Nintendo has finally pulled back the curtain, at least a little, on what fans should expect from tomorrow’s The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct.
In a new post from Nintendo’s Japanese X account, the company confirmed that the presentation will focus on two areas: new details about The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for Nintendo Switch 2 and anniversary initiatives that extend beyond video games.
Tomorrow, September 8th (Tuesday) at 11 PM, we will be broadcasting “The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct 2026.9.8”. We will be sharing non-game related initiatives for The Legend of Zelda’s 40th anniversary, as well as details about the Nintendo Switch 2 software “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time”.
That clarification gives us a much better idea of where those roughly 30 minutes are going.
Ocarina of Time Is Officially Part of the Direct
The biggest confirmation is also the least surprising. Nintendo specifically named The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time in its post, confirming that the upcoming Switch 2 remake will receive more information during the presentation.
Nintendo revealed the new version of Ocarina of Time during its June Nintendo Direct, describing the Nintendo 64 classic as being “reborn” for a new generation. The remake is exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 and is still officially scheduled for 2026.
The initial reveal was deliberately brief, leaving quite a few unanswered questions. We still do not have an exact release date, and Nintendo has not gone particularly deep into how extensive the remake will be beyond what was visible in its first trailer.
With Nintendo now calling out Ocarina of Time by name ahead of the anniversary Direct, that should change tomorrow.
A release date seems like one of the most obvious pieces of information Nintendo could provide, especially with only a few months left in 2026. A longer gameplay demonstration, closer comparisons with the original Nintendo 64 game, and details about any gameplay or quality-of-life changes would also make sense.
Those specifics have not been confirmed, however, so we will have to wait for the presentation itself.
Nintendo Is Also Talking About Zelda Beyond Video Games
Perhaps the more interesting part of Nintendo’s announcement is the wording surrounding the rest of the show.
Nintendo says it will share information about “initiatives related to the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda beyond games.”
That is a pretty significant distinction.
Ever since the 30-minute Zelda Direct was announced, speculation has ranged from additional remakes and remasters to merchandise, anniversary events and, of course, Nintendo’s upcoming live-action Legend of Zelda movie.
Nintendo’s latest statement appears designed to set expectations somewhat. Ocarina of Time is explicitly named on the gaming side, while the company is also making a point of telling fans that a portion of the Direct will cover things outside traditional video games.
That does not necessarily mean Nintendo has ruled out another game announcement, but it would probably be wise not to go into tomorrow expecting three or four surprise Zelda games. Based strictly on Nintendo’s wording, Ocarina of Time is the game it wants fans thinking about right now.
Is the First Zelda Movie Trailer Coming Tomorrow?
Nintendo has not said the movie will appear during the Direct.
Still, it is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore the possibility.
The live-action The Legend of Zelda movie is currently scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on April 30, 2027. Nintendo is producing the film alongside Arad Productions, with Sony Pictures Entertainment co-financing the project and handling worldwide theatrical distribution. Wes Ball is directing, while Shigeru Miyamoto and Avi Arad are among the producers.
The timing is certainly interesting. Just ahead of the anniversary presentation, a report also surfaced that Sony had registered a domain associated with the Zelda movie.
That does not confirm a trailer is coming tomorrow, but combined with Nintendo now specifically promising anniversary announcements “beyond games,” it is enough to make the movie one of the strongest possibilities for the show.
If Nintendo has been waiting for the right moment to properly begin marketing the film, a worldwide Direct celebrating 40 years of The Legend of Zelda would certainly qualify.
Still, until Nintendo says otherwise, consider a trailer a very plausible prediction rather than a confirmed part of the broadcast.
Zelda’s 40th Anniversary Is Finally Taking Shape
For much of 2026, Nintendo had been surprisingly quiet about Zelda’s anniversary.
The original The Legend of Zelda debuted in Japan on February 21, 1986, meaning the franchise officially reached its 40-year milestone earlier this year. Back in February, Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa was asked about anniversary plans and said the company had nothing to announce at the time.
Things look very different seven months later.
We now have an Ocarina of Time remake on the way, a live-action Zelda movie arriving next spring, and an entire Nintendo Direct dedicated specifically to celebrating the franchise’s history and future.
Whatever Nintendo has planned outside of gaming could wind up being just as interesting as the Ocarina of Time news.
When to Watch the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct
The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct airs Tuesday, September 8 at 7:00 a.m. PT / 10:00 a.m. ET and will run for approximately 30 minutes. Nintendo will stream the presentation through its official channels and the Nintendo Today! app.
Nintendo is not finished after that. A separate, approximately 45-minute Nintendo Direct is scheduled for September 9 at the same time, followed by Nintendo Treehouse: Live featuring gameplay from select titles shown during that presentation.
For Zelda fans, though, September 8 is the one circled on the calendar.
At minimum, we are finally getting a proper look at what Nintendo has planned for Ocarina of Time on Switch 2. The bigger question is what Nintendo means by those anniversary initiatives “beyond games,” and whether tomorrow is the day we finally see Hyrule make the jump to the big screen.
What are you hoping to see during the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct? Are you more interested in Ocarina of Time, the movie, or is there still a surprise announcement you are holding out hope for?
