Pokémon GO Spotlight Hour Guide (Times, Bonuses, Shiny Odds + Tips)

Spotlight Hour is Pokémon GO’s weekly “power hour” where one featured Pokémon spawns in much higher numbers and you get a one-hour bonus (usually double Candy, XP, Stardust, etc.). It’s one of the best regular events for farming resources fast.

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When is Spotlight Hour?

• Every Tuesday
• 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. (your local time)

That means in the UK it’s typically 6–7pm, whether you’re on GMT or BST—Pokémon GO uses your device’s local time.

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Are shiny odds boosted in Spotlight Hour?

Not officially. Spotlight Hour doesn’t normally increase shiny rates, but you can still find shinies simply because you’re encountering so many of the same Pokémon in a short window.

This month’s Spotlight Hour schedule (December 2025)

Here’s the confirmed December 2025 lineup (all 6–7pm local time):

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How to prepare (10-minute checklist)

1. Clear Pokémon storage (or tag what you’ll transfer after).
2. Stock Poké Balls + berries (Pinap is huge on Candy hours).
3. Pick a high-spawn area (town centres, parks, places with lots of stops).
4. Set a matching Mega Evolution (big Candy gains — see below).
5. Know the bonus so you play the hour the right way.

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Best strategies by bonus type

2× Catch Candy

• Use Pinap Berries to double Candy from catches.
• Mega Evolve a Pokémon that shares a type with the featured Pokémon to get extra Candy (and better Candy XL odds at higher Mega Levels).
• If you’re grinding hard: fast-catch + quick checking keeps your catches per minute high.

2× Catch Stardust

• Pop a Star Piece right before 6pm.
• Prioritise fast catches over anything slow (raids, long PvP battles, etc.).
• If the featured Pokémon is naturally “dusty” (some species give more Stardust per catch), this hour gets even better.

2× Catch XP

• Use a Lucky Egg and focus on Excellent throws if you can land them consistently.
• Don’t waste time on awkward catches—speed matters.

2× Evolution XP

• Pre-tag a bunch of cheap evolves (or anything you’ve been saving).
• Drop a Lucky Egg and evolve nonstop for the full hour.

2× Transfer Candy

• Pre-tag what you want to transfer (“TRANSFER” tag).
• Transfer in bulk during the hour (especially useful for rare catches you don’t need multiples of).

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FAQs

Do Spotlight Hours ever change?
Yes—lineups are announced month-by-month, and Niantic occasionally runs special themed weeks. Always double-check the in-game Today tab.

Do I need to be walking?
Not required, but moving between spawn clusters usually beats standing still.

Does Mega bonus Candy stack with Pinap?
Pinap doubles the Candy you receive for a successful catch, and Mega Evolution provides additional Candy for same-type catches (separate bonus).