Pikachu Went to Space. Now ESA Is Bringing Astronaut Pikachu to Europe

HERO: official collaboration artwork. ©2026 Pokémon/Nintendo/Creatures/GAME FREAK. ©2026 European Space Agency.

ESA and The Pokémon Company International have announced an Astronaut Pikachu collaboration spanning European exhibitions, merchandise and Pokémon GO. The September 19, 2026 announcement follows a Pikachu plush's visit to the International Space Station with astronaut Sophie Adenot. ESA announcement.

For collectors, the next step is closer to Earth. There are physical places to visit and a merchandise programme to follow, but a spaceflight photograph is not a retail listing for the plush in that photograph.

The Spaceflight Happened Before the Announcement

ESA says Pikachu spent 67 days in orbit, from April 11 to June 17, 2026. The September news is the public collaboration and its upcoming programme, not a claim that Pikachu launched this week. ESA's account.

That timeline gives the project a concrete story beyond a character in a space costume. It also helps separate the flown object from merchandise inspired by the partnership. Unless a seller can document otherwise, an Astronaut Pikachu souvenir should not be described as space-flown.

Our Pokémon anniversary merchandise guide covers the wider collecting year. This collaboration has its own identity and event calendar, so it deserves a separate entry in a collector's plans.

What Has Been Announced for Physical Collectors

The programme includes exhibitions and merchandise such as apparel, accessories and collectibles through participating ESA, Pokémon and museum shops. The announcement does not supply a complete retail catalogue or prices. Official collaboration details.

Treat product photographs, item names and sale terms as the next things to verify. A social post showing a plush may be illustrating the campaign rather than confirming a purchasable edition. Save the actual shop listing once one exists.

Several ESA open days are still ahead as of September 22, including ESTEC in Noordwijk on September 26 and 27 and ECSAT at Harwell on October 10. The Paris dates, September 19 and 20, have already passed. Check registration with the venue before making travel plans. ESA schedule.

Pokémon GO Has Two Different Event Windows

The official GO announcement schedules museum gameplay from October 4, 2026, to April 30, 2027. Its list includes London's Science Museum, Cité de l'espace in Toulouse and Space Expo in Noordwijk, alongside other participating European museums. Pokémon GO event details.

Astronaut Pikachu appears in in-person one-star raids at those museums, with a special Location Background available through those encounters. Timed Research is also part of the longer museum programme. These are digital encounters, not a promise of physical cards or a souvenir with admission.

The ESA-location programme runs only October 4 to 10, 2026, and excludes Location Backgrounds. Museum Field Research and the boosted local wild encounters also use that shorter October window. Official date distinctions.

Do not book a visit based on the longest date range alone. Match the venue and activity you want, then check that site's access and opening arrangements. A game event notice does not establish that museum admission is free or that an ESA site is open without registration.

Watch the Shop Listings, Not Invented Promo-Card Rumours

Neither announcement cited here establishes a physical Astronaut Pikachu TCG promo card. If that changes, the useful evidence will be an official card image and distribution notice. Until then, the collecting story is the announced merchandise and exhibitions.

Our promo-card guide helps separate an actual card distribution from a broader Pokémon collaboration. Keep that distinction when sharing the news with friends or comparing souvenir offers.

For a separate way to explore physical collectibles, visit the Polkastarter marketplace. There is a free mystery pack at signup, and every Lootbox lists its contents, values, and chances before you open. Astronaut Pikachu merchandise is not promised as current inventory.

Details checked September 22, 2026. Release dates, shipping estimates and availability can change. Nothing here is financial or investment advice. Polkastarter is not affiliated with the companies named.

Official images are used to illustrate this news report, with their original artwork and credits retained. No ESA, NASA or Pokémon endorsement of Polkastarter is implied.

Sources

• ESA, collaboration announcement, September 19, 2026, accessed September 22, 2026
• Pokémon GO, official European event details, accessed September 22, 2026
• ESA, Pikachu in the Cupola image and credit, accessed September 22, 2026
• ESA, official collaboration key art and credit, accessed September 22, 2026
• Image 1 source
• Image 2 source