Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Confirms Two Broadcasts, Including Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct

Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Confirms Two Broadcasts, Including Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct


Nintendo has confirmed two Nintendo Direct broadcasts for next week. The first is a roughly 30-minute The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct on September 8, followed by a roughly 45-minute general Nintendo Direct on September 9 focused on games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this winter. Nintendo has not yet confirmed which specific Zelda games or projects will be shown during the anniversary presentation.

Introduction

Nintendo is giving fans an unusually packed week of announcements, confirming two Nintendo Direct broadcasts on consecutive days, including a special presentation dedicated entirely to The Legend of Zelda's 40th anniversary.

The first broadcast, titled The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct, is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m. ET and is expected to run for approximately 30 minutes. Nintendo says the presentation will contain a variety of information related to The Legend of Zelda as the franchise marks its 40th anniversary.

A second Nintendo Direct will follow on Wednesday, September 9, at the same 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m. ET start time. That presentation is scheduled to last approximately 45 minutes and will focus on games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this winter.

The back-to-back schedule is notable because Nintendo has not yet disclosed the individual announcements planned for either presentation.

What Happened?

Nintendo announced the two presentations on September 4, giving fans two consecutive mornings of first-party news.

The first event is specifically tied to The Legend of Zelda. Nintendo's official announcement says the September 8 presentation will provide various information about the series in connection with its 40th anniversary.

The second event is a traditional Nintendo Direct scheduled for September 9. Nintendo UK describes it as a presentation focused on games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this winter.

Nintendo will also follow the September 9 presentation with Nintendo Treehouse: Live, which will feature gameplay from selected titles shown during the Direct.

That makes the two-day schedule more substantial than a simple anniversary celebration.

Key Details

Here are the confirmed details:

  • September 8: The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct
  • Start: 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET
  • Length: Approximately 30 minutes
  • Focus: The Legend of Zelda and its 40th anniversary
  • September 9: Nintendo Direct
  • Start: 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET
  • Length: Approximately 45 minutes
  • Focus: Nintendo Switch 2 games coming this winter
  • After September 9 Direct: Nintendo Treehouse: Live
  • Viewing: Nintendo's official channels and Nintendo.com, with the presentations also available through the Nintendo Today app.

For viewers in India, the September 8 broadcast is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. IST, while the September 9 Nintendo Direct is also scheduled for 7:30 p.m. IST.

Background: Why the Zelda Direct Is Important

The timing of the Zelda presentation is significant because 2026 marks four decades since The Legend of Zelda first launched in Japan in 1986.

Over those 40 years, the series has become one of Nintendo's most recognizable franchises, producing major releases across multiple generations of hardware.

Nintendo has already confirmed another major Zelda project for the Switch 2 era: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is being brought to Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo described it as the classic Nintendo 64 adventure being “reborn” for a new generation.

That existing announcement makes the anniversary Direct particularly interesting, although Nintendo has not confirmed that Ocarina of Time will be featured.

Will the Ocarina of Time Remake Appear?

This is one of the biggest questions surrounding the September 8 presentation.

Nintendo officially revealed The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 during its June 2026 Direct. The company confirmed that the classic would be reborn on the newer console.

However, Nintendo's announcement of the 40th Anniversary Direct does not specifically mention Ocarina of Time.

That distinction matters.

Gaming publications and fans have naturally speculated that the anniversary presentation could provide more information about the game, particularly because the Zelda series is the explicit focus of the September 8 broadcast. But until Nintendo confirms such an appearance, it remains speculation.

The same applies to other rumored Zelda projects, potential collections, remasters, hardware editions or additional anniversary announcements.

What Officials Said

Nintendo's official announcement is deliberately broad.

The company says the The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct will contain various information about The Legend of Zelda in celebration of the franchise's 40th anniversary. It does not provide a detailed list of games or announcements.

For the following day's presentation, Nintendo says the September 9 Nintendo Direct will run for around 45 minutes and focus on games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this winter.

Nintendo has therefore confirmed the timing and broad themes, but not a complete lineup.

Why This Matters

The biggest story is not simply that another Nintendo Direct is coming.

It is the two-day format.

Nintendo is separating its Zelda anniversary news from its broader Switch 2 software presentation. That gives the company two distinct opportunities to address different audiences.

The September 8 event can concentrate on the history and future of one of Nintendo's most important franchises. The following day's presentation can then cover a broader collection of Switch 2 games.

For fans, that also means expectations need to be separated.

A Zelda announcement belongs to the realm of reasonable possibility for the anniversary presentation, but Nintendo has not promised any particular game.

Likewise, the general September 9 Direct could reveal previously unannounced projects, but there is currently no official game-by-game list.

What Could Be Shown?

Nintendo has not announced a lineup, so any prediction should be treated as speculation.

The confirmed presence of Ocarina of Time on Switch 2 makes it an obvious subject of interest. The upcoming live-action The Legend of Zelda movie is another project that fans may expect to hear about, but Nintendo has not said that it will appear in the Direct.

Gaming outlets have highlighted both projects as possibilities, but those expectations should not be confused with confirmed announcements.

The safest conclusion is that Nintendo intends to use the first broadcast for anniversary-related Zelda information, while the second will concentrate on its broader Switch 2 winter lineup.

The September 9 Nintendo Direct

The second presentation may ultimately have an even broader impact on Nintendo's upcoming release schedule.

Nintendo says the September 9 Direct will focus on games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this winter and will run for approximately 45 minutes.

The presentation is expected to provide updates on upcoming software, although Nintendo has not published a complete list of titles that will appear.

The additional Nintendo Treehouse: Live program is also significant because it will provide gameplay coverage of selected games featured in the Direct.

What Happens Next?

The next confirmed event is the The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct on September 8.

One day later, Nintendo will broadcast its general Nintendo Direct.

Fans should wait for Nintendo's official presentations before treating rumored announcements as confirmed. At present, the company has provided the dates, times, durations and broad themes but has not revealed a full announcement lineup.

The two broadcasts can be watched through Nintendo's official online channels, including Nintendo.com and the Nintendo Today app.

The Bigger Picture for Nintendo Switch 2

The announcements arrive during an important period for Nintendo's current-generation hardware.

Nintendo's June Direct already revealed several major Switch 2 projects, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, KINGDOM HEARTS IV and Xenoblade Genesis.

The September presentations therefore provide Nintendo with another opportunity to build momentum around its Switch 2 software lineup.

For Zelda fans specifically, the September 8 broadcast could become the more important of the two because it is the first Nintendo presentation explicitly dedicated to the franchise's 40th anniversary.

Exactly what Nintendo plans to reveal, however, remains unknown.

FAQs

When is the next Nintendo Direct?

The next general Nintendo Direct is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m. ET. It will run for approximately 45 minutes and focus on games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this winter.

When is the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct?

The The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct is scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 7 a.m. PT/10 a.m. ET. Nintendo says it will last approximately 30 minutes.

What will the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct show?

Nintendo has only confirmed that it will contain various information about The Legend of Zelda related to the series' 40th anniversary. Specific games and announcements have not been confirmed.

Will Ocarina of Time be shown during the Zelda Direct?

Nintendo has not confirmed that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time will appear. The game is officially announced for Nintendo Switch 2, but whether it receives additional information during the anniversary presentation remains unconfirmed.

How long will the Nintendo Direct be?

The September 9 general Nintendo Direct is expected to last approximately 45 minutes. The September 8 Zelda anniversary presentation is expected to last approximately 30 minutes.

What games will be discussed on September 9?

Nintendo says the presentation will focus on games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 this winter. The company has not yet published a complete list of games that will appear.

Where can I watch the Nintendo Direct?

Nintendo says the presentations can be watched through its official online channels, including Nintendo.com and the Nintendo Today app.

Is there another Nintendo broadcast after the September 9 Direct?

Yes. Nintendo has announced a Nintendo Treehouse: Live broadcast following the September 9 Nintendo Direct, featuring gameplay from selected titles shown during the presentation.

Sources

  • Nintendo Official Site: Announcement confirming both the September 8 The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct and September 9 Nintendo Direct.
  • Nintendo UK: Official details for the September 8 Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct.
  • Nintendo UK: Official details for the September 9 Nintendo Direct and its Switch 2 winter-game focus.
  • Nintendo Official Site: June 2026 Nintendo Direct announcements, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2.
  • Game Informer: Independent reporting on Nintendo's two consecutive Direct broadcasts and likely areas of fan interest.
  • The Verge: Additional reporting on the two September presentations and current expectations surrounding the Zelda anniversary event.

Source of content: This article is based primarily on Nintendo's official September 2026 announcements and Nintendo's official Direct pages, with independent gaming publications used for context. Confirmed information is separated from fan expectations and speculation.

Publication date: September 5, 2026.

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