The European Space Agency and The Pokémon Company International have launched a collaboration for World Space Week 2026. The partnership features museum gameplay, merchandise, and an exhibition showcasing an Astronaut Pikachu toy that spent 67 days orbiting Earth aboard the International Space Station earlier this year.
Pikachu’s 67-Day Journey Aboard the International Space Station
Pikachu has added orbital flight to its resume. A Pikachu toy spent 67 days in orbit aboard the International Space Station, logging 1,040 trips around Earth between April 11 and June 17, according to Space. The spacefaring mouse shared the orbiting laboratory with seven human astronauts, including ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, who arrived at the station aboard SpaceX’s Crew-12 mission.
The mission was designed to honor World Space Week 2026, which runs from October 4 through October 10. Inspiring future generations is a key part of ESA’s mission, ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher said in a statement reported by Space. Through this collaboration with Pokémon, we are unlocking new ways for people across Europe to connect with space through a unique and engaging experience, he added.
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 opportunities that space offers for the future.
Josef Aschbacher, ESA Director General
Museum Gameplay and Pokémon GO Integrations Across Europe
The partnership extends directly into mobile gaming and interactive museum exhibits. Participating science and space museums across Europe will host Astronaut Pikachu 1-star raids from October 4, 2026, to April 30, 2027. Trainers who complete these raids in person can encounter Astronaut Pikachu with a special Location Background commemorating the visit, with a shiny variant also available. Shiny Astronaut Pikachu will also be available!
Timed Research tasks will remain active throughout the entire museum gameplay period until April 30, 2027. Meanwhile, event-themed Field Research tasks and boosted wild encounters will run specifically from October 4 to October 10, 2026, near participating locations. ESA facilities including headquarters in Paris, ESRIN in Frascati, ESOC in Darmstadt, ESAC near Madrid, ESTEC in Noordwijk, ESEC near Redu, and ECSAT in Harwell will also offer raids and research during the opening week, though Location Backgrounds will not be available at official agency sites.
Exhibition Launch Dates and European Venues
The pop-up exhibition pairs Pokémon character panels with real European space activities, covering solar observation, solar system exploration, and ISS missions. Incorporating themed Pokémon character panels, guests can explore important elements of Europe’s space activities, discovering how Europe launches missions, aids ISS astronauts, studies the sun, and learns about the solar system and the broader universe.
ESA Headquarters, Paris: September 19–20, 2026
ESRIN, Rome: September 25, 2026
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands: September 26–27, 2026
ESOC, Darmstadt, Germany: October 2, 2026
ESAC, Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain: October 3, 2026
ECSAT, Harwell, United Kingdom: October 10, 2026
Following these opening dates, the exhibition travels to venues and special events across Europe—including Lucca Comics & Games in Italy—running through April 2027.
Every Pokémon journey begins with a sense of wonder about what lies beyond the world you know, said Mathieu Galante, senior director of licensing at The Pokémon Company International, in a statement published by Space. From distant regions to encounters that reach into outer space, that spirit of discovery has always been part of being a Pokémon Trainer.
Specialty Merchandise and Retail Offerings
Collectors and fans can also access dedicated retail merchandise tied to the campaign. According to Pokemon, PokemonCenter.com will offer a lineup featuring plush toys of Pikachu dressed in ESA astronaut outfits styled after the payload flown by Adenot. The collection includes flight bomber jackets, Pokémon TCG accessories featuring collaborative art, and specialized ESA apparel such as T-shirts, tote bags, notepads, and pins available through the official ESA online shop and partner museum stores.
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