The Legend of Zelda’s 40th Anniversary: What Could Nintendo Be Planning for 2026?
2026 is shaping up to be a massive year for Nintendo. While the company celebrates the first anniversary of the Nintendo Switch 2, several of its biggest franchises are also hitting major milestones. Pokémon turns 30, and The Legend of Zelda celebrates its 40th anniversary—a historic moment for one of gaming’s most influential series. With multiple anniversaries converging, fans are already looking ahead to what Nintendo might have planned for Zelda’s big year, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store.
Historically, Nintendo’s approach to celebrating Zelda anniversaries has been measured rather than extravagant. The 25th anniversary brought orchestral concerts and Skyward Sword, while the 30th saw The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild arrive alongside an HD remaster of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. That precedent makes 2026 especially intriguing, as Nintendo once again balances honoring the series’ legacy with charting its future. So far, the company has announced a new Legend of Zelda LEGO set that appears to be tied to the anniversary—and honestly, it looks incredible. I already know I’ll be picking it up.
With The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment closing out 2025, it feels like the so-called “Wild era” has officially come to an end. That naturally shifts attention toward what comes next. Could Nintendo be preparing to tease a brand-new 3D Zelda adventure built specifically for the Nintendo Switch 2? A milestone anniversary would be the perfect moment to hint at the franchise’s next major evolution.
If Nintendo chooses a more nostalgic route, a remaster feels increasingly plausible. Twilight Princess remains one of the most requested Zelda re-releases.
Originally launching on the GameCube and Wii in 2006, the game received an HD remaster during Zelda’s 30th anniversary for Wii U—but notably never made its way to the Nintendo Switch. With the Switch 2 now entering its early life cycle, 2026 could finally be the right time to revisit Midna’s darker take on Hyrule. Maybe it really will be the year of the Wolf.
Could a 2D Zelda Remake Be Part of the Celebration?
Of course, Nintendo doesn’t need a massive 3D release to properly celebrate Zelda’s 40th anniversary. Another compelling possibility is a reimagined 2D Zelda remake, building on the success of The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening. Its charming, toy-like art style and modern quality-of-life improvements proved that classic Zelda adventures can thrive on modern hardware.
More recently, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom showed that Nintendo is still eager to experiment within the 2D space, blending traditional dungeon design with fresh mechanics and a distinct visual identity. Nintendo has also demonstrated a willingness to push the franchise in unexpected directions through projects like Cadence of Hyrule, suggesting that Zelda’s 40th anniversary could be celebrated through creative side projects alongside more traditional releases.
That opens the door to several intriguing possibilities. Nintendo could choose to remake another classic in a similar visual style, or even revisit A Link to the Past, modernizing one of the franchise’s most beloved entries while preserving its iconic structure. A smaller-scale project like this would allow Nintendo to honor Zelda’s roots without overshadowing whatever the series’ next major step may be.
From a development perspective, this approach also makes sense. 2D remakes typically require shorter production cycles than full-scale 3D titles, making them a flexible way to celebrate the franchise while longer-term projects continue behind the scenes.
What Might Zelda’s 40th Anniversary Look Like?
A teaser for the next major 3D Zelda on Nintendo Switch 2
A long-awaited Twilight Princess HD re-release
A 2D remake in the style of Link’s Awakening
Creative spin-offs or curated celebrations honoring the series’ history
Whether Nintendo celebrates with a bold new adventure, a nostalgic remaster, or a smaller creative project, one thing feels certain: the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda is too important to ignore. The real question isn’t if Nintendo will celebrate—but how.
What would you like to see Nintendo do to celebrate Zelda’s 40th anniversary: a brand-new 3D adventure, a classic remaster, or a return to the series’ 2D roots? Let us know what you’re hoping for in 2026.
About the Author
Scott (Scotty) Greenhalgh is the founder and owner of Input Lag, an independent Nintendo-focused publication. Scotty brings a player-first perspective informed by years of hands-on experience with Nintendo games to his reviews, rankings, and editorial coverage. His writing focuses on how games feel to play, their long-term value, and the impact Nintendo’s creative and business decisions have on players.
Outside of Input Lag, he also creates Pokémon-focused content online under the name Gr3atScotty.
