Pikachu astronaut design in official Pokémon x ESA collaboration for World Space Week 2026
The Pokémon Company International and ESA launch an official World Space Week 2026 collaboration featuring astronaut Pikachu and Pokémon 30th anniversary art books.
The collaboration is described in official communications as a Europe-wide activation with an astronaut Pikachu experience. Multiple reports also mention special Pokémon products, including a Pikachu plush in ESA styling.
Separately, sources say official Pokémon 30th anniversary art books are set to release in December 2026. One volume is said to focus on the early generations of the Pokémon games.
What happened
ESA and The Pokémon Company International have unveiled a joint campaign for World Space Week 2026. The official dates for the week are October 4 through October 10, 2026, and the collaboration is being positioned as a Europe-wide activation centered on space exploration and Pokémon.
Pikachu is the face of the campaign. In the coverage, the character is shown in an astronaut or space suit, with Pokémon once again using its mascot for an official promotion tied to the ESA partnership.
Based on the available information, this is more than just a single image or design. The campaign appears to include an astronaut Pikachu experience and related products. Additional reporting mentions special plush toys connected to the ESA promotion.
The same news cycle also points to official Pokémon 30th anniversary art books due in December 2026. The sources mention a December 2026 release, though the exact title and full contents have not been fully confirmed in the information provided.
Timeline
2026-10-02: reporting on a new official Pikachu astronaut-themed design appears.
2026-10-04 to 2026-10-10: World Space Week 2026, the official period of the Pokémon x ESA campaign.
December 2026: official Pokémon 30th anniversary art books are said to release, according to the sources.
Background
Pikachu has long been one of Pokémon’s most recognizable faces, and the character is once again being used for an official anniversary campaign. The ESA collaboration fits into Pokémon’s 30th anniversary celebrations, with The Pokémon Company bundling multiple promotional efforts around the milestone.
The available information also mentions Charizard as a comparison point within the franchise, but the main news here is the Pikachu, ESA, and official World Space Week 2026 activation. The art books mentioned for December 2026 are said to cover the early generations of the Pokémon games.
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Sources
- ESA: official announcement of the collaboration with The Pokémon Company International for World Space Week 2026.
- Pokémon.com: official coverage of the Pokémon x ESA collaboration and astronaut Pikachu promotion.
- Game Rant: reporting on the Pikachu astronaut design and the Pokémon 30th anniversary art books in December 2026.