The Pokémon Company has announced a new collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) that’ll see a special exhibition and a pop-up store coming to a number of museums.
Earlier this week, it was revealed that a Pikachu soft toy had been taken to the International Space Station during ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot’s recent mission. In total, it spent 67 days in space and completed approximately 1040 orbits of Earth.
Now The Pokémon Company has revealed details of a collaboration with the ESA. Over the next few months, temporary exhibitions centred on Space and Pokémon will launch at ESA sites around Europe before taking over major museums across Europe. Exclusive merchandise will also be available, including a range of apparel, accessories and collectibles.
“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,” explains a press release.
The full Pokémon x ESA schedule
Launch events
ESTEC, Noordwijk, Netherlands – September 26, 27
ESAC, Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain – October 3
ECSAT, Harwell, United Kingdom – October 10
Participating museums (between early October 2027 and 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
“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,” said ESA’s Director General Josef Aschbacher in a statement. “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.” added Mathieu Galante, senior director of licensing at The Pokémon Company International.
The exclusive merch will also be made available via The Pokémon Centre at a later date. Tickets for the Pokémon x ESA pop-up at the London Science Museum are available now. For other museums, head here.
Earlier this year, London’s National History Museum hosted a Pokémon pop-up store as part of the franchise’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
In other news, The Pokémon Company teamed up with to give fans an exclusive first-look at a new illustration rare card from the upcoming ‘Delta Reign’ expansion – check it out here.