The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary celebration is officially beginning on September 4, 2026, and fans across the world are already preparing for one of Nintendo’s biggest gaming milestones ever. According to recent reports, Nintendo is launching an anniversary celebration with a special Zelda vinyl release honoring four decades of legendary music, characters, and adventures.

For many players, this is more than a simple anniversary. The Legend of Zelda has shaped gaming history since 1986 and remains one of Nintendo’s most important franchises. From the original NES game to modern hits like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, the series has continually reshaped how people experience adventure games.

Here is everything fans should know about The Legend Of Zelda 40th Anniversary, including the history of the franchise, major games, rumored announcements, and what Nintendo could reveal next.

The history behind The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary

The original The Legend of Zelda launched in Japan on February 21, 1986. Created by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, the game introduced players to Hyrule, Princess Zelda, and the hero Link for the first time.

Unlike most games at the time, Zelda focused heavily on exploration. Players could travel freely, discover hidden caves, solve puzzles, and uncover secrets without constant instructions. This open-ended style became one of the franchise’s defining features.

The original game also introduced several mechanics that later became industry standards:

• Open-world exploration
• Dungeon puzzles
• Inventory progression
• Hidden secrets
• Non-linear gameplay
• Save systems using battery backup

Today, Zelda is considered one of the most influential gaming franchises ever created.

Over the last 40 years, Zelda games have repeatedly changed the gaming industry.

The franchise helped define the action-adventure genre and inspired modern games such as:

• Elden Ring
• Dark Souls
• Genshin Impact
• Hollow Knight

The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary rumors and expectations

Fans expect Nintendo to reveal much more during the The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary celebration. Some of the biggest rumors include:

• An Ocarina of Time remake
• Wind Waker HD for Nintendo Switch 2
• Twilight Princess HD ports
• Anniversary consoles and controllers
• Zelda concerts and orchestral tours
• Special collector’s editions
• New merchandise and books