The History of the Zelda Anniversary Releases, 25th to 40th
Nintendo has marked four Zelda anniversaries with releases: the 25th (2011), 30th (2016), 35th (2021) and 40th (2026). The series began with The Legend of Zelda in Japan in February 1986, and each milestone has looked quite different.
The 25th and 40th are the big ones, with games, concerts, books and hardware. The 30th and 35th were quieter. Here is what each celebration actually included, based on Nintendo announcements and reference sources.
The Scroll in Brief
- 25th (2011): Ocarina of Time 3D, Skyward Sword with a gold Wii Remote Plus, a free Four Swords download, a symphony tour, and Hyrule Historia.
- 30th (2016): a quiet year of concerts, books, amiibo and a Skyward Sword Virtual Console release, while Breath of the Wild was still in development.
- 35th (2021): Skyward Sword HD and a Zelda Game & Watch. Eiji Aonuma said no further anniversary Switch games were planned that year.
- 40th (2026): an Ocarina of Time remake on November 5, anniversary Switch 2 hardware on October 29, a film on April 30, 2027, plus concerts and merchandise.
- Dates and prices for the 40th are still changing, so check the official pages before buying.
At a glance
| Anniversary | Year | Headline releases |
|---|---|---|
| 25th | 2011 | Ocarina of Time 3D, Skyward Sword, Four Swords Anniversary Edition, Hyrule Historia |
| 30th | 2016 | Concerts, Skyward Sword on Wii U Virtual Console, Art & Artifacts book, amiibo |
| 35th | 2021 | Skyward Sword HD, Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda |
| 40th | 2026 | Ocarina of Time (Switch 2), anniversary Switch 2 hardware, film (2027), concerts (2027) |
25th anniversary (2011)
The 25th was the first big celebration, and it came with a packed calendar. Zelda Wiki lists the major items below.
- Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS): June 16 in Japan, June 17 in Europe and June 19 in North America.
- Four Swords Anniversary Edition: a free download on DSi and 3DS eShops from September 28, 2011 to February 20, 2012.
- Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony: first performed in Tokyo on October 10, 2011, with later dates in Los Angeles and London. The Symphony of the Goddesses tour followed in 2012.
- Skyward Sword (Wii): released worldwide in November 2011, with a Limited Edition that included a gold Wii Remote Plus at $69.99 in North America.
- Hyrule Historia: released in Japan on December 21, 2011. It contained concept art and the first official timeline.
- Hardware: a limited Zelda 25th Anniversary Nintendo 3DS, bundled with Ocarina of Time 3D, sold for $199.99 in the US.
It also brought the foundation for this site’s favorite argument: Hyrule Historia is where Nintendo officially put the timeline in order. See our Zelda timeline explainer for how that works.
30th anniversary (2016)
The 30th began on February 21, 2016 and was understated. In January 2016, Nintendo Wire noted that Nintendo had announced no anniversary plans and that Eiji Aonuma was focused on finishing Breath of the Wild, then known as Zelda U for Wii U.
Two Zelda games did arrive that spring, though they were not billed as anniversary releases in the sources I read: Twilight Princess HD on March 4 in North America and Hyrule Warriors Legends on March 25. I could not confirm that Nintendo marketed either one as an anniversary title.
- September 1, 2016: Nintendo showed the 30th anniversary logo in a Nintendo Direct, and Skyward Sword reached the Wii U Virtual Console.
- Art & Artifacts (Hyrule Graphics in Japan): released in Japan on August 26, 2016 and in North America on February 21, 2017.
- Game Music Collection CD: a Japan-exclusive release on September 28, 2016.
- Concerts: a Japan series in 2016, including Tokyo on October 16.
- Merchandise: a 3DS home menu theme on December 1 and four 30th Anniversary amiibo figures starting December 2.
- Breath of the Wild was shown with a playable demo at E3 2016.
35th anniversary (2021)
The 35th was smaller still. At E3 2021, Nintendo announced two Zelda items: a Switch remaster of Skyward Sword arriving in July, and a Game & Watch handheld to mark the anniversary.
- Skyward Sword HD (Switch): released July 16, 2021. Wikipedia lists a Metacritic score of 81, compared with 93 for the original.
- Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda: launched November 12, 2021 at £49.99 in the UK. It includes The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II and Link’s Awakening, plus a Zelda-themed clock and a version of Vermin starring Link.
When asked about more plans, Aonuma said Nintendo did not have other campaigns or Switch games planned for the anniversary that year, as quoted by Nintendo Life. Breath of the Wild‘s sequel was shown at the same event with a 2022 target.
40th anniversary (2026)
The series turned 40 on February 21, 2026, but Nintendo held its main celebration in September. A Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct aired on September 8-9, 2026, depending on your time zone, and Nintendo announced the new hardware the same week.
| Item | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ocarina of Time (Switch 2) | November 5, 2026 | Remake; Gematsu lists $59.99 digital and $69.99 physical |
| Switch 2 40th Anniversary Edition console | October 29, 2026 | Triforce design; no game included. Nintendo’s Japanese notice says the console is a Japanese-language system sold only in Japan, at 62,980 yen |
| Switch 2 Pro Controller, anniversary edition | October 29, 2026 | With or without a display stand; the stand version is sold only at Nintendo NEW YORK, Nintendo SAN FRANCISCO and Nintendo Store |
| Carrying case with screen protector | October 29, 2026 | Triforce design |
| Two ocarinas, including an electric HORI model | Later in 2026 | Playable and electric versions |
| Young Link and Young Zelda amiibo | 2027 | Unlock retro-style masks in-game |
| LEGO Ocarina of Time Link & Epona (1,750 pieces) | Spring 2027 | Adult collectible |
| Hasbro Electronic Master Sword | Spring 2027 | 27 inches long, 15+ sounds |
| 40th Anniversary Concert Series | 2027 | Tokyo (Jan), Chicago (Feb), London (Apr), Melbourne (May) |
| Live-action The Legend of Zelda film | April 30, 2027 | Nintendo, Arad Productions and Sony Pictures |
Nintendo is also running a year of anniversary activities at the Nintendo Museum in Kyoto, adding Zelda cards to the Nintendo Today! app, and extending the Zelda Notes companion features in the Nintendo Switch App to Ocarina of Time.
One caution: US prices were not listed in Nintendo of America’s announcement, and Nintendo’s own pages differ on whether the anniversary console is a Japan-only item. Check Nintendo’s store pages for your region before you plan a purchase.
Ned’s Verdict
The pattern is clear: Nintendo celebrates Zelda when it has something big to show. In 2011 that was Skyward Sword and Ocarina of Time 3D. In 2016 it was Breath of the Wild, which was held back until the following year. In 2026 it is the Ocarina of Time remake and a film.
The 40th is the closest thing to the 25th: it again pairs hardware and concerts, and adds a movie and a remake of the series’ most famous game. If you collect, the October 29 hardware and the Ocarina pre-orders are the items most likely to sell out, so watch for official stock updates.
Keep digging: the Zelda timeline explained and why Ocarina of Time still matters.
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Sources
- Zelda Wiki: 25th Anniversary
- Zelda Wiki: 30th Anniversary
- Nintendo Wire: What to expect from Zelda’s 30th anniversary
- NME: Zelda 35th anniversary Game & Watch
- Nintendo Life: Nothing else planned for Zelda’s 35th
- Wikipedia: Skyward Sword HD
- Nintendo of America: 40th anniversary announcement (Business Wire)
- Nintendo Japan: Switch 2 Zelda 40th Anniversary products (Sept 8, 2026)
- Nintendo Australia: Zelda 40th anniversary site
- Gematsu: Ocarina of Time remake launches November 5
- Bleeding Cool: Zelda 40th anniversary announcements
- Pocket Tactics: The Legend of Zelda 40th anniversary
- Wikipedia: The Legend of Zelda
