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

The Pokémon Company has officially announced that the Pokémon Fossil Museum will make its North American debut in May 2026.

If you're curious about what the Pokémon Fossil Museum entails, it’s exactly as intriguing as it sounds. Originally launched in Japan, this unique exhibition, which showcases fictional Pokémon "fossils" alongside real-world ancient lifeforms, is set to open at Chicago's Field Museum on May 22, 2026. This marks the first time the exhibit will travel outside of Japan.

“During your visit, you’ll see vibrant Pokémon models displayed alongside extinct lifeforms from the Field Museum’s collection — including scientific casts of Field Museum dinosaurs like SUE the T. rex and the Chicago Archaeopteryx next to Fossil Pokémon like Tyrantrum and Archeops,” shared the museum. “How many differences (and similarities) will you spot, Trainers?”

Virtual Tour of the Pokémon Fossil Museum

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Unable to visit either Japan or Chicago in person? No worries. The Pokémon Company, in collaboration with the Toyohashi Museum of Natural History, offers a fully immersive virtual tour of the Pokémon Fossil Museum. This online experience allows fans to explore the fascinating world of real fossils and their Pokémon counterparts—from prehistoric creatures like the Tyrannosaurus to Pokémon such as Tyrantrum.

In related Pokémon news, authorities in the UK recently made headlines when they uncovered a large stash of stolen Pokémon cards valued at £250,000 (approximately $332,500) during a police raid in Hyde, Tameside. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police couldn’t resist adding a playful twist: “Gotta catch 'em all.”