ESA and The Pokémon Company International reveal Europe-wide exhibition and astronaut Pikachu experience

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 2026ESRIN, 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, Libin, 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.

More information:
https://www.esa.int/About_Us/Branding_and_Partnerships/ESA_and_The_Pokemon_Company_International_reveal_Europe-wide_exhibition_and_astronaut_Pikachu_experience

Contact

ESA Newsroom and Media Relations
Email: [email protected]

Videos

https://dlmultimedia.esa.int/download/professional/videos/2026/02/039/2602_039_BR_138.mp4 (Credit: ESA/NASA - Sophie Adenot)
ESA's Video Library for Professionals:
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos
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For questions or more information related to ESA videos, please contact directly [email protected]

About

The European Space Agency
The European Space Agency (ESA) 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 other 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

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.

The Cité de l'espace
To spark curiosity, inspire a desire to learn more, foster careers in science, and make space, astronomy and scientific culture accessible to all - these are the aims of the Cité de l'espace. As Europe's leading centre for promoting space and astronomy to the general public, the Cité de l'espace is a facility run by Toulouse Métropole. It opened in 1997 on the initiative of the City of Toulouse, with the support of the Occitanie Pyrénées-Méditerranée Region and its co-founders, CNES, Airbus Defence and Space, Météo-France and the French Ministry of National Education , joined by Thales Alenia Space, Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations, Caisse d'Epargne de Midi as well as : ESA, Canopé, TOULOUSE III Paul-Sabatier University, CNRS, OMP, IRAP, Safran and Onera.
Info: www.cite-espace.com

The Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias
The City of Arts and Sciences is a spectacular cultural and architectural complex in Valencia. Stretching almost two kilometres along the former Turia riverbed, the site is surrounded by gardens and reflective pools. The complex includes science museum, planetarium and 3D digital cinema, aquarium, opera house, making it an ideal destination for visitors of all ages. The Science Museum is a highly interactive space dedicated to science and technology, with exhibitions and workshops designed to engage visitors through hands-on experiences.
Info: https://cac.es/en/museu-de-les-ciencies/

Deutsches Museum Nuremberg
At Nuremberg, the newest branch of the Deutsches Museum the future of science and technology is explored. In the "Space & Time" exhibition area, spaceflight is presented as a field shaped by technology, visions, and responsibility: real spacecraft, interactive exhibits, and visions explore life beyond Earth, from satellites and lunar bases to Mars missions, while also asking how humanity will use and shape the cosmos."
Info: https://www.deutsches-museum.de/en/nuernberg

The Euro Space Center
The Euro Space Center is an educational space-themed science museum and amusement park located in Transinne, Belgium, dedicated to space exploration and astronaut training. Through interactive exhibits, simulators and immersive programmes, visitors can discover the challenges of human spaceflight and experience aspects of astronaut training first hand.
Info: https://www.eurospacecenter.be/en/

Lucca Comics & Games
Lucca Comics & Games is Europe's largest annual festival dedicated to comics, gaming and fantasy imagery, held in the historic walled town of Lucca, Italy. The next milestone 60th-anniversary edition will take place from 28 October 1 November 2026.
Info: https://www.luccacomicsandgames.com/

The Science Museum
The Science Museum in London is one of five national museums in the Science Museum Group, the world's leading group of science museums that share and care for an internationally-significant collection of scientific, technological and medical achievements from across the globe. Over the last century the Science Museum has grown in scale and scope, inspiring visitors with free galleries and exhibitions covering topics as diverse as space, robots, vaccines and the future of food. The Science Museum was named a winner of the prestigious Art Fund Museum of the Year prize for 2020.
Info: https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk

Space Expo
Space Expo is the space museum of the Netherlands, located in Noordwijk, it is a fun and educational outing for the whole family! In the exhibition, you are introduced to the wondrous world of space and space travel. From designing and building space missions on Earth to the launch into space! There is plenty to see, do, and discover. Walk through the International Space Station (ISS), launch a rocket, and touch a real meteorite. Admire unique masterpieces such as a moon rock and André Kuipers' original Soyuz capsule.
Info: space-expo.nl