2026's First Full Nintendo Direct Rumored for June
We're nearly halfway through 2026 and Nintendo still hasn't held a proper Direct. Jeff Grubb says that's about to change, with a full presentation expected by mid-June.
We're five months into 2026, and Nintendo has yet to hold a single general Direct. That drought may finally end soon. According to Jeff Grubb of Giant Bomb, a Nintendo Direct is expected to air by mid-June, potentially landing around the same time as Summer Game Fest.
Grubb shared the rumor during the latest Giant Bombcast episode on Twitch, saying he's heard the presentation should arrive "by mid-June" and that Nintendo "might do like after SGF or around SGF." He hasn't been told whether it will be a general Direct or a Partner Showcase, but he's leaning toward a full Direct given its proximity to the industry's biggest showcase season. Grubb has a solid recent track record on this front; he accurately called multiple PlayStation State of Play dates last year.
The timing feels overdue. Nintendo has spent 2026 drip-feeding announcements through the Nintendo Today app and running narrowly focused broadcasts for individual games like Star Fox and Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream. February's Partner Showcase was the closest thing to a traditional show, and that barely counts. Meanwhile, Switch 2 has Yoshi and the Mysterious Book, Star Fox, and Splatoon Raiders all landing between May and July, but nothing dated beyond that. Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave is confirmed for sometime this year, and a Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake has been heavily rumored for the holiday window. I'd be surprised if Nintendo lets June pass without laying out the rest of its 2026 roadmap, especially with a Switch 2 price increase coming in September.
Grubb's claim has been backed up by NateTheHate, another well-known leaker who previously hinted at a June event and promised a further update later this week. Dataminers have also reportedly spotted what could be a pre-uploaded Direct on Nintendo's YouTube archives, though nothing official has surfaced.
Nintendo told investors it has a significant number of unannounced games planned through March 2027. If a mid-June Direct is real, it would be the company's first proper showcase window since the Switch 2 launched, and the first time this year fans get a real look at what's coming beyond the next two months.
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Written by
Nathan LeesGaming journalist and founder of XP Gained. Covering patch notes, breaking news, and updates across 160+ games.
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