As a special element of the collaboration, a Pikachu plush travelled to the International Space Station during ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot’s mission. It spent 67 days in orbit, from 11 April to 17 June 2026, completing approximately 1040 orbits.  

The much-anticipated collaboration will also bring a temporary exhibition centred on Space and Pokémon to ESA sites and major museums across Europe, alongside exclusive merchandise and a special Pokémon GO event.  The programme is designed to inspire curiosity about space exploration among audiences of all ages.  

“Inspiring future generations is a key part of ESA’s mission. Through this collaboration with Pokémon, we are unlocking new ways for people across Europe to connect with space through a unique and engaging experience,” says ESA’s Director General Josef Aschbacher. “By taking space exploration beyond traditional settings, we hope to ignite curiosity, spark a sense of wonder about our Universe and encourage people of all ages to discover the opportunities that space offers for the future.” 

 “Every Pokémon journey begins with a sense of wonder about what lies beyond the world you know. From distant regions to encounters that reach into outer space, that spirit of discovery has always been part of being a Pokémon Trainer. Collaborating with ESA opens a new frontier for fans, bringing together the world of Pokémon and the wonder of space for visitors at locations across Europe.” said Mathieu Galante, senior director of licensing at The Pokémon Company International. 

A unique ESA x Pokémon exhibition

The cornerstone of the collaboration is a family-friendly brand-new exhibition, co-created by ESA and Pokémon, blending real scientific content with imaginative visual storytelling. 

Through themed panels, visitors will explore key aspects of Europe's space activities, discovering, among other things, how Europe launches missions, supports astronauts aboard the International Space Station, studies the Sun, and explores the Solar System and the wider Universe. 

Selected panels incorporate Pokémon characters, adding a playful and engaging dimension to scientific topics. 

Launch across ESA sites and museums in Europe

The exhibition will debut during ESA Open Days 2026 across ESA establishments: 

• ESA Headquarters, Paris, France: 19-20 September 2026 

• ESRIN, Rome, Italy: 25 September 2026 

• ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands: 26–27 September 2026 

• ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany: 2 October 2026 

• ESAC, Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain: 3 October 2026 

• ECSAT, Harwell, United Kingdom: 10 October 2026 

Following its launch, the exhibition will also be present in different venues and for different events across Europe, where it will be hosted from early October 2026 until April 2027. 

• Cité de l’espace, Toulouse, France 

• Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Valencia, Spain 

• Deutsches Museum, Nuremberg, Germany 

• Euro Space Center, Transinne, Belgium 

• Lucca Comics & Games, Lucca, Italy 

• Science Museum, London, United Kingdom 

• Space Expo, Noordwijk, Netherlands 

Visit the page dedicated to the collaboration on the ESA website to learn more about the exhibition content and related missions. 

Exclusive merchandise and collectible content

The collaboration will also introduce exclusive ESA x Pokémon merchandise, a range of apparel, accessories and collectibles will be available through ESA and Pokémon retail channels, as well as in partner museum shops. 

Designed as an extension of the visitor experience, the collection will carry the spirit of exploration beyond the exhibition. 

Extending the experience with Pokémon GO V2

The collaboration will also extend into the digital world through a Pokémon GO in-game activation inspired by ESA x Pokémon. From 4 October 2026 to 30 April 2027, Trainers visiting participating science and space museums across Europe will be able to discover special Pokémon GO gameplay inspired by the wonders of space, including encounters with Astronaut Pikachu. 

Visitors to participating museums will be able to take part in a range of in-game activities, including One-Star Raids featuring Astronaut Pikachu, Timed Research and special Pokémon encounters. Some Pokémon encountered through these activities may feature a special Location Background commemorating their visit. 

From 4-10 October 2026, additional event-themed gameplay will be available, including Field Research and increased wild Pokémon spawns at participating museum locations. All the above gameplay, excluding Location Backgrounds, will be available at ESA locations across Europe from 4 October to 10 October, 2026. 

For more information about Research in Pokémon GO visit: https://pokemongo.com/news/european-space-agency-event. 

About ESA

The European Space Agency provides Europe’s gateway to space. 

ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. 

ESA has 23 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are Associate Members. 

ESA has established formal cooperation with three Member States of the EU. Canada takes part in some ESA programmes under a Cooperation Agreement.  

By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions. 

Learn more about ESA at www.esa.int 

About The Pokémon Company International

The Pokémon Company International manages the Pokémon property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, please visit www.pokemon.co.uk.  

Quelle: ESA