ESA and Pokémon Launch Europe-Wide Exhibition and Pokémon GO Event for World Space Week

Key points

• A special Pikachu plush traveled to the ISS on April 11, 2026, aboard a Cygnus cargo spacecraft and returned to Earth on June 17, 2026, aboard a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft.
• The plush spent 67 days in orbit, completing approximately 1,040 trips around Earth, and was accompanied by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot during her mission.
• ESA and Pokémon have launched a Europe-wide exhibition starting in late September 2026 at ESA headquarters in Paris, which will travel to museums and venues across Europe through April 2027.
• Pokémon GO players can participate in special activities from October 4, 2026, through April 30, 2027, including One-Star Raids featuring Astronaut Pikachu and research tasks at participating science and space museums.
• The collaboration includes new ESA x Pokémon merchandise, such as a Pikachu plush with ESA astronaut outfits, and aims to spark curiosity about space and science in children and teens.

Background

This collaboration builds on previous Pokémon events and merchandise drops, including the 30th Celebration T-shirts and Comfy Cuddlers plushies. It also follows the Pokémon GO Hub's coverage of in-person Pokémon Night Out events and the upcoming Pokémon: Wild Card film. The ESA x Pokémon partnership is part of a broader effort to engage younger audiences with space exploration through popular culture.

How outlets are covering it

The primary source, PokéBeach, focuses on the community reaction to the Pikachu plush's space mission, with users expressing surprise and humor about the cost and novelty of sending a Pokémon card to space. Secondary sources, including DOGO News and Popular Science, emphasize the official ESA and Pokémon collaboration, highlighting the educational and promotional aspects of the partnership. Space.com provides additional context on the Pokémon GO event and the broader World Space Week campaign. The perspectives differ in focus, with PokéBeach emphasizing fan reactions and the secondary sources highlighting the official and educational initiatives.

Why it matters

This collaboration represents a significant effort by ESA and The Pokémon Company to engage younger audiences with space exploration and science. By leveraging the popularity of Pokémon and the prestige of ESA, the partnership aims to inspire curiosity and interest in space among children and teens. The exhibition and Pokémon GO event provide accessible and engaging ways for people to connect with space science, potentially increasing public interest and support for space exploration.

What to watch

The exhibition will travel to museums and venues across Europe through April 2027, and the Pokémon GO event will continue until April 30, 2027. ESA and Pokémon may announce additional collaborations or events in the future, and the success of this partnership could lead to further initiatives aimed at engaging younger audiences with space and science.