The European Space Agency (ESA) previously announced a special collaboration with Pokemon to celebrate World Space Week, held from October 4 to October 10.
For the centerpiece of the collaboration, a Pikachu plush accompanied ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot to the International Space Station, spending 67 days in orbit from April 11 to June 17, 2026. A tie-in event featuring Spacesuit Pikachu will also run in Pokémon GO from October 4, 2026, through April 30, 2027.
World Space Week is an international observance established by the United Nations General Assembly. On October 4, 1957, Sputnik 1, the first human-made satellite to orbit Earth, was launched and ushered in the space age. Ten years later, on October 10, 1967, the Outer Space Treaty entered into force, establishing key principles governing space exploration and related activities. World Space Week commemorates these two landmark dates.
The collaboration will also feature a limited-time exhibition themed around space and Pokemon, touring ESA facilities and major museums across Europe. Exclusive merchandise and a special Pokémon GO event are also planned, with the overall project designed to inspire visitors of all ages to get curious about space exploration.
▼ Sophie Adenot poses with the astronaut Pikachu plush at the European Astronaut Centre
By sending Pikachu into orbit as part of the mission, the collaboration hopes to get more people interested in space exploration, its many mysteries, and the importance of the work behind each mission.
Pokémon GO will also launch a Spacesuit Pikachu event from October 4, 2026, through April 30, 2027. Players will be able to complete limited-time research and tasks for a chance to encounter Spacesuit Pikachu with a Special Background, alongside other special Pokemon encounters.
ESA also teased a traveling ESA × Pokemon exhibition set to visit locations across Europe, along with a future merchandise collection featuring apparel, accessories, and a range of collectibles.
The products will be available through official ESA and Pokemon sales channels, as well as stores at participating exhibitions. The collection is designed to carry the exhibition’s sense of discovery into everyday life, keeping the spirit of exploring the unknown alive long after visitors leave.
