Pokémon GO is heading into space this October with another costumed Pikachu joining the game. Astronaut Pikachu will make its debut during Space Week, giving players a limited window to add the new variant to their collection.
The event will run from Sunday, October 4 at 00:00 until Saturday, October 10 at 23:59 local time. During that period, Astronaut Pikachu will appear in One-Star Raids and through a special Timed Research encounter.
There is also some good news for Shiny hunters. Astronaut Pikachu can be encountered as a Shiny, making Space Week another event that collectors may want to keep a close eye on.
How to Get Astronaut Pikachu
Unlike some previous costumed Pokémon, Astronaut Pikachu will not simply be roaming everywhere in the wild.
The main way to encounter it will be through One-Star Raids. This should make the raids relatively accessible for players who want to hunt multiple Pikachu during the event.
A special Timed Research will also provide an Astronaut Pikachu encounter. However, because the research is timed, players will need to complete the required objectives before Space Week ends.
The available methods are:
- One-Star Raids
- Special Timed Research encounter
- Shiny Astronaut Pikachu available through encounters
With the event only lasting seven days, collectors should avoid leaving the hunt until the final hours.
Pikachu Gets Yet Another Costume
Costumed Pikachu has become a regular part of Pokémon GO events over the years. Niantic has used the franchise mascot for numerous collaborations, celebrations and promotional events.
Previous versions have included costumes connected to Detective Pikachu, Pokémon Horizons and many seasonal celebrations.
Pikachu is far from the only Pokémon receiving this treatment. Other popular Pokémon have appeared with special outfits as well, including a Charizard based on Friede’s Charizard from the Pokémon anime.
Astronaut Pikachu, however, has a particularly unusual origin.
The Pikachu That Went to Space
The design is connected to an Astronaut Pikachu plush that traveled to the International Space Station earlier in 2026.
That real-world promotion is now making its way into Pokémon GO.
A matching Astronaut Pikachu plush and additional merchandise are also expected to be sold through the Pokémon Center, extending the Space Week promotion beyond the mobile game.
Pokémon is also expanding its space theme elsewhere. European museum exhibitions created in collaboration with the European Space Agency are scheduled to begin in October.
Space Week therefore appears to be part of a much wider Pokémon campaign rather than simply another standalone Pokémon GO event.
Space Week Ends on Community Day
Players should pay particular attention to the final day of the event.
Space Week concludes on Saturday, October 10, which is also the date of October’s Pokémon GO Community Day.
That Community Day will feature Zorua and run from 14:00 until 17:00 local time.
Players heading outside for Community Day may therefore want to check nearby Gyms for Astronaut Pikachu raids at the same time. It could provide one final opportunity to grab the costume or hunt for its Shiny version before Space Week disappears.
There is currently no guarantee that Astronaut Pikachu will immediately return after the event.
As with many limited Pokémon GO costumes, it could eventually come back during another event, but collectors shouldn’t rely on that happening anytime soon.
More Pokémon GO Content Is Coming
Space Week is only one part of the current Pokémon GO roadmap.
The Twilight Trails season continues until December 1, with additional Mega Evolutions, Dynamax Pokémon and special events planned throughout the season.
Mega Staraptor has already joined the game, while Mega Chandelure is also expected during the season. Its Ghost and Fire typing would make a Halloween-period release particularly fitting, although players should wait for official confirmation of its exact timing.
For now, collectors have another Pikachu to chase.
Astronaut Pikachu will only be available during Space Week from October 4 through October 10, and anyone hoping for the Shiny version may want to prepare for plenty of One-Star Raids.
