The egg-shaped virtual pet that defined a generation of after-school caretaking is heading to Buford. As part of its eight-city USA Road Trip, Tamagotchi is bringing its 30th anniversary celebration to Mall of Georgia on Saturday, September 26, and Sunday, September 27.
The free pop-up is designed as a walk-up experience rather than a ticketed show. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. No reservations are required.
Tamagotchi’s 30th-anniversary road trip rolls into Mall of Georgia next weekend
This year’s tour is the second outing for the Tamagotchi USA Road Trip and the first built around a major milestone: 30 years of Tamagotchi worldwide.
Bandai launched the original device in Japan in 1996 and brought it to the United States the following year. Since then, more than 100 million units have been sold, and the brand has evolved from a monochrome LCD pet into a still-active lineup of devices, collectibles, and fan events.
At Mall of Georgia, visitors can expect the mix of nostalgia and hands-on play that has defined earlier stops. Official tour details list interactive games and activities, themed photo opportunities (including shots with the tour bus and dedicated backdrops), a history wall tracing three decades of Tamagotchi releases, exclusive merchandise, and a chance to browse current products.
One of the signature attractions is “Poop Sweep, IRL,” a life-size version of the classic in-game cleanup minigame. Other stops on the tour have also featured customization stations and other hands-on activities; organizers typically encourage fans to check @Tamagotchi_US for last-minute surprises at each city.
The Atlanta-area visit is the seventh of eight 2026 stops. After Mall of Georgia, the tour finishes in Memphis at Wolfchase Galleria on October 3–4. Earlier cities included Minneapolis, Indianapolis, Columbus, the Lehigh Valley, Hartford, and Raleigh. Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America brought the road trip back after last year’s inaugural tour drew more than 15,000 fans across six cities.
Tara Badie, senior director of brand strategy, has described the 2026 run as both a birthday party and a chance to meet new fans in markets the first tour missed.
That dual audience is the point. Longtime collectors can treat the weekend as a reunion: a place to compare devices, shop limited merch, and walk the history wall. First-timers — including kids who only know Tamagotchi as a parent’s childhood story — can pick up a current model, play the oversized games, and get the photos. Admission is free either way.
Mall of Georgia is at 3333 Buford Drive in Buford.
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