Nintendo is running back-to-back showcases in early September, and the clock is already ticking. The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct begins on Tuesday, September 8, at 7 AM Pacific Time. It’s followed by a general Nintendo Direct on Wednesday at exactly the same time.
Nintendo hasn’t revealed a lot of details so far, but we might finally get more information about the Ocarina of Time remake in a few days. Here is how long you have to wait for Nintendo’s stream and when each Direct starts in your time zone. We will also briefly mention what to expect from the upcoming event.
Nintendo Direct countdown
The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct
- The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct: Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at 7 AM PT
- Nintendo Direct: Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at 7 AM PT
- Nintendo Treehouse: Live: Immediately following the September 9 Direct
The Zelda Direct stream runs for approximately 30 minutes, while Nintendo Direct runs for 45. The final stream will feature extended gameplay from several titles and should run for at least 90 minutes. All in all, you’re looking at a total runtime of approximately three hours.
Nintendo Direct start times in every time zone
Both Directs go live at the same hour and are 24 hours apart. Unfortunately, watching Nintendo Directs live may be difficult for fans in Asia and Oceania, since they begin late Tuesday or early Wednesday morning.
| Time zone | Zelda Direct, Sept. 8 | Nintendo Direct, Sept. 9 |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific (PDT) | 7 AM | 7 AM |
| Mountain (MDT) | 8 AM | 8 AM |
| Central (CDT) | 9 AM | 9 AM |
| Eastern (EDT) | 10 AM | 10 AM |
| Brasilia (BRT) | 11 AM | 11 AM |
| UTC | 2 PM | 2 PM |
| British (BST) | 3 PM | 3 PM |
| Central European (CEST) | 4 PM | 4 PM |
| Eastern European (EEST) | 5 PM | 5 PM |
| Gulf (GST) | 6 PM | 6 PM |
| India (IST) | 7:30 PM | 7:30 PM |
| China (CST) | 10 PM | 10 PM |
| Japan (JST) | 11 PM | 11 PM |
| Australian Eastern (AEST) | 12 AM, Sept. 9 | 12 AM, Sept. 10 |
| New Zealand (NZST) | 2 AM, Sept. 9 | 2 AM, Sept. 10 |
Australia and New Zealand are the only regions where the broadcast rolls over into the following day.
Where to watch both Nintendo Directs
Both shows will be available for free on the Nintendo of America YouTube channel. Additionally, nintendo.com will also broadcast these events, and there will be several regional variants for it. You don’t need to create an account or have a subscription to watch Directs.
In case you miss a live broadcast, you will be able to watch it as a video on demand as soon as the stream ends.
What to expect from the Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct
The first Legend of Zelda game launched in 1986, which makes 2026 its 40th anniversary. This is the first time that Nintendo has given the series a branded full Direct, and considering that it will last for 30 minutes, there might be a big reason for it.
The Ocarina of Time remake was announced earlier this year, and it’s scheduled to launch sometime in 2026. This gives the Japanese company approximately three to four months to sell the game, yet it has shown almost nothing from it. The upcoming Zelda Direct will likely reveal the exact release date of the Ocarina of Time remake, as well as a gameplay video.
Another interesting thing is The Legend of Zelda live-action movie, which is set to come out in April 2027. Nintendo may give us some more details about it, possibly showing a trailer, considering that the movie wrapped filming.
What to expect from the September 9 Nintendo Direct
The upcoming Nintendo Direct will likely be filled with trailers and release dates for titles landing between September and the end of the year. The last such presentation was in June 2026, and Nintendo filled the gap with dedicated Splatoon Raiders and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave presentations, but neither of those was a broad lineup show.
Capcom is rumored to have a significant presence in the September 2026 Nintendo Direct, and we may also get a look at Monster Hunter Wilds on Switch 2. The studio’s recent record on the handheld is encouraging, with the team behind the Dragon’s Dogma 2 port saying its Switch 2 framerate beat internal expectations.
Another thing we can expect from the showcase is a plan for 2027. So far, only Xenoblade Genesis and a couple of Pokémon games have been revealed for the next year. Due to this, we may get more information about next year’s titles very soon.
Finally, the Treehouse: Live stream that follows is something you shouldn’t miss. While 90-second trailers can sell you a game, the Treehouse showcases uninterrupted gameplay and is one of the most underrated aspects of Nintendo’s presentations.
Frequently Asked Questions
The September 2026 Nintendo Direct begins on Wednesday, September 9, at 7 AM PT / 10 AM ET. The Legend of Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct airs exactly 24 hours earlier, on Tuesday, September 8.
The Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct runs for approximately 30 minutes, while the September 9 Nintendo Direct runs for around 45. The Treehouse: Live stream that follows should last at least 90 minutes.
Both shows will be available for free on the Nintendo of America YouTube channel, and nintendo.com will broadcast them as well through several regional variants. You don’t need an account or a subscription to watch.
The Zelda 40th Anniversary Direct will likely reveal an exact release date alongside a gameplay video. However, it’s important to note that Nintendo hasn’t confirmed the lineup.
