Sonic's 35th Anniversary Marked with New Art, Calendar

Sonic the Hedgehog is preparing for its 35th anniversary, as indicated by a recent Amazon listing. Learn more about the fresh artwork and merchandise, as well as Sega's playful nod to Mario Kart World.

Sega Hints at Sonic’s 35th Anniversary Celebrations

New Calendar Includes Exclusive 35th Anniversary Logo and Artwork

Sonic the Hedgehog will mark its 35th anniversary in 2026, and Sega is already preparing for the festivities. A recent Amazon listing by Sega now allows pre-orders for the Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary 2026 Wall Calendar, which comes with four bonus notecards.

The calendar presents never-before-seen Sonic artwork and a brand-new 35th anniversary logo. Judging by the listing's cover image, the calendar will highlight Sonic's legacy with game art spanning from 1991 to today. According to the description, "Race into adventure and celebrate Sonic the Hedgehog’s 35th anniversary with this 12-month retrospective calendar. It showcases original game art from the original Sonic the Hedgehog (1991) up to Sonic Frontiers (2022), making it ideal for both new and longtime fans. Gotta go fast!"

Each purchase also includes four die-cut notecards featuring beloved characters like Sonic, Amy, Knuckles, and Tails—each transforming into a 3D stand-up figure. The Sonic 35th Anniversary Wall Calendar is currently available for pre-order on Amazon and is scheduled to ship starting August 19, 2025.

Sega Playfully Comments on Mario Kart World

Meanwhile, the Sonic franchise is also getting ready for the launch of Sonic Racing: Crossworlds, expected in 2025. But it's not the only kart racer arriving this year—Nintendo announced Mario Kart World during its Nintendo Direct event for the Switch 2, with a launch set for June 5, 2025, the same day as the new console.

On April 3, Sega posted on Twitter (X) with what appears to be a good-natured jab at Nintendo’s Mario Kart World reveal. The message began, "Big day for worldly racing games!", which seemed to cheer the announcement. However, Sega went on to emphasize that Sonic Racing: Crossworlds will be the "ONLY upcoming kart racer you can enjoy with your friends." Sega and Nintendo have maintained a spirited rivalry for years, and it seems to be continuing with Crossworlds and Mario Kart World.

This year is shaping up to be an exciting and competitive period for kart racing fans, with two industry giants launching eagerly awaited titles. While Crossworlds will be accessible across all platforms, Mario Kart World aims to bring innovation by leveraging the new Switch 2.

Ultimately, fans are the real winners here, given the impressive quality and entertainment value that both Crossworlds and Mario Kart World promise. Sonic Racing: Crossworlds is slated to launch in 2025 on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. An exact release date has yet to be confirmed.

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