Krispy Kreme locations around Louisville and Southern Indiana are about to start selling doughnuts shaped like Pikachu, Charmander and three other Pokémon characters, plus a Poké Ball, part of a limited-edition collection tied to the franchise's 30th anniversary. The collection launches Tuesday, August 18, at participating U.S. Krispy Kreme shops.
The six-doughnut lineup comes from a partnership between Krispy Kreme and The Pokémon Company International, according to WHAS11. The Pokémon doughnuts are available for individual purchase, in a Specialty Dozen and in a Specialty 6-Count, in stores and via delivery. The Poké Ball doughnut is built on an Original Glazed base dressed in vanilla icing, red sprinkles and chocolate icing, while the Pikachu doughnut is an unglazed shell filled with lemon kreme, topped with vanilla icing, a chocolate drizzle and nonpareils.
The rest of the collection leans just as hard into nostalgia. The Charmander doughnut is an unglazed shell filled with chocolate and toasted-marshmallow filling, finished with orange caramel icing and red-and-gold sugar. The Jigglypuff doughnut carries strawberry buttercreme and a strawberry cookie, the Bulbasaur doughnut is dressed in vanilla icing and frosting, and the Squirtle doughnut features cotton-candy buttercreme, sanding sugar and nonpareils, according to the same WHAS11 report.
Where to Find the Doughnuts Locally
The local location identified is the Shelbyville Road shop in Louisville.
Fans who cannot make it to a standalone Krispy Kreme shop have another option. A separate six-pack featuring Pikachu, Charmander, Jigglypuff, a Poké Ball design and two Original Glazed doughnuts will be distributed fresh daily to select grocery retailers including Kroger, Walmart and Publix, according to IGN. Those grocery packs skip the Bulbasaur and Squirtle designs, the outlet notes.
Essential Japan states that the collection is scheduled to remain available through September 13, 2026, while supplies last. It remains unclear how long local supply at the identified Kentuckiana stores will last past launch day.
Pre-Orders and a Free Doughnut for Costumed Fans
Customers can already pre-order a dozen Pokémon doughnuts through Krispy Kreme's website ahead of the in-store debut, per WHAS11. Nationally, online pre-orders opened Thursday, and the same day-one buzz has followed the brand's earlier international drops, Essential Japan reports.
Shoppers looking for a freebie have one more reason to circle their calendars. On Saturday, August 22, Krispy Kreme is offering one free Original Glazed doughnut to any guest who visits a participating U.S. shop or drive-thru dressed in Pokémon apparel or gear, limited to one per customer, according to Fast Company. The same promotion also includes five limited-edition collectible cups, each featuring a different Pokémon character and packed with 10 Original Glazed Gold Dots, golden-dusted doughnut holes.
A Bigger Anniversary Push Behind the Doughnuts
The Louisville-area rollout is part of a much larger commercial moment for Pokémon. The franchise launched in Japan in February 1996 with the Game Boy titles Red and Green, and its 30th anniversary campaign kicked off globally in 2026 with a Super Bowl LX commercial, according to PocketMonsters.Net. Krispy Kreme had previously released Pokémon doughnut lines overseas, in South Korea in 2016 and Australia in 2021.
The pastry tie-in sits alongside a wider anniversary rollout that includes apparel collaborations with Puma, retro merchandise at Target and 20 themed LEGO sets, IGN reports. The partnership's promotional strategy is intended to stimulate footfall, accelerate digital preorders and increase average ticket sizes, according to FNBX.
The timing also lines up with Krispy Kreme's own financial turnaround. The Charlotte-based chain completed $120 million in asset sales and refranchising deals in March 2026 to pay down corporate debt and fund growth initiatives, including high-profile IP tie-ins like this one. The broader anniversary campaign extends beyond the doughnut collaboration.
