Fans of The Legend Of Zelda have been eating good lately. Since the start of the Switch era in 2017, we’ve got at least yearly releases of Zelda games, and that doesn’t even include the titles that have come digitally to Nintendo Switch Online. With 2026 nearly here, and a pretty major milestone for the franchise coming soon, fans are already looking ahead to what could be in store for the series next year.
Over on Reddit, user Dina0205 posted the question, “Zelda anniversary in 2026 + next 3D Zelda game – Your wishes?” They proceeded to give their own thoughts, mostly centered on the fact that 2026 marks the 40th Anniversary of The Legend of Zelda, and fans were quick to respond in the comments with their own speculation and wishes.
The Legend Of Zelda 40th Anniversary Is Next Year
It’s no secret The Legend of Zelda is turning 40 next year. The original game was one of many 1986 releases that would define gaming for the next four decades. Alongside Zelda, the first entries in series like Dragon Quest, Castlevania, and Metroid also all released that same year.
And while plenty of great games have been around since the ’80s, hitting that 40th milestone is still a pretty huge feat. It’s highly likely Nintendo will celebrate the anniversary in a major way. Already, fans are speculating over what kinds of Zelda merch we may get, alongside guesses of what kind of game Nintendo might release in 2026.
Zelda Fans Expect Big Things
As user javiergalera98 pointed out, following the pattern since 2017, an HD remaster of a Zelda game makes the most sense for 2026. Fans have been clamoring for remasters of Twilight Princess and Wind Waker on Switch for quite some time, so having them release on both the original system and the Switch 2 feels likely.
It also makes the most sense, since it’s unlikely Nintendo will be pushing out a major new 3D Zelda game so soon. It will only be 3 years since Tears of the Kingdom, so 2026 feels a bit too soon.
This didn’t keep people from posting their wishlists, though. “Honestly? Give me remake of the First 2 Zelda games, OoT gameplay,” posted nimrodhellfire. “Minish Cap or Oracles remakes would be nice,” commented PapaProto, which were two games echoed by several Redditors.
While everyone seemed to have an opinion, one thing is abundantly clear — Zelda fans are hyped for the 40th anniversary next year. And they should be. No matter what we get, 2026 is likely to be an exciting year for The Legend of Zelda franchise.
The
- Movie(s)
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The Legend of Zelda (Live-Action)
- Created by
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Shigeru Miyamoto, Takashi Tezuka
- Upcoming Films
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The Legend of Zelda (Live-Action)
- First Episode Air Date
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September 8, 1989
- Cast
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Jonathan Potts, Cyndy Preston
