Astronaut Pikachu in Pokémon GO: the ESA event from October 4

From October 4, 2026 to April 30, 2027, Pokémon GO and the European Space Agency (ESA) bring Astronaut Pikachu to one-star raids at six European museums, including the Cité de l'espace in Toulouse. A shiny version is possible. From October 4 to 10, eight space-themed wild Pokémon and Field Research join in, including at seven ESA sites.

It all started with a plush toy. A Pikachu in a spacesuit spent 67 days aboard the International Space Station with French astronaut Sophie Adenot, and ESA built a collaboration with The Pokémon Company International around it for World Space Week, October 4 to 10, 2026. An exhibition, merchandise and a Pokémon GO event: here is what has been announced, venue by venue, and what the announcements leave out. I'll update this page if ESA or the game add details.

What is the Pokémon GO x ESA event, and when does it run?

It runs from October 4, 2026 to April 30, 2027 at ESA's partner museums, with a boosted week from October 4 to 10, World Space Week. It comes with a touring exhibition and a range of merchandise announced by ESA and The Pokémon Company International.

ESA's press release describes three parts. First, an exhibition made with Pokémon: panels explaining how Europe launches missions, supports astronauts aboard the International Space Station, studies the Sun and explores the Solar System, with Pokémon on some of the panels. Second, merchandise, apparel, accessories and collectibles, sold by ESA, through Pokémon retail channels and in partner museum shops, with no prices or dates published. Third, the in-game event, which is what the rest of this page covers.

The plush itself was photographed in the Cupola by Sophie Adenot: 67 days in orbit, from April 11 to June 17, 2026, about 1,040 orbits of the Earth according to ESA. “Every Pokémon journey begins with a sense of wonder about what lies beyond the world you know,” says Mathieu Galante, senior director of licensing at The Pokémon Company International, in that release.

Which museums can you play at?

Six museums take part in the game: the Science Museum in London, the Cité de l'espace in Toulouse, the Deutsches Museum in Nuremberg, the Museu de les Ciències in Valencia, Space Expo in Noordwijk and the Euro Space Center in Transinne. They sit in six different countries.

One detail on Valencia: ESA's release writes Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias for the exhibition, while the Pokémon GO page writes Museu de les Ciències for the game. The science museum is part of the City of Arts and Sciences, so it is the same complex. As for Lucca Comics & Games, ESA lists it among the exhibition venues, but it is not on the list of game locations.

The game is played on site: the texts talk about Trainers visiting museums, not an event you can do from the couch. Entry prices depend on each museum and are not given for the exhibition.

How do you get Astronaut Pikachu, and can it be shiny?

Astronaut Pikachu appears in one-star raids near participating museums from October 4, 2026 to April 30, 2027. At the end of the raid you meet it with a location background commemorating your visit, and a shiny version is possible, with no rate published.

Two other routes lead to themed encounters. Timed Research is available at the museums for the whole event: it gives rewards and encounters, some with a location background. Field Research comes from spinning the museums' PokéStops and lasts only one week, from October 4 to 10. The event page does not detail the tasks or the rewards for now.

The texts speak of raids “near participating museums”: none mentions a Remote Raid Pass, so count on visiting in person. And if you want a Pikachu that depends on no raid, the Pikachu crystal LED Poké Ball lights up on a shelf all year.

Which wild Pokémon appear from October 4 to 10?

Eight species appear more often near participating sites: Pikachu, Clefairy, Magnemite, Starmie, Lunatone, Solrock, Elgyem and Blipbug. All can be shiny except Blipbug, according to the event page.

The pick reads easily: Lunatone is shaped like a crescent Moon, Solrock like a Sun, Starmie like a star, and Elgyem looks like an alien. Lunatone also appears on the collaboration artwork, next to Cosmog and Minior. These spawns only concern the surroundings of participating sites, not the whole world.

One Pokémon is missing from the list and yet lives very high: Rayquaza, which inhabits the ozone layer according to its Pokédex. Its Rayquaza LED Poké Ball on a wooden stand is in the shop, at desk height.

What about ESA sites: can you play there, and on which dates?

The same gameplay, without location backgrounds, is available from October 4 to 10, 2026 at seven ESA sites. But the exhibition debuts there during open days, and among the published dates only one falls in that window: Harwell, in the United Kingdom, on October 10.

This table crosses two texts: the list of game sites, published by Pokémon GO, and the open-days calendar, published by ESA. Neither says whether the game can be played from outside the sites, and I do not claim to know. In practice the six museums are the safe bet, and Harwell on October 10 is the only ESA site where the game window and an open day meet.

October 10 is also the day of the Zorua Community Day, from 2 pm to 5 pm local time: the end of the space week lands on a big day in the game. The event fits into Pokémon GO's 10th anniversary year, the anniversary logo is on its artwork, the year of the free perfect Mewtwo and Master Ball. Until October, our collection of light-up Poké Balls stays lit with no calendar.

How much does it cost, and what do we know about the merchandise?

The base game is free, each museum has its own entry price, and the prices of the ESA x Pokémon products are not published. The event artwork reminds that basic gameplay is free, with optional in-game purchases.

ESA's release announces apparel, accessories and collectibles, with no list and no prices. I give no figure until a source does.

Frequently asked questions about the Pokémon GO x ESA event

Do you have to go to a museum to meet Astronaut Pikachu?

Yes, going by the published texts: it appears in one-star raids near the participating museums. No source mentions a Remote Raid Pass or an appearance away from the partner venues. Plan for an on-site visit, and reread the event page in the game before you leave.

Is the event paid?

The base game is free, with optional in-app purchases. Museum entry follows each museum's own prices, which ESA has not published for the exhibition, and ESA sites only open on open days. Check with the museum before you travel.

What is left after October 10, 2026?

Until April 30, 2027, the six museums keep the Astronaut Pikachu raids and the Timed Research. Field Research, the boosted spawns of the eight wild Pokémon and the gameplay at ESA sites all end on October 10, 2026.

What is the link between Astronaut Pikachu and Sophie Adenot?

A Pikachu plush in an astronaut suit travelled aboard the International Space Station during Sophie Adenot's mission, from April 11 to June 17, 2026: 67 days and about 1,040 orbits according to ESA. It is the starting point of the collaboration with The Pokémon Company International.

Do the eight wild Pokémon appear everywhere in the world?

No. They appear more often near participating sites, from October 4 to 10, 2026. For the rest of the world the event page announces nothing, so there is no reason to expect a global bonus.

Image credits: event artwork © Scopely Explore / Pokémon / Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK / ESA; collaboration artwork © Pokémon / Nintendo / Creatures / GAME FREAK / ESA; Cupola plush photo © ESA/NASA, S. Adenot; Sophie Adenot portrait © ESA, A. Conigli, D. Dos Santos; Pokédex artworks © The Pokémon Company / Nintendo. Sources: ESA press release and the Pokémon GO event page.