Zelda's 40th Anniversary Hosting a Year-Long Celebration on Switch 2

It will be 40 years since The Legend of Zelda came out on February 21, 2026. The famous series began on the Famicom in 1986 and has since become one of Nintendo's most well-known brands. Nintendo has always given Zelda fans gifts on its anniversary. However, the size of the celebrations has changed over the years.

Fans received a full version of Ocarina of Time for the 3DS, along with a special edition handheld to commemorate the 25th anniversary. The 30th anniversary was less busy, with mostly amiibo and collectibles. Fans had very high hopes for the 35th anniversary, but instead, the company gave us a special Game & Watch, a limited-edition handheld device, Skyward Sword HD, and themed Joy-Cons. 

Now that the 40th anniversary is approaching, rumors are circulating that Nintendo won't let the big event pass without a fuss. Nintendo's next device, the Switch 2, has already gotten exclusives, and honestly, the Switch 2 lineup looks amazing. However, there haven't been any major Zelda projects announced for it yet. Aside from The Wind Waker, which is playable on GameCube NSO, the new system doesn't have any core Zelda games.

Just that absence makes things more important. The Zelda series is more than just a big deal for Nintendo; it might help sell a lot of Switch 2. A big anniversary project for Switch 2 would not only honor the franchise's history, but also help people buy the Switch 2 in its early, crucial years.

A new report suggests that a lot is going on behind the scenes, and here is what the fans can look forward to:

• Metroid's title and release date were announced before its formal announcement.
• Mario & Luigi: Brotherhood Online
• Donkey Kong, not Mario, will be the main attraction at the Switch 2 Direct.
• Providing precise information about Switch 2's upgrade guidelines, including both free and paid upgrade routes for titles like No Man's Sky.
• Months before the official announcement, it was recently confirmed that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle would visit Switch 2. 

The new report also mentions that Nintendo is planning a One-Year Campaign for The Legend of Zelda that will start in January 2026. The program will have several marketing dates spread throughout the year, with regular announcements.

It's still not clear what form these projects will take. We still don't know for sure if the campaign will focus on games, movies, or other additions, such as Nintendo's expanding theme park plans. However, the event coincides with Zelda's 40th anniversary, which suggests that Nintendo could use the occasion to launch new projects in multiple areas.

Nintendo has long used holidays as chances to make plans. A lot of games came out for Mario's 35th birthday, and it also looks like Nintendo is planning something big for the Mario 40th anniversary, like Super Mario 3D All-Stars and Bowser's Fury. The number of Zelda birthdays has been all over the place, but 40 years could spur the company to do bigger things.

Since there isn't yet a Zelda-themed game for the Switch 2, the anniversary is a great time for Nintendo to show off a big project. Fans are already making guesses about what could come out, from new versions of old favorites to a whole new Zelda game made for the Switch 2.

There have been reports that 2026 could be one of the biggest celebrations for Zelda's anniversary so far. This isn't just about memories for Nintendo; it's also about getting things moving. Fans would get excited about new Zelda games, and gear sales would increase, solidifying the series' reputation as one of the most important in gaming history.

For now, these are just stories, but since they come from reliable sources and the big anniversary is approaching soon, Zelda fans should take note. They've gone big before, and this could be the year they do it again.