ACNH January Updates 2026: Events, Items, DIYs, Critters, Villager Birthdays

Animal Crossing: New Horizons starts the year with a burst of new features, events, and items that keep the island life as lively as ever. For long-time residents and newcomers alike, January 2026 offers a fresh collection of activities, updates, and seasonal changes to enjoy. Here’s a complete overview of what awaits you in the first month of 2026.

ACNH January Updates 2026 

January is packed with things to do, from new features to time-limited events and items in Animal Crossing New Horizons. Whether you’re enjoying updated gameplay, gathering seasonal collectibles, or simply watching your favorite villagers celebrate their birthdays, the new year in Animal Crossing: New Horizons brings something for everyone. Be sure to check Nook Shopping, participate in tournaments, and savor the seasonal changes as you start another wonderful year on your island.

1. Major Update 3.0.0

Date: January 15, 2026
Items:

• Hotel Items

• LEGO-Themed Furniture

• The Legend of Zelda Series Items

• Splatoon and Nintendo Items

• More

How to Get: Update your game on Switch

On January 15th, Animal Crossing: New Horizons receives its first major update in over four years. The 3.0.0 update introduces an abundance of new content for players to enjoy. One of the standout additions is slumber islands, allowing you to go online, create multiple islands, and team up with friends to design them together. Resetti makes a return, lending a hand to clean up your island by removing flowers and items, sending them straight to storage.

A brand new hotel opens its doors, providing the opportunity to decorate rooms and welcome tourists to your island. There’s also a wave of quality-of-life improvements and a collection of newly added items, giving players even more ways to personalize their space. This update is available entirely free and can be downloaded by all players, making it accessible to everyone eager to see what’s new.

2. Nintendo Switch 2 Edition

Date & Time: January 15

Also launching on January 15th, Animal Crossing: New Horizons becomes available as a new edition for the Nintendo Switch 2. This paid upgrade, priced at around $5 in most regions, includes unique additions like the megaphone item at Nook’s Cranny, which lets you call out for villagers using the system’s microphone. Graphics receive a boost, and mouse controls make decorating easier than ever. For the first time, online play expands to support up to 12 players. While this edition is exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2, the main new content remains in the free 3.0 update.

3. January Seasonal Events and Items

New Year's Day

Dates: December 26, 2025 – January 5, 2026
Items:

• New Year's Noodles

• Zoni

• Kagami Mochi

• Yut Nori

• Osechi

• Berliner

• Fukubukuro

• Shimekazari

• Olivier Salad

• Bánh Chưng

How to Get: Nook Shopping

During this period, Nook Shopping offers a wide variety of festive foods and decorations from around the world to help you ring in the new year.

Shōgatsu (Japanese New Year)

Dates: January 1 – January 5, 2026
Items:

• Kagami Mochi

• Shimekazari

• Otoshidama Envelope

How to Get: Nook Shopping

Japanese New Year traditions are celebrated with beautiful and meaningful items, available for just a few days at the start of January.

Nanakusa Gayu

Dates: January 5 – January 7, 2026
Items:

• Nanakusa Gayu

How to Get: Nook Shopping

This special rice porridge is offered for a short window as part of the traditional Festival of Seven Herbs.

Big Game Celebration

Dates: January 15 – February 15, 2026
Items:

• Football Rug

• Cheer Megaphone

How to Get: Nook Shopping

Sports fans can pick up themed decor to bring the energy of the big game to their island homes.

Groundhog Day

Dates: January 25 – February 2, 2026
Items:

• Resetti Model

How to Get: Nook Shopping

Celebrate Groundhog Day with an exclusive Resetti figure available for a limited time.

Setsubun

Dates: January 25 – February 3, 2026
How to Get: Nook Shopping
Items:

• Bean-Tossing Kit

• Ogre Costume

Mark the Japanese festival of Setsubun by grabbing a kit for tossing beans and a fun seasonal costume.

Lunar New Year

Dates: January 30 – February 6, 2026
How to Get: Nook Shopping
Items:

• Lucky Red Envelope

• Bokjumeoni Lucky Pouch

• Couplets

Celebrate Lunar New Year with unique festive items representing several East Asian traditions.

C.J.'s Fishing Tourney

Date: January 10, 2026 (Second Saturday)
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
How to Get: Plaza Event
Items:

• Fishing Tourney Prizes

• Trophy (via mail next day)

The second Saturday of January brings the fishing tournament event with CJ. This limited-time competition lets players catch fish for special rewards and trophies. It's a fun event to share with friends or to see your villagers in their event outfits, along with unique dialogue just for the day. The fishing tournament is open to both hemispheres.

Flick's Bug-Off (Southern Hemisphere)

Date: January 17, 2026 (Third Saturday)
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
How to Get: Plaza Event
Items:

• Bug-Off Prizes

• Trophy (via mail next day)

For players in the Southern Hemisphere, the Bug Off event takes place on the third Saturday of January. The Bug Off works just like the fishing tournament, but you’ll be catching bugs instead. There are exclusive items to win and plenty of lively interactions with villagers.

4. January DIYs & Items To Craft

On January 6th, the ornaments that have decorated the trees for the festive season will disappear. If you’ve been collecting these for crafting special unique items, be sure to stock up by shaking trees right up until January 6th to get as many as possible. Many players love this time of year, as the island looks so pretty with those decorations, so it’s a good idea to make the most of it before the snow returns to its usual look.

5. January Villager Birthdays

Every January brings a collection of villager birthdays to celebrate. If you have any of these villagers on your island, don’t forget to celebrate with them and bring a gift. It’s always a fun way to connect with your favorite neighbors and see their birthday parties in action. Let us know in the comments if any of your residents are among the birthday bunch this month!

6. January Critters (Bugs, Fish, Sea Creatures)

January brings a mix of arrivals and departures among the critters inhabiting your island. For the Northern Hemisphere, no new bugs or fish arrive or leave this month, but several sea creatures make an appearance, including the sea star, sea anemone, sea slug, pearl oyster, scallop, welk, octopus, acorn barnacle, and mantis shrimp. The abalone bids farewell this month.

In the Southern Hemisphere, a larger shift occurs. Multiple bugs, like the grasshopper, various cicadas, stag beetles, and more, start appearing. The honeybee departs, while the blue marlin arrives for fishing enthusiasts. The tadpole will be leaving, and among sea creatures, the moon jellyfish, giant isopod, and horseshoe crab become available. Seaweed departs by the end of January.

ACNH Villager Birthdays in January

7. Postcard and Letter Changes

The Dodo Airport postcard selection also changes in January. Holiday cards from the festive season will be removed after January 10, so send them while you can. Valentine’s Day cards will be available from January 16 onward, giving players a chance to send seasonal greetings to friends and villagers.

8. Island Scent Changes: Ornaments, Bushes, and Flowers

As the holiday season winds down, festive ornaments disappear from trees on January 6th. Make sure to collect and craft special items before they’re gone. Bushes also undergo some changes: from January 1st to March 31st, pink camellia and red camellia bushes bloom beautifully. These were introduced in New Horizons and have quickly become favorites. In the Southern Hemisphere, blue and pink hydrangeas last until January 20th, while red and yellow hibiscus bloom from January 21st to March 20th.

Postcard enthusiasts will notice some changes at the Dodo Airport. Holiday cards from the festive season are removed after January 10th, but new Valentine’s Day cards arrive starting January 16th, perfect for sending greetings to friends or villagers.