Pokémon Fossil Museum to Display 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 actually is, the name says it all. Originally launched in Japan, this unique exhibition blends the worlds of paleontology and Pokémon by showcasing fabricated Pokémon "fossils" alongside real-world ancient lifeforms discovered in actual fossils. The exhibition is set to open at Chicago's Field Museum on May 22, 2026, marking its first international stop outside Japan.

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

Pokémon Fossil Museum Virtual Tour

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Can't make it to Japan or Chicago? No problem. The Pokémon Company and the Toyohashi Museum of Natural History have made it possible to explore the Pokémon Fossil Museum from anywhere in the world. A fully accessible virtual tour allows fans to walk through the exhibit online, comparing real prehistoric fossils with their Pokémon counterparts — from the mighty Tyrannosaurus to the fierce Tyrantrum.

In other Pokémon-related news, authorities in the UK recently arrested a man found in possession of a large collection of stolen Pokémon cards valued at £250,000 (approximately $332,500). The seizure occurred during a police raid on a residence in Hyde, Tameside, on the outskirts of Greater Manchester. In a lighthearted remark, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said, "Gotta catch 'em all."