Alistair Hardaker | Image: Natural History Museum
Collaboration features exclusive merchandise inspired by museum architecture, with profits supporting museum’s scientific research programmes.
The Natural History Museum has sold out all tickets for its three-month Pokémon collaboration, which opens on 26 January 2026 in the museum’s Cranbourne Boutique shop.
The Pokémon Company International and the Natural History Museum extended the pop-up following demand after initially announcing the partnership in September 2025. The collaboration runs until 19 April 2026, with time slots fully booked and no walk-in access available.
The partnership centres on the ‘Pokécology’ theme, inspired by the Japanese publication ‘Pokécology: An Illustrated Guide to Pokémon Ecology’, which explores how the fictional Pokémon live and interact with their environments.
The collaboration represents Pokémon’s first partnership with a UK museum.
The museum has created exclusive merchandise in collaboration with The Pokémon Company International, featuring designs inspired by the institution’s Hintze Hall and botanical ceiling panels. Products include stationery, clothing, pins, bags, posters, gold-plated decorations and plush toys.
Selected products are also being made available through the Natural History Museum’s online shop from later this month. Additional ranges will launch on Pokémon Center, the official UK Pokémon merchandise store, in early February. Purchase limits have been applied both in-store and online.
In-store purchases include an oversized Pokémon trading card featuring Pikachu at the Museum. From 30 January, the card will also be available at select UK retailers.
All profits from purchases made in the museum shop and online store, including Pokémon products, will support the museum’s operation and its scientists’ research.
