CHICAGO – May 14, 2025 – Pokémon Fossil Museum, the Japanese special exhibition that compares fossil Pokémon from the popular Pokémon video game series with ancient life forms found in real-world fossils, will be debuting for the first time outside of Japan at the Field Museum in Chicago next year. 

Real fossils of dinosaurs and other ancient life forms, plus scientific casts of Field Museum icons like SUE the T. rex and the Chicago Archaeopteryx will be displayed next to similar fossil Pokémon, including Tyrantrum and Archeops. Visitors of all ages will discover how fossils are found and studied in the Pokémon world and our real world.

Developed by Japan's National Museum of Nature and Science, The Pokémon Company group, and the Field Museum, this exhibition will feature "Professors” from the Pokémon world, their super-cute helper “Excavator Pikachu," and Field Museum scientists to take a close look at the fossils from both worlds. 

“For more than 29 years, the Pokémon brand has been adored by fans around the world, stoking fascination and curiosity for the franchise's many iconic Pokémon, their lore, and the unique world they inhabit – much in the same way the Field Museum encourages wonder and learning for its visitors,” said Jaap Hoogstraten, Head of Exhibitions at the Field Museum. “Aligned with the Field Museum's mission to connect us to the natural world, the Pokémon Fossil Museum will inspire visitors to make new discoveries about some of their favorite Pokémon while offering a pathway to science, especially budding paleontologists.”

Pokémon Fossil Museum will open at the Field Museum on May 22, 2026. Updates will be available online at fieldmuseum.org/pokemonfossilmuseum. 

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About the Field Museum

Having recently celebrated 125 years of discovery, the Field Museum is a forward-thinking scientific leader on a mission to connect us all to the natural world and the human story. The Field participates in groundbreaking research worldwide while maintaining one of the world's natural history collections to inspire discovery, spark public engagement with science, and help uncover solutions for a better world. To share its scientific and educational mission, the Field welcomes 1.2 million visitors every year. For more information, visit us at fieldmuseum.org or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Pokémon

The Pokémon Company International, a subsidiary of The Pokémon Company in Japan, manages the 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. For more information, please visit www.pokemon.com