The Field Museum of Chicago offers first look at the Pokémon Fossil Museum, new exhibit coming May 2026

As announced earlier this year, the Pokémon Fossil Museum will be making its debut in North America at The Field Museum of Natural Science in Chicago, after first exhibiting throughout Japan beginning in 2021. The exhibit includes models of Fossil Pokémon compared with real fossils, plus displays of real-life fossil preparation and excavation tools. Pokémon Fossil Museum opens on May 22nd, 2026, with no currently announced closing date.

The preview of the displays includes brief interviews with some of the paleontology preparers and curators at The Field Museum. Arjan Mann, Assistant Curator of Fossil Fishes and Early Tetrapods, says his favorite fossil Pokémon is “Rampardos: it’s a lot like real-life dinosaur Dracorex, a juvenile pachycephalosaur,” and Associate Curator of Fossil Reptiles Jingmai O’Connor says, “I also have an Omanyte tattoo, since Pokémon was a really cherished part of my childhood!”

Akiko Shinya, Chief Fossil Preparator at the Field Museum, on her favorite fossil Pokémon:
Shieldon! This cute fossil Pokémon is compared with ceratopsids… Baby ceratopsids would’ve had shorter, narrower frills than adults’ broader, squared versions—kind of like the differences you see when Shieldon evolves into Bastiodon!

Illustrations of these scientists will act as guides through the Pokémon Fossil Museum. Some of the real-life fossils in this collection will include casts of SUE, the famous T. rex, and the Chicago Archaeopteryx compared to Tyrantrum and Archeops. The exhibit is a collaboration between the Field Museum in Chicago, the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo, and The Pokémon Company International.

This exhibit will require its own ticket in addition to general admission to the Field Museum, and is open to all ages. Sign up here for updates about the Pokémon Fossil Museum.