Pokémon Space Trail and Merchandise Land at the Science Museum

• Created in partnership with the European Space Agency and The Pokémon Company International, the free-to-visit Pokémon Space Trail invites curious visitors of all ages to explore the Science Museum in London and discover more about space science in a fun, accessible way.
  
  
• Visitors can seek out Pokémon across the museum, take part in special Pokémon GO activity and browse Pokémon merchandise inspired by the partnership with ESA in the Science Museum shop.
• The Pokémon Space Trail and accompanying merchandise launch on Friday 2 October ahead of World Space Week and the October half-term holidays.
  
  
• Special after-hours Astronights sleepovers for children and families will take place in November and December, alongside an after-hours Pokémon and space-themed Lates for adults on 26 November.
  
  

Pokémon x ESA at the Science Museum
Free, ticketed Friday 2 October – Sunday 3 January 2027

Pokémon fans can join a new space-inspired adventure at the Science Museum from Friday 2 October, when an out-of-this-world trail takes over the museum’s galleries as Trainers around the world celebrate 30 years of the much-loved brand. Created in partnership with the European Space Agency and The Pokémon Company International, the Pokémon Space Trail pairs Pokémon with real stories of European space science to celebrate human curiosity and our quest to understand the universe.

Spanning several galleries, the Pokémon Space Trail features large-scale installations starring beloved Pokémon. As visitors explore, they’ll encounter stops featuring Pokémon such as Pikachu, Lunatone, Arceus and more; learn stories of space exploration; discover ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, who was joined by the ‘Astronaut Pikachu’ plush aboard the International Space Station; and enjoy Trainer-friendly photo moments. In the museum’s Space gallery, the trail explores how NASA and ESA are returning to the Moon with the Artemis programme while also highlighting the Moon’s impact in the world of Pokémon, from Eevee’s moonlit evolution to Lunatone’s lunar powers.

After completing the trail, fans who have booked a free timed ticket can enjoy a dedicated Pokémon gift shop on the museum’s mezzanine level. A carefully selected range of Pokémon and ESA merchandise will be available to purchase, including a limited number of Astronaut Pikachu plush, available while stocks last. Visitors will need to book a free timed ticket for the shop in advance and purchase limits will apply for some products (including the Astronaut Pikachu plush and Trading Card Game products), helping to ensure as many fans as possible have the opportunity to purchase these sought-after items. There will also be a wider selection of Pokémon merchandise, including clothing, stationery, selected Pokémon Trading Card Game products from the Scarlet & Violet series and collectables.

Visitors to the museum can enhance their adventure with Pokémon GO gameplay, including One-Star Raids with the chance to catch Astronaut Pikachu, Timed Research and special Pokémon encounters. Gamers can continue the fun in Power Up and put their skills to the test across Pokémon Snap on Nintendo 64, Pokémon Battle Revolution on Wii, Pokémon Legends: Z-A on Switch 2, and more!

Libby Jackson, Head of Space at the Science Museum, said: ‘Visitors can set off on an adventure of discovery with our new free trail at the Science Museum, which brings beloved Pokémon into the museum’s galleries to reveal connections between the worlds of Pokémon and science. We are thrilled to be working with the European Space Agency and The Pokémon Company International, and hope visitors of all ages enjoy following the Pokémon Space Trail and discovering something unexpected about the universe along the way.’

Mathieu Galante, Senior Director of Licensing at The Pokémon Company International, said: ‘Every Pokémon journey begins with a sense of wonder about what lies beyond the world you know. From distant regions to encounters that reach into outer space, that spirit of discovery has always been part of being a Pokémon Trainer. Collaborating with ESA opens a new frontier for fans, bringing together the world of Pokémon and the wonder of space for visitors at locations across Europe.’

The adventure continues on Thursday 26 November with a special Pokémon x ESA Lates. Visitors can follow the Pokémon Space Trail after hours, browse the Pokémon x ESA product collection and dance to space-inspired DJ sets. Two worlds collide in stellar talks on the science of Pokémon, while gaming fans can challenge fellow Trainers at the board game café before catching Pokémon Detective Pikachu in IMAX: The Ronson Theatre. There’ll also be workshops, performances and plenty of surprises for aspiring astronauts and budding Pokémon Trainers alike.

Younger fans can also enjoy their own overnight adventure at Astronights on Saturday 14 November, Saturday 28 November and Saturday 5 December 2026. The museum’s much-loved sleepover for children and their parents or guardians offers families the chance to take part in space-inspired activities and follow the Pokémon Space Trail before camping out amongst the Science Museum’s iconic objects.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Pokémon Space Trail
Friday 2 October 2026 – Sunday 3 January 2027 Free (included with general admission to the museum)

Visitors can enjoy the free Pokémon Space Trail across the museum from Friday 2 October until Sunday 3 January 2027. Spanning several galleries, the Pokémon Space Trail features large-scale installations starring beloved Pokémon, each revealing playful connections between the world of Pokémon and real-world space science. To join the trail, visitors are encouraged to book free museum admission tickets in advance.

Pokémon x ESA Shop
Friday 2 October – Sunday 3 January 2027
Free, ticketed

A range of merchandise inspired by the Pokémon x ESA collaboration is available to purchase on the mezzanine level of the Science Museum shop. The range includes a limited number of Astronaut Pikachu plush (available while stocks last). To visit the shop, visitors will need to book a free timed ticket in advance.

Pokémon x ESA Lates
Thursday 26 November 2026
Free, ticketed

A special Pokémon-themed edition of the Science Museum’s popular Lates series invites adult fans to enjoy the Pokémon Space Trail after hours, with themed activities inspired by Pokémon.

Astronights
Saturday 14 and 28 November and 5 December 2026
Price: From £82 standard, from £125 VIP
Age: 7–11

These special editions of Astronights, the Science Museum’s much-loved sleepover for children aged 7–11 and their parents or guardians, will give families the chance to experience the experience the Pokémon Space Trail and Pokémon x ESA shop as part of an unforgettable night at the museum.

Images are available to download via this WeTransfer link.

About the Science Museum

The Science Museum in London is one of five national museums in the Science Museum Group, the world’s leading network of science museums that care for, research and display an internationally significant collection of 7 million items spanning science, technology, engineering and medicine. Our mission is to inspire futures, igniting curiosity among people of all ages and backgrounds by sharing stories of the scientific innovations and individuals that have shaped our world and are transforming the future. For more than a century the Science Museum has inspired millions of visitors through our free galleries, interactive exhibitions and engaging experiences, exploring topics from robotics and space exploration to medical innovations and mathematics. The museum is one of the UK’s most visited cultural attractions and was awarded the Art Fund Museum of the Year prize in 2020. Find out more via sciencemuseum.org.uk or follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.

About the European Space Agency (ESA)

The European Space Agency provides Europe’s gateway to space. ESA is an intergovernmental organisation, created in 1975, with the mission to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space delivers benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world. ESA has 23 Member States. By coordinating the financial and intellectual resources of its members, ESA can undertake programmes and activities far beyond the scope of any single European country. It is working in particular with the EU on implementing the Galileo and Copernicus programmes as well as with Eumetsat for the development of meteorological missions. www.esa.int

About The Pokémon Company International

The Pokémon Company International manages the Pokémon property outside of Asia and is responsible for brand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokémon Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment and the official Pokémon website. Pokémon was launched in Japan in 1996 and today is one of the most popular children’s entertainment properties in the world. For more information, please visit www.pokemon.co.uk.

About South Ken Culture Quarter

Welcoming more than 20 million visitors a year to 22 iconic institutions, South Ken Culture Quarter is where cultural, scientific and creative worlds collide, creating a destination for the most curious minds. Home to London’s world-leading museums, parks, cultural venues, and educational institutions, all just a short walk from one another, this is a place where ideas come to life, every single day. Founded from the proceeds of the Great Exhibition of 1851, the UK’s first cultural quarter, in the heart of South Kensington, is built on history but focused on the future. southkenculturequarter.com