The popular video game franchise Pokémon is set to make its North American debut with a special exhibition at the Field Museum in Chicago next year. The “Pokémon Fossil Museum” compares beloved characters from the games to real-life dinosaurs and other ancient animals.
Developed by Japan’s National Museum of Nature and Science and The Pokémon Company International, the exhibition aims to teach visitors about paleontology by linking Pokémon characters to actual prehistoric creatures that lived on Earth millions of years ago. Visitors will meet “Professor Fossil” from the Pokémon world, who will guide them through the exhibition.
The Field Museum, home to famous fossils like SUE the T. rex, is an ideal venue for the exhibit. “By connecting Pokémon to real science,” says Jaap Hoogstraten, Head of Exhibitions at the Field Museum, “we hope to inspire budding paleontologists and make science accessible to our visitors.” The exhibition opens on May 22, 2026, and updates can be found online at fieldmuseum.org/pokemon.
Source: https://www.fieldmuseum.org/about/press/pokemon-fossil-museum-special-exhibition-to-make-north-american-debut-at-chicago