Nintendo is building up to broadcast its first major Nintendo Direct next week, it has been rumoured, although it is unclear whether this will be a main Nintendo Direct or a Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase.
That’s according to established insider Nate, who revealed what he has heard about Nintendo’s upcoming plans in the latest episode of Nate the Hate Podcast (Timestamp: 5 minutes 49 seconds).
“I mean, February is typically the month Nintendo does have a Direct of some kind. Be it a Partner Direct, we know we always have the Pokémon Day at the end of the month. That’s an annual event. But, from what I have been told, the first Direct of 2026 will be held during the opening week of February, with an expectation of broadcast on Thursday 5 February,” Nate explained.
“But, I have not been able to confirm that with my best contacts just yet. So, if I need to amend and post an update, I’ll do so on our social media platforms, but right now, that seems to be the timetable that I’m hearing from my contacts. But again, if I have to amend that in any way, I’ll post an update on Twitter and BlueSky. But it feels as though there is a consensus building around that first week of February. And, Thursday is usually the day of broadcast for Nintendo.
“Now, this could be timezone-reliant. So, I’m not going to say it’s definitively Thursday for every region on the globe. It could be one of those situations where it’s Thursday in one region, Wednesday in the other. But, the first week of February seems to be coalescing as far as when the first Direct should be taking place. But again, if I have to update this in any way, I will do so on Twitter and BlueSky.”
He went on to add: “Now, there are a couple of points I do want to emphasise, though. I do not know the format of the Direct. While I hope it will be a general Direct so Nintendo can really start the year with strong momentum, begin to detail some of those brand new first-party games coming out in 2026, let us know what they have planned for The Legend of Zelda’s 40th anniversary… it could just as easily be a Partner Showcase. But some form of a Direct will be taking place in February. The format, I just don’t know just yet. That would be one of the things that, if I get confirmation of the format, I will let people know on social media.”
The rumour comes as the company started its year with two shorter, dedicated Nintendo Directs – one last weekend that was used to share a new trailer for The Super Mario Galaxy Movie starring Yoshi and Birdo, and an upcoming presentation later this week focused on Tomodachi Life: Living The Dream.
In the coming months, Nintendo Switch 2 has Mario Tennis Fever (12 February), Pokémon Pokopia (5 March) and Super Mario Bros. Wonder Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park (26 March) lined up, with Yoshi and the Mysterious Book pencilled in for Spring 2026.
