For certain parts of the world, 2026 is already here, which means they’re already in the midst of a “new year’s celebration.” One such place is Japan, where it’s early morning at the time of me writing this article. One of the biggest fan favorite franchises in the country is Splatoon, where they absolutely ate it up during the Nintendo Switch era, and many are predicting it’ll dominate during the Switch 2 era as well. To welcome in 2026, the team decided to go back to the “Grand Festival” and have the Squid Sisters, Off The Hook, and Deep Cut party their way into the new year:
2026年の幕開けだ。
カラフルなインクが弾けるように、みなさまの一年が彩り豊かでありますように。
本年もイカ研究所をよろしくお願いいたします。#スプラトゥーン3 pic.twitter.com/UlT4OxO22u— Splatoon（スプラトゥーン） (@SplatoonJP) December 31, 2025
The translation for the tweet reads:
“The dawn of 2026. May your year be as vibrant and colorful as ink bursting forth. We look forward to your continued support for the Squid Research Lab this year as well.”
That phrase is apt, as many are expecting some big news on the franchise’s front as 2026 rolls on. For example, we know that at least one game from the series will drop next year, as Splatoon Raiders is coming, and hopefully, we will get some new information soon.
Another thing that many are awaiting information on is the 4th entry in the franchise. Each one has been bigger than the last, and given how the Grand Festival ended, there are many questions about who will be “guiding players” into the next saga.
Fingers crossed that we all “Stay Fresh!!!” in 2026.
Source: Splatoon Japan Twitter
