The European Space Agency (ESA) and The Pokémon Company International (TPCi) are teaming up to celebrate World Space Week from 4–10 October 2026. This unique, limited-time collaboration brings together two worlds united by curiosity, exploration and imagination.
For decades, space has inspired people to dream and look beyond the horizon. ESA has turned that sense of wonder into exploration, uncovering more about the Universe and sharing this journey of discovery with people on Earth. Pokémon has sparked that same spirit of adventure for generations, inviting fans around the world to discover, learn and explore through play.
“Working with Pokémon, a brand with such a rich and imaginative world, represents a unique opportunity for ESA to connect broad audiences with space through creative storytelling”, said Anne‑Sophie Bradelle, Head of ESA Communication Department. “Rooted in shared values of curiosity and imagination, this collaboration supports ESA’s ambition, as set out in Strategy 2040, to inspire Europe, especially young people and future generations.”
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. The Agency has 23 Member States: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Cyprus, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia are Associate Members.
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.
ESA and Pokémon share a common ambition: to inspire new generations to dream big, explore and experiment. Whether through science or imagination, discovery begins with curiosity. This collaboration reflects a shared desire to build bridges between space, science and storytelling, and to spark excitement among young audiences and fans around the world.
Further details of this collaboration will be revealed soon, but fans may already want to fasten their space helmets and get their Pokédexes ready.
The World Space Week is an international celebration of science and technology, and their contribution to the betterment of the human condition. The United Nations General Assembly declared in 1999 that World Space Week will be held each year from October 4-10. These dates commemorate two events:
October 4, 1957: Launch of the first human-made Earth satellite, Sputnik 1, thus opening the way for space exploration
October 10, 1967: The signing of the "Treaty on Principles Governing the Activites of States in the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies".
Coordinated by the United Nations with the support of the World Space Week Association (WSWA), the yearly initiative consists of space education and outreach events held by space agencies, aerospace companies, schools, planetaria, museums, and astronomy clubs around the world in a common timeframe. These synchronized space events attract greater public and media attention. World Space Week 2025 achieved record scale: up to 50,000 events in 102 nations around the world.
The events which will be held for the 2026 edition can be explored on an interactive map on the initiative's official website.
