Nintendo confirms two Directs next week, including Zelda 40th anniversary showcase

Nintendo has confirmed it will host two separate Direct presentations next week, marking the first time the company has scheduled back-to-back broadcasts of this kind. The first will be a The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct, set for September 8 at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET, and it will be followed by a general Nintendo Direct on September 9 at the same times.

The Zelda presentation is scheduled to run for 30 minutes, while the main Nintendo Direct is expected to last 45 minutes. After the second broadcast, Nintendo will also host a Treehouse livestream lasting roughly 110 minutes, offering a closer look at some of the games shown during the Direct.

Two presentations, one landmark year

The decision to dedicate an entire broadcast to The Legend of Zelda comes as the franchise marks its 40th anniversary. Nintendo has so far acknowledged the milestone only sparingly, and this Direct could serve as a significant moment for the series. Among the possibilities is a fresh look at the previously announced Ocarina of Time remake, which was revealed earlier in the year and is reportedly headed to Switch 2 before the end of 2026. Details about that project have remained scarce, with little known about its visuals, gameplay, or release timing.

There is also the live-action Zelda film to consider, which has been in development for some time. A teaser trailer during the anniversary presentation would not be a surprise, though Nintendo has not confirmed what will appear. Another long-rumoured possibility is that The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker HD could finally be announced for Switch consoles, a port that fans have requested for years.

A return to form for September Directs

The general Nintendo Direct on September 9 follows a pattern the company has maintained for most of the past decade, with the exception of 2024. Speculation about the broadcast began building earlier this week after Ubisoft announced that a new look at Just Dance: Decades of Hits was on the way. The publisher scheduled that reveal for September 10, and given how frequently Just Dance titles appear in Nintendo presentations, many assumed it would align with a Direct date.

Last year’s September Direct focused on several first-party titles, a selection of smaller third-party games, and the surprise introduction of a new Virtual Boy headset designed for Switch consoles. Expectations for this year’s show are that it will follow a similar structure, although Nintendo has not offered any hints about what it plans to showcase.

The Switch 2 launched in 2025 and has received a steady flow of first-party content since then. By comparison, 2026 has been quieter, leaving room for Nintendo to reveal what it has been working on for the remainder of the year. One likely candidate for a new trailer is Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, a turn-based tactics game scheduled for release later this month. A final promotional push ahead of its launch would fit the timing of the September Direct.

What remains unconfirmed

Nintendo has kept details of both presentations under wraps. The company has not said which games will appear, nor has it confirmed whether the Ocarina of Time remake will be shown during the Zelda anniversary broadcast. The date for the remake’s release has not been announced beyond a general expectation of later this year, and no footage of the project has been released since its initial reveal.

The Zelda anniversary presentation arrives at a moment when the franchise is enjoying renewed attention, with the remake and the film both in active development. Whether either project receives new material next week is still unknown, but the dedicated broadcast suggests that Nintendo intends to give the series a substantial showcase rather than a brief mention.

For now, fans can mark their calendars for September 8 and 9, with the Treehouse stream following the second Direct. The broadcasts will be available through Nintendo’s usual channels, and full details of the presentations are expected to be shared closer to the air dates.