Pokémon Fossil Museum to Display Real and Fake Fossils in U.S. Next Year

The Pokémon Company has exciting news for fans in North America: the Pokémon Fossil Museum is set to open its doors in May 2026. After captivating audiences in Japan, this unique exhibition will make its North American debut at Chicago's Field Museum starting May 22, 2026. This marks the first time the exhibition will venture beyond Japan, offering a thrilling opportunity for Pokémon enthusiasts and paleontology fans alike.

So, what exactly is the Pokémon Fossil Museum? It's a fascinating display that juxtaposes fabricated Pokémon "fossils" with real-world ancient lifeforms. Visitors to the Field Museum will have the chance to explore vibrant Pokémon models alongside the museum's collection of extinct species. This includes scientific casts of renowned Field Museum dinosaurs like SUE the T. rex and the Chicago Archaeopteryx, displayed next to Fossil Pokémon such as Tyrantrum and Archeops. The museum invites you to discover the differences and similarities between these ancient beings and their Pokémon counterparts. "How many differences (and similarities) will you spot, Trainers?" they ask.

Pokémon Fossil Museum Virtual Tour

View 7 ImagesIf you can't make it to either Japan or Chicago, don't worry. The Pokémon Company and Toyohashi Museum of Natural History have teamed up to bring the Pokémon Fossil Museum to you. Pokémon fans can now take a virtual tour of the exhibit from the comfort of their own homes, exploring the fascinating collection of real and Pokémon fossils, from a tyrannosaurus to a Tyrantrum.

In other Pokémon-related news, authorities in the UK recently arrested a man after discovering he was in possession of a cache of stolen Pokémon cards valued at £250,000 (approximately $332,500). The significant haul was uncovered during a police raid on a home in Hyde, Tameside, on the outskirts of Greater Manchester. A police spokesperson humorously remarked, "Gotta catch 'em all."