This is a regional event — it's only playable in United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium. Most of our visitors are EU-based and may not be able to take part.
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Pokémon GO partners with the European Space Agency

Event United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and Belgium
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Raids Field Research Timed Research Spawns
Featured Pokémon
ShinyPikachu

Pikachu

Pokémon GO is partnering with the European Space Agency (ESA) for a special celebration of space and exploration across Europe, featuring Astronaut Pikachu.

A Pikachu plush toy spent 67 days aboard the International Space Station (April 11–June 17, 2026, roughly 1,040 orbits of Earth) alongside ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot during her Epsilon mission.

Available at six participating museums and seven ESA facilities across Europe, Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Friday, April 30, 2027 — with extra gameplay during the opening week, October 4–10, 2026.

Participating Museums

Visit one of six participating museums to meet Astronaut Pikachu in person.

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

Available Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Friday, April 30, 2027.

One-Star Raids

Astronaut Pikachu will appear in one-star raids at participating museums.

Completing these raids in person gives you the chance to catch Astronaut Pikachu with a special Location Background commemorating your visit.

If you’re lucky, you may encounter a Shiny one!

Astronaut Pikachu’s costume has not been added to the game data yet, so a regular Pikachu sprite is shown here for now. We’ll swap in the costume as soon as it is available.
ShinyPikachu

electric Pikachu

CP 493 - 536
CP 616 - 670
Timed Research

Timed Research will be available at participating museums from Sunday, October 4, 2026 through Friday, April 30, 2027.

Complete the tasks to earn rewards and encounters with event-themed Pokémon — some encounters may come with a special Location Background.

The individual research tasks have not been detailed yet. We’ll update this page as soon as they are available.
ShinyPikachu

Pikachu

CP 369 - 402
Field Research

Spin PokéStops at participating museums to collect event-themed Field Research tasks.

Complete these tasks to earn rewards and encounters with event-themed Pokémon — some encounters may come with a special Location Background.

Available Sunday, October 4 through Saturday, October 10, 2026 only.

The individual research tasks have not been detailed yet. We’ll update this page as soon as they are available.
Wild Encounters

The following Pokémon appear more frequently in the wild around participating museums and ESA locations.

Available Sunday, October 4 through Saturday, October 10, 2026 only. If you’re lucky, you may encounter a Shiny one — except Blipbug, which is not shiny-eligible.

ShinyPikachu

Pikachu
ShinyClefairy

Clefairy
ShinyMagnemite

Magnemite
ShinyStarmie

Starmie
ShinyLunatone

Lunatone
ShinySolrock

Solrock
ShinyElgyem

Elgyem
Blipbug

Blipbug
ESA Locations

The same Wild Encounters, Raids and Field Research are also available October 4–10, 2026 at seven ESA facilities across Europe — though visits here don’t earn a Location Background.

  • ESA Headquarters — Paris, France
  • ESA ESRIN — Frascati, Italy
  • ESA ESOC — Darmstadt, Germany
  • ESA ESAC — Madrid, Spain
  • ESA ESTEC — Noordwijk, Netherlands
  • ESA ESEC — Redu, Belgium
  • ESA ECSAT — Harwell, United Kingdom