Astronaut Pikachu comes to Pokémon GO with ESA in Europe

Pokémon GO and the European Space Agency (ESA) are bringing a special experience to science and space museums in six European countries. It begins on October 4, 2026, with in-person opportunities to encounter Astronaut Pikachu, and part of the programme runs until April 30, 2027.

What the Pokémon GO and ESA event includes

Participating museums will host one-star raids featuring Astronaut Pikachu. Trainers who complete one of these in-person raids can catch it and may receive a special Location Background commemorating the visit. Astronaut Pikachu can also be Shiny, although that encounter is not guaranteed.

A Timed Research can be unlocked by visiting any participating museum between October 4, 2026, and April 30, 2027. Its tasks award rewards and event-themed encounters; some Pokémon met through the research may also have a Location Background.

From October 4 to October 10, 2026, a shorter window adds Field Research from spinning PokéStops and more wild encounters. The announced list is Pikachu, Clefairy, Magnemite, Starmie, Lunatone, Solrock, Elgyem and Blipbug. Every species except Blipbug can be Shiny if Trainers are lucky.

Participating museums in Europe

The longer experience will be available at these six venues:

Pokémon GO gives the programme a common end date in April 2027, but opening hours, admission and the exact exhibition schedule depend on each museum. Visitors should check the venue before travelling.

• Science Museum, London, United Kingdom.
• Cité de l’espace, Toulouse, France.
• Deutsches Museum, Nuremberg, Germany.
• Museu de les Ciències, Valencia, Spain.
• Space Expo, Noordwijk, Netherlands.
• Euro Space Center, Transinne, Belgium.

Special gameplay at ESA sites

From October 4 to October 10, 2026, the announced gameplay will also be available at seven ESA sites: headquarters in Paris; ESRIN near Rome; ESOC in Darmstadt; ESAC near Madrid; ESTEC in Noordwijk; ESEC near Redu; and ECSAT in Harwell.

These locations will offer the raids, research and encounters, but will not award Location Backgrounds. That distinction matters to collectors: the commemorative backgrounds are tied to the participating museums rather than the ESA establishments.

A collaboration that also reached orbit

The campaign goes beyond the game. ESA and The Pokémon Company International created a family exhibition that combines space science with Pokémon characters. Its panels explain how Europe launches missions, supports astronauts aboard the International Space Station, studies the Sun and explores the Solar System and the wider Universe.

As part of the project, an Astronaut Pikachu plush travelled to the International Space Station with ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot. ESA says it spent 67 days in orbit, from April 11 to June 17, 2026, and completed approximately 1,040 orbits of Earth.

What to plan before visiting

The gameplay requires a physical visit to a participating location. October 4–10 concentrates the Field Research, increased wild encounters and temporary extension to ESA sites; museum raids and Timed Research continue during the broader period.

Pokémon GO warns that events may change. Before setting out, check both the official game announcement and the chosen museum’s information, especially opening hours, admission conditions and whether the exhibition is available on the planned date.