-

Nintendo News: Viva Festivale! Experience the Carnival Spirit With This Animal Crossing: New Horizons Free Update

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feathers and festivities are headed your way soon! A free update to the Animal Crossing: New Horizons™ game for the Nintendo Switch™ system will arrive on Jan. 28.*

Whether you recently picked up the game over the holidays, or you’re a long-time island resident, we hope this free update fires up your island with its carnival spirit and new seasonal items.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons periodically receives updates that deliver events and features to the game, and this new update includes a colorful and feather-filled Festivale event, some heartfelt seasonal additions, new Reactions and new items to purchase.

Beginning Jan. 28, the new update will add the following features to the game:

  • Festivale Event – Feel the heat with the colorful Festivale event filled with dancing and flying feathers! On Feb. 15, Dancer Pavé will arrive to your island’s plaza** to usher in some confetti and carnival spirit. On the day of the event you can capture colorful feathers floating on your island with your net and trade them to Pavé to receive a passionate dance number in return. Rainbow feathers seem to be an especially rare sight, so be sure to catch them and trade them with Pavé. Invite friends over to your island or visit theirs to partake in the festivities together.***
  • New Reactions – If you want to express your excitement for Festivale, you’ll now have a range of new Reactions to choose from. The Viva Festival Reaction Set can be purchased with in-game Bells from the shelf at Nook’s Cranny for a limited time and includes Feelin’ It, Let’s Go, Viva and Confetti.
  • New Clothing Starting Feb. 1, Festivale clothing will be available at the Able Sisters shop for a limited time. Now you can get your Festivale groove on in style with these fashionable looks!
  • Seasonal Items – Make sure to keep an eye out for seasonal items at the Nook Stop in Resident Services and through Nook Shopping. Celebrate the sentimental season with chocolate hearts and heart-shaped bouquets, which will be available for purchase beginning Feb. 1 and running through Feb. 14. There will also be other items related to Groundhog Day and Big Game Celebration available for certain periods during January and February!

Also, starting March 26, the Animal Crossing Sanrio Collaboration Pack will be available for purchase exclusively at Target stores across the U.S. at a suggested retail price of $5.99. The Animal Crossing Sanrio Collaboration Pack contains all six amiibo cards from this unique Sanrio Collaboration Series! You’ll be able to use these vibrantly designed amiibo cards in compatible games. Further details will be revealed in the future.

Additionally, another update for Animal Crossing: New Horizons is planned for March, so please stay tuned for further details to come. To learn more about Animal Crossing: New Horizons, visit https://www.animal-crossing.com/new-horizons/. To stay up to date with the latest news about Animal Crossing: New Horizons, be sure to follow @animalcrossing on Twitter.

* Players will need to connect to the internet and download the latest update data to access certain in-game events as they become available.

** Resident Services needs to have been upgraded for this feature to be available.

*** Nintendo Switch Online membership (sold separately) and Nintendo Account required for online features. Not available in all countries. Internet access required for online features. Terms apply. nintendo.com/switch-online

ⓒ'76, '21 SANRIO APPR. NO. S611960

Note to editors: Nintendo press materials are available at https://press.nintendo.com, a password-protected site. To obtain a login, please register on the site.

Contacts

Brooke Badger
Golin
415-262-5703
bbadger@golin.com

Justin Aclin
Golin
212-373-6004
jaclin@golin.com

Nintendo


Release Versions

Contacts

Brooke Badger
Golin
415-262-5703
bbadger@golin.com

Justin Aclin
Golin
212-373-6004
jaclin@golin.com

More News From Nintendo

Nintendo News: Nintendo Brings Hands-On Nintendo Switch 2 Gameplay Experiences Featuring Mario and Pokémon to PAX East 2026

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--From March 26 to 29, Nintendo is bringing some of the latest Nintendo Switch 2 game experiences to Boston’s Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center. Celebrate the launch of the Super Mario Bros. Wonder – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Meetup in Bellabel Park game by trying it in-person and enjoy some cozy time with Pokémon friends in the Pokémon Pokopia game for the Nintendo Switch 2 system. Plus, attendees can try the upcoming Pokémon Champions game an...

Nintendo Download: From the Diamond to Deadzone

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2: MLB The Show 26 – Compete and leave your mark in MLB The Show 26. Discover new Road to The Show mechanics, deeper Franchise experiences, enhanced customization options and true-to-life on-field action. Compete in the officially licensed Men’s NCAA College World Series, rising from a promising high school talent to one of the all-time MLB greats...

Nintendo Download: Dragon Suplex

REDMOND, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--This week’s Nintendo Download includes the following content: Nintendo eShop on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2: WWE 2K26 – The show continues in WWE 2K26, where fans can choose from the largest roster in franchise history with over 400 playable Superstars and Legends spanning multiple eras. With new match types, Universe mode and expanded MyFACTION mode, fans can step into the ring on Nintendo Switch 2 March 13. Pre-orders are available now on Nintendo eS...
Back to Newsroom