The Pokémon Fossil Museum Is Coming to Chicago In A Few Months

The incredibly popular Pokémon Fossil Museum is coming to the United States in May 2026.  This news was announced last Spring, but I wanted to remind everyone that it is coming in a few months.

What is it?

It’s an exhibit similar to what you would see for dinosaur bones, but instead it uses “ancient Pokémon fossils”, and it’s really cool! The exhibit has been extremely popular in Japan and was extended until last May. Over 1 million visitors came to the exhibit.

This is a walk-through video of the Tokyo exhibit from HarbLife

We don’t yet know if these will be the same models on display in Chicago or how many will be over here.

As you can see, the imaginary fossils are combined with real-world animals and research. This exhibit is geared to Japanese life and culture, but it may be adapted for the American audience here.

Here is the information from Pokemon.com

“Ready your paleontology gear, Trainers! A new learning experience opens its doors at Chicago’s Field Museum on May 22, 2026—the Pokémon Fossil Museum! The Pokémon Fossil Museum is a special exhibition that started in Japan, comparing Fossil Pokémon with ancient lifeforms found in real-world fossils. The exhibition makes its North America debut at Chicago’s Field Museum, and Trainers of all ages are invited to visit and discover the incredible world of fossils both in the Pokémon world and in our own real world.

In this special exhibition, you’ll immerse yourself in the worlds of Pokémon and natural history with models of fan-favorite Pokémon, real fossil excavation and preparation tools, and immersive exhibition soundscapes. Three Field Museum scientists—Arjan Mann, Akiko Shinya, and Jingmai O’Connor—are featured in the exhibition, highlighting their research, explaining the tools of their trade, and sharing their experiences both in the field and at the Museum.

During your visit, you’ll see vibrant Pokémon models side by side with 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.”

I hope this means that other cities may also get the chance to host this exhibit. I’m hopeful because it says “North America debut,” which implies it starts in Chicago, but could move to other locations.

In Japan, there is exclusive Pokémon merchandise, and I hope that is the case in Chicago as well.

Currently, a sign-up page has been posted for when tickets become available.

How long will it run?

The exhibit will be in Chicago for almost a year. Running from May 22, 2026 — April 11, 2027.

What do you think? Comment and let us know!