Nintendo's First 2026 Direct Teases Game We've All Been Waiting For

7 hours ago 1

Ewan is Deputy Editor for ScreenRant's gaming section. He still quite hasn’t gotten out of his mid 00’s emo phase, and knows more about The Legend of Zelda and Doctor Who than is probably healthy.

Ewan oversees the content operation of ScreenRant's gaming output, working with a talented team of writers and editors to cover everything from the latest GTA 6 news to the indie games you need on your radar.

Former Editor of GAMINGbible, Ewan also has words at Kotaku, Den of Geek, NME, and UNILAD. He's appeared on various podcasts, including VGC's and BBC's Let's Talk About Tech.

The first Nintendo Direct of 2026 could be closer than any of us expected, and may even show off a first-party Nintendo game we've all been dying to see for a few years now. At least, that's according to one alleged industry insider, who recently came forward with some big claims about Nintendo's next showcase.

Nintendo fans will know the company typically holds its first Direct of the year in the first few weeks of February, although they aren't always focused on a range of first-party reveals. The 2020 February Direct was entirely dedicated to Animal Crossing: New Horizons, for instance, while February 2024 was a Partner Direct, meaning it was more about third-party releases.

It's also worth noting there was no February Direct in 2025, though this is definitely an outlier. So, will Nintendo be back next month to revive the tradition? It certainly sounds like it.

Nintendo's February 2026 Direct Could Be A Big One

If it's really happening, there's lots to look forward to

The first Nintendo Direct of 2026 looks like it could take place on February 10, according to a new report by French leaker BeeFun. They teased a "huge" show, the star of which will apparently be a new 3D Super Mario game for Nintendo Switch 2.

While a February 10 date certainly sounds like a safe bet to me, it's the Mario rumor that has me skeptical for a couple of reasons. Firstly, Nintendo celebrates two major anniversaries in February 2026: Pokémon, which turns 30, and The Legend of Zelda, which turns 40. I concede it's entirely likely Nintendo is planning specific showcases for both franchises (a Pokémon Presents is almost certain), but it feels odd that Mario would be the star of the show.

Secondly, the team at Nintendo that typically works on 3D Mario games has just finished up on Donkey Kong Bananza. They could well have been juggling multiple projects, or the next Mario could have been handed to a new team, but neither scenario sounds very Nintendo-like.

There's Still Hope For A Nintendo Direct

The signs are there

Those niggles aside, there are definitely other signs pointing towards an impending Nintendo Direct. A recent report has found near-incontrovertible evidence that Call of Duty is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, and I'd bet anything the leak means an announcement is coming sooner rather than later.

Of course, this could also indicate the February 2026 Direct is another one focusing on third-party partners, in which case don't expect any Mario or Zelda. For now, nothing is confirmed. But I'd definitely keep your eyes peeled throughout February for our first Nintendo Direct of the year.