and December 24, with performances beginning each night at 9:00 p.m. IST. Entry for the shows will close at 4:00 p.m. IST on each day. The event is part of the 29th edition of IIT Bombay’s Techfest, which takes place from December 22 to December 24.
In addition to the nighttime drone spectacles, the festival will host several Pokémon Fiesta activities throughout the day, expanding Pokémon’s on-ground presence at one of India’s largest college cultural and technology festivals.
The announcement follows a series of Pokémon-themed initiatives across the country in recent years. Most recently, toy retailer Hamleys hosted Pikachu meet-and-greet events across eight Indian cities, drawing significant crowds.
Earlier in 2024, Pokémon Carnival and Pokémon Run events were held at Jio World Garden in Mumbai, while The Pokémon Company organised meet-and-greet sessions, stage shows, and interactive games at Palladium Mall in Mumbai. The franchise’s growing engagement strategy also included multiple editions of Pokémon Mela, beginning in Noida and New Delhi in late 2023 before expanding to Mumbai and Pune in 2024.
These events typically featured Pikachu dance performances and parades, quiz contests with prizes, animation screenings, colouring activities, themed photo booths, and special PokéStops for the Pokémon GO app.
The Pokémon Company has repeatedly stated that these initiatives are part of a broader plan to strengthen the brand’s footprint in India. Speaking at the Pokémon Festivities event in October 2024, corporate officer Susumu Fukunaga emphasised the company’s intention to expand beyond major metropolitan areas. He noted that Pokémon aims to reach audiences across multiple cities and become a part of everyday life in India, highlighting the importance of on-ground events in connecting with both existing fans and new audiences.
The upcoming drone shows at IIT Bombay Techfest represent the latest step in that strategy, signalling Pokémon’s continued investment in large-scale, experiential events tailored specifically for the Indian market.
