The Legend of Zelda franchise turns 40 in 2026, and Nintendo is marking it with a dedicated Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct on September 8, followed just a day later by a full general Nintendo Direct. Two presentations in a single week is rare for the company, and Filipino fans get an easy hour to tune in: both broadcasts air at 10 p.m. Manila time.
What Nintendo confirmed
Nintendo announced the Zelda Direct through its Nintendo Today app. The presentation starts at 7 a.m. Pacific (10 a.m. Eastern) on Tuesday, September 8, and is expected to run about 30 minutes.
A separate general Nintendo Direct follows on Wednesday, September 9, also kicking off at 7 a.m. Pacific but stretching to roughly 45 minutes. Nintendo has kept specifics under wraps, so the exact lineup is not yet public.
| Presentation | Date | Duration | Manila time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct | Tue, Sept 8 | About 30 min | 10 p.m. |
| Nintendo Direct | Wed, Sept 9 | About 45 min | 10 p.m. |
When to watch in the Philippines
Because both streams begin at 7 a.m. Pacific, they land at 10 p.m. on the same night here in Manila. Nintendo typically airs Directs live on its official YouTube channel and website, so Filipino fans can watch the Zelda show on Tuesday night, then the general Direct on Wednesday night, from their phones.
Why the Zelda anniversary Direct matters
The original The Legend of Zelda launched in 1986, which makes 2026 the series’ 40th year. Online chatter has pointed to possible Zelda reveals on Switch 2, but none of it is confirmed until Nintendo actually shows it. For now the 40th Anniversary Direct is the stage where real Zelda news lands.
It has been a busy stretch for console gamers locally. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe just picked up 8-player split-screen on Switch 2, and players also caught PlayStation’s own State of Play earlier this week. The Nintendo double-header is a fitting way to close it out.
