The European Space Agency and The Pokémon Company International announced a collaboration on 18 September 2026 to mark World Space Week 2026, held 4–10 October 2026. As part of it, a Pikachu plush flew to the International Space Station during ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot's mission, spending 67 days in orbit from 11 April to 17 June 2026 and completing approximately 1040 orbits.

The centrepiece is a family-friendly exhibition co-created by the two organisations, combining scientific content with Pokémon characters across themed panels on how Europe launches missions, supports astronauts on the station, studies the Sun and explores the Solar System. It is planned to debut at ESA Open Days at ESA sites, starting at Headquarters in Paris on 19–20 September 2026, then ESRIN, ESTEC, ESOC, ESAC and ECSAT through 10 October 2026. Host venues from early October 2026 to April 2027 include Cité de l'espace in Toulouse, the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, the Deutsches Museum in Nuremberg, Euro Space Center in Transinne, Lucca Comics & Games, the Science Museum in London and Space Expo in Noordwijk.

Exclusive merchandise is planned for ESA and Pokémon retail channels and partner museum shops. A Pokémon GO activation at participating museums is scheduled from 4 October 2026 to 30 April 2027, with Astronaut Pikachu encounters and raids; from 4–10 October 2026 extra themed gameplay is planned at participating museum locations.