Sonic 35th Anniversary Celebrated with New Art, Calendar

New merchandise listings on Amazon have revealed that Sonic the Hedgehog is preparing for its 35th anniversary. Discover the latest artwork and products, plus Sega's playful nod to Mario Kart World.

Sega Hints at Sonic 35th Anniversary Celebrations

Calendar Unveils Fresh 35th Anniversary Logo and Artwork

Sonic the Hedgehog will mark its 35th anniversary in 2026, and Sega is already preparing for the milestone. A new Amazon listing from Sega shows that pre-orders are now open for the Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary 2026 Wall Calendar, which includes four bonus notecards.

This calendar features exclusive, never-before-seen artwork of Sonic alongside a brand-new 35th anniversary logo. Judging by the cover image, the calendar will take fans through Sonic's history with game artwork spanning from 1991 to today. Its description states: "Race into adventure and celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog’s 35th anniversary with this 12-month retrospective calendar. It showcases original game art from Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) to Sonic Frontiers (2022), making it ideal for both new and longtime fans. Gotta go fast!"

In addition, buyers will receive four die-cut notecards featuring beloved characters like Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, and Tails. These notecards can be folded into 3D standing figures. According to the listing, the Sonic 35th Anniversary Wall Calendar is available for pre-order on Amazon and will ship starting August 19, 2025.

Sega Playfully Pokes Fun at Mario Kart World

Meanwhile, the Sonic franchise is also getting ready to launch Sonic Racing: Crossworlds sometime in 2025. But it won't be the only kart racer hitting the market this year—Nintendo announced Mario Kart World during its dedicated Nintendo Direct for the Switch 2. Mario Kart World is scheduled to launch simultaneously with the Switch 2 on June 5, 2025.

On April 3, Sega took to Twitter (X) with what appears to be a lighthearted jab at Nintendo's Mario Kart World reveal. The post began, "Big day for worldly racing games!", seemingly acknowledging the announcement. However, Sega went on to claim that Sonic Racing: Crossworlds will be the "ONLY upcoming kart racer you can play with your friends." Sega and Nintendo have shared a friendly rivalry for years, and it looks set to continue with the release of Crossworlds and Mario Kart World.

This year is shaping up to be an exciting and competitive period for kart racing fans, as two industry giants prepare to launch highly anticipated titles. While Crossworlds will be available across all major platforms, Mario Kart World aims to bring innovation by leveraging the capabilities of the upcoming Switch 2.

Either way, fans are set to come out on top, as both Crossworlds and Mario Kart World look impressively polished and entertaining. Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is expected to launch in 2025 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. An exact release date has not yet been confirmed.

For the most recent updates on Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, take a look at our article below!