European Space Agency Event: Astronaut Pikachu, Raids and Research

Key Points:

• Pokémon GO is partnering with the European Space Agency (ESA) for a space-themed event running from October 4, 2026, to April 30, 2027, featuring Astronaut Pikachu, special Field Research, Timed Research, and boosted wild Pokémon encounters at participating museums and ESA locations.
• Astronaut Pikachu will appear in one-star raids at museums throughout the event period, with shiny versions available; completing raids in person grants encounters with location-specific backgrounds commemorating visits.
• Field Research tasks and wild Pokémon encounters, many with location backgrounds, will be available during the opening week (October 4–10, 2026), with ESA sites offering similar gameplay but without location backgrounds.
• Astronaut Pikachu’s design is inspired by a Pikachu toy that spent 67 days aboard the International Space Station from April to June 2026, part of ESA’s collaboration with The Pokémon Company to celebrate World Space Week (October 4–10, 2026).
• The partnership extends beyond the game, including a family-friendly ESA × Pokémon exhibition linking Pokémon characters to real space science, debuting at ESA Open Days in early October 2026 and touring Europe through April 2027, alongside exclusive merchandise.