Nintendo fans might not have long to wait for the company’s first major showcase of the year. According to industry insider NateTheHate, a full Nintendo Direct is expected to take place during the opening week of February 2026, with Thursday, February 5 currently being floated as the most likely date.

Speaking in his latest video on Monday, NateTheHate said he’s been told that Nintendo is lining up its first proper Direct of the year for early February. While he referred to it as happening “next week,” he was careful to stress that the timing hasn’t been locked in with his most trusted sources just yet. If anything changes, he noted that he’ll clarify or update the information on social media once he has confirmation.

At this stage, details about the format of the presentation remain unclear. NateTheHate said he doesn’t know whether Nintendo is planning a full general Direct or something smaller, like a partner showcase focused on third-party titles. He did, however, outline what he hopes to see if it does end up being a mainline Direct.

Ideally, he believes Nintendo would use the opportunity to kick off 2026 with momentum by outlining its first-party roadmap for the year. That could include early teases for brand-new titles and, potentially, some acknowledgment of The Legend of Zelda’s 40th anniversary, which takes place in 2026. Still, he cautioned that expectations should be kept in check, as it could just as easily be a more limited presentation.

As always with rumors and insider claims, this information should be treated cautiously until it’s either independently verified or officially confirmed by Nintendo itself.

That said, Nintendo isn’t going completely silent in the meantime. The company has already announced a Tomodachi Life-focused Nintendo Direct set for January 29, ensuring fans won’t be left entirely in the dark while waiting to see if a larger showcase materializes in early February.