Pokémon x ESA 1 Oct 2026, 23:30

Pokémon x ESA collection: two astronaut Pikachu plushies for $29.99

Pokémon x ESA collection: two astronaut Pikachu plushies for $29.99

Pokémon and ESA have announced a Pokémon x ESA merch collection with two astronaut Pikachu plushies for $29.99, plus apparel, pins and TCG accessories.

The collection includes two new Pikachu plushies, each priced at $29.99. Apparel, pins and TCG accessories are also mentioned as part of the release.

The announcement is tied to World Space Week, which begins on October 4. On that same date, a Pokémon GO space event and ‘Space and Pokémon’ exhibitions are also planned at selected European museums.

What happened

Pokémon and ESA have jointly announced an official Pokémon x ESA collection. Based on the available information, this is a merchandise release sold through Pokémon Center, with Pikachu taking center stage. The announcement positions the line as a collaboration between a gaming and entertainment brand and Europe’s space agency, with a strong focus on a space-themed take on one of Pokémon’s most recognizable characters.

The standout items are two new Pikachu plushies, both priced at $29.99. The designs show Pikachu in two versions of an ESA spacesuit. That means the collection builds on an earlier space project involving Pikachu, although the source does not provide a full product catalog or separate prices for the other items.

The new plush is based on the astronaut Pikachu that ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot previously took to the International Space Station in 2026. According to the source, the original plush launched on April 11, spent 67 days in orbit and circled the Earth more than 1,000 times. Those figures are explicitly cited in the source as background for the new merchandise.

Alongside the plushies, the announcement also mentions apparel, pins and TCG accessories. The source does not provide a full product list or exact release dates for each item. What is clear is that the collection will be sold via Pokémon Center, tying the release to Pokémon’s official store ecosystem.

The timing of the announcement lines up with World Space Week. The collection is being announced on October 1, 2026, while World Space Week begins on October 4. On that same date, the source says a Pokémon GO space event and ‘Space and Pokémon’ exhibitions are also scheduled at selected European museums. However, no museum names or further exhibition details are provided.

Timeline

  • April 11, 2026: the original astronaut Pikachu plush launches toward the International Space Station.

  • Over the following 67 days: the plush remains in orbit and, according to the source, completes more than 1,000 trips around Earth.

  • Later in 2026: ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot takes the Pikachu plush to the ISS as the basis for the new ESA variant.

  • October 1, 2026: the Pokémon x ESA collection is announced ahead of World Space Week.

  • October 4, 2026: World Space Week begins; a Pokémon GO space event and ‘Space and Pokémon’ exhibitions are also planned at European museums.

Background

The collaboration links Pokémon with ESA’s space outreach and uses Pikachu as the face of the campaign. The collection will be sold through Pokémon Center, but the source does not list every product. So while it is clear the release goes beyond the two plushies, it is not clear which apparel, pin or TCG items will appear.

The reference to Sophie Adenot and the International Space Station gives the collection a concrete spaceflight connection. The source says the new plush is based on the Pikachu plush Adenot took to the ISS earlier in 2026. At the same time, the available information is limited to the announcement itself, and no additional documentation is cited to separately confirm the mission details.

The museum exhibitions are also only described as being planned for selected European museums. The participating locations are not named in the provided material. The same goes for the Pokémon GO space event: the source links it to October 4, but gives no further details on content, regions or specific in-game features.

The combination of merchandise, a game event and museum exhibitions shows that the Pokémon x ESA campaign is broader than a simple store release. Based on the supplied facts, the key points are that the collection will appear via Pokémon Center, Pikachu is featured in an ESA space-themed design, and the campaign will get extra visibility around October 4 through World Space Week and related activities in Europe.