Most Popular Pokémon Cards Being Graded in the UK Right Now

The cards people choose to grade tell you a lot about the market. Here's what UK collectors are submitting most frequently in early 2026, based on grading company submission data and community trends.

Evolving Skies Alternate Arts

Still the most submitted cards by a considerable margin. The Eeveelution alternate arts (Umbreon, Sylveon, Espeon, Glaceon, Leafeon, Flareon, Jolteon, Vaporeon) dominate submission lists. Umbreon VMAX leads the pack. These cards have been popular since the set released and show no sign of losing momentum.

Scarlet and Violet Special Art Rares

The newer generation of cards is catching up. Charizard ex from Obsidian Flames, Miraidon ex and Koraidon ex from the base set, and various other SAR cards are being submitted in growing numbers. The Scarlet and Violet era introduced some really striking artwork that collectors want in slabs.

25th Anniversary Cards

The Celebrations and Pokémon 25th anniversary promos continue to be popular grading submissions. The metal Charizard and Pikachu promos from the Ultra Premium Collection are particular favourites. These have a collector appeal that goes beyond just competitive play value.

Vintage Cards Making a Comeback

There's been a noticeable uptick in vintage card submissions over the past year. Base Set holos, Neo series cards, and e-Reader era cards are being pulled from old collections and submitted for grading. As more people rediscover childhood collections, the supply of ungraded vintage cards entering the market is increasing.

Japanese Exclusive Promos

Cards that were only released in Japan but have strong appeal to Western collectors are popular submissions. Box toppers, magazine promos, and special distribution cards that aren't available in English attract niche collector interest.

What This Tells Us

The trend is clear: collectors are grading cards they believe will hold or increase in value. The most submitted cards are overwhelmingly high-demand chase cards from popular sets. Obscure commons and uncommons don't show up in submission data because the economics don't work for those cards.

If you're thinking about what to grade, following these trends gives you a good sense of where collector demand sits. Cards that are popular enough for lots of people to grade are popular enough to sell well after grading.