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<cite>Slogan</cite></blockquote>

The 35th anniversary of the [yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog series" show="Sonic the Hedgehog"] series, officially promoted under the banner Forever Fast, is a 2026 anniversary campaign commemorating 35 years since the release of the original [yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)" show="Sonic the Hedgehog"] in 1991. The celebration encompasses video games, comics, animation and other media, merchandise, live events, collaborations, and community activities throughout the year.

Early signs of the anniversary campaign emerged in March 2025, when the Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary 2026 Wall Calendar with 4 Bonus Notecards appeared for pre-order, with a listed release date of 19 August 2025.[cite_web title="Amazon.com: Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary 2026 Wall Calendar with 4 Bonus Notecards: 9781419784392: Sega: Books" url="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1419784390?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_ZD8EGT82N3AGPQNPMMER&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_ZD8EGT82N3AGPQNPMMER&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_ZD8EGT82N3AGPQNPMMER&bestFormat=true" work="Amazon" accessdate="9 June 2025"]

[yadawiki link="Sega" show="SEGA"] formally began promoting the anniversary on 15 January 2026 with the launch of a dedicated anniversary website and the release of the Sonic 35th Anniversary promotional trailer.[cite_web title="Sonic 35th Anniversary" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJJZ6Cq9tqg" website="YouTube" author="Sonic the Hedgehog" date="15 January 2026"] Takashi Iizuka described the announcements surrounding the celebration as sharing a common theme of having fun together and experiencing games with friends. On 5 August 2026, he stated that further surprises were still planned for Sonic's 35th anniversary.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Celebration content</h2>

<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Sonic games</h3>

[treelist]

*[yadawiki link="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds"]

**A series of downloadable collaboration packs were announced or released during the anniversary period: NiGHTS into Dreams, PAC-MAN, Super Monkey Ball, Tangle & Whisper, Mega Man, Angry Birds, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Avatar Legends, Godzilla, Evangelion, Classic Sonic, Crazy Taxi, Samba de Amigo, SEGA Rhythm Games, and Fortnite.

**Exclusive decals were released to commemorate the anniversary.

**The game hosted the World Championship 2026, along with qualifiers for the World Championship Finals.

[quote_left]Unlimited possibilities!||Slogan[/quote_left]

**A 1st Anniversary event was held.

**A second Hatsune Miku Festival was held.

*[yadawiki link="Sonic Chaos"] and [yadawiki link="Sonic Drift"] were included in Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Dark Ties, with multiplayer functionality added to both games.

*[yadawiki link="Arcade1Up"] produced a Sonic home arcade collection containing [yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)" show="Sonic the Hedgehog"], [yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog 2"], [yadawiki link="Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine"], and [yadawiki link="Sonic 3D Blast"].

*[yadawiki link="Sonic Speed Simulator"]

**A [yadawiki link="Super Sonic" show="Classic Super Sonic"] event.

**A [yadawiki link="Burning Blaze"] event.

**The [yadawiki link="Pixel Green Hill" show="Pixel World"] event.

*From May 2 through May 5, 2026, the immersive ICI C'EST PARIS LA MAISON pop-up in Shibuya, Tokyo featured playable demonstrations of [yadawiki link="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds"] and arcade cabinets running [yadawiki link="Sonic the Fighters"].

*[yadawiki link="Sonic Dash"]

**The [yadawiki link="List of Events in Sonic Dash (2026)#Sonic's 35th Anniversary & McLaren Racing: Miami Event" show="Sonic's 35th Anniversary & McLaren Racing: Miami Event"].

**An Ice Cream Event.

*[yadawiki link="Sonic Forces: Speed Battle"]

**An Idol Sonic event.

*[yadawiki link="Sonic Rumble Party"]

**A Sonic 35th Anniversary Event.

**A Sonic Symphony Commemorative Event.

**A Sticks the Badger Tournament.

*Phantasy Star Online 2: New Genesis hosted Sonic Super Festa 2026 beginning June 17, featuring quests, login bonuses, Sonic-themed statues in Central City, and Scratch Tickets.

*[yadawiki link="SONIC PICO PARK"] was announced as part of the 35th anniversary period.

*[yadawiki link="Sonic X Shadow Generations"] became available to PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers from June 10 in the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan, followed by additional regions on June 16.

*[yadawiki link="Jersey Jack Pinball"] announced Sonic the Hedgehog Pinball, an officially licensed pinball machine offered in Collector's Edition, Special Edition, and Arcade Edition versions beginning at $9,999. The machine features seven Zones, boss battles, Chaos Emeralds, music from the series, and more than 5,000 voice callouts.

*Asphalt Legends brought back vehicle decals based on Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Doctor Eggman, Shadow, and Chao, while adding a new Amy-themed decal.

*The [yadawiki link="Epic Games X Sonic the Hedgehog"] collaboration continued through Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4: Override.

*The Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary Sale was held on Steam through June 25, offering discounts of between 50% and 90% across a selection of games.

*[yadawiki link="Sonic Frontiers" show="Sonic Frontiers - Definitive Edition"]

**Following the announcement that Sonic Frontiers had sold five million copies worldwide, the SOAP Shoes from [yadawiki link="Sonic Adventure 2"] were made available free of charge to all Sonic Frontiers players.

*[yadawiki link="Sonic Forces: Rival Rush"] was announced during the anniversary period.

*The Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary Project introduced a series of physical game collections and legacy cartridge releases.

**The Sonic Classic Collection contains [yadawiki link="Sonic Origins"], [yadawiki link="Sonic Mania"], and [yadawiki link="Sonic Superstars"], while the Sonic Modern Collection contains [yadawiki link="Sonic Frontiers"], [yadawiki link="Sonic Colors: Ultimate"], and [yadawiki link="Sonic Forces"]. Both physical Nintendo Switch compilations were scheduled for October 2026 at $49.99 USD each and include 35th anniversary reversible coversheets and logo patches.

**iam8bit announced the Sonic the Hedgehog 1 & 2 (35th Anniversary) - Legacy Cartridge Collection. [yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)" show="Sonic the Hedgehog"] and [yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog 2"] are sold separately as playable [yadawiki link="Sega Mega Drive" show="Mega Drive"] cartridges. The first wave of orders was scheduled to ship in Q3 2026, followed by a second wave in Q4 2026 and remaining orders in Q1 2027.

*A dedicated Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary section was added to the PlayStation Store.

*On July 17, INFOLENS GEEK SHOP released an officially licensed Sonic mini arcade game player containing [yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)" show="Sonic the Hedgehog"], [yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog 2"], [yadawiki link="Sonic Spinball"], and [yadawiki link="Sonic 3D Blast"].

[/treelist]

<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Merchandise</h3>

[treelist]

*The ''Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary 2026 Wall Calendar with 4 Bonus Notecards'' was released as part of the anniversary merchandise range.

*Several new books were released or announced:

**''Meet Sonic!: A Sonic the Hedgehog Storybook: 35th Anniversary Edition''.

**''[yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2027" show="Sonic the Hedgehog Annual 2027"]''.

**''Sonic the Hedgehog: The Race Is On''.

**''Sonic the Hedgehog: Allies In Action''.

**''Love From Sonic''.

**''Find Sonic''.

*[yadawiki link="Jakks Pacific"] produced new Sonic toys during the anniversary period.

*First 4 Figures produced a Knuckles resin statue and announced new ''[yadawiki link="Sonic Frontiers"]'' statues featuring Sonic and [yadawiki link="Super Sonic"].

*A series of ''Beanie Bouncers'' featuring Sonic characters was released.

*SEGA held an official Lucky Lottery commemorating the 35th anniversaries of both ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' and ''Puyo Puyo'', with prizes distributed through convenience stores and hobby shops in Japan.

*A series of Sonic arcade toys was released in Japan, including an Air Hockey Mini and Basketball Game Mini.

*The ''Sonic Rewind'' campaign at the [yadawiki link="Sega Shop" show="SEGA Shop"] celebrated the history of the series through anniversary merchandise.

*TNOC hokkaido collaborated with Sonic on a T-shirt collection depicting Sonic racing through the fields and forests of Hokkaido alongside wildlife-themed imagery. Designs from the collection launched on May 20 and June 29.

*LOM BABY collaborated with SEGA on ''Artificial Alien DNA β SIMULATION'', initially teased without revealing the nature of the product. It was subsequently revealed as a life-size Sonic figure created using what was described as advanced "Sonic DNA" technology. The figure made its first appearance at SEGA STORE TOKYO on June 23, with further information about its creation shared in an August 2 interview.

*New Nendoroid figures of Sonic and [yadawiki link="Shadow the Hedgehog"] were announced.

*SEGA distributed multiple sets of social media icons featuring Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, Shadow, ''[yadawiki link="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds"]'', ''[yadawiki link="Sonic Rumble Party"]'', ''Sonic & Friends'', newly drawn Sonic artwork for SEGA's official social media accounts, and artwork depicting Sonic traveling around the world.

*The SEGA Shop opened pre-orders for a limited-edition ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' 35th anniversary commemorative ingot.

*From June 16 through July 20, select Suntory vending machines in Japan offered ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' original-label cans featuring classic game artwork, with matching keychains also available as part of the campaign.

*Insert Coin released a new Shadow the Hedgehog apparel collection.

*Bushiroad Creative produced a [yadawiki link="Super Sonic"] figure for its PalVerse Palé line.

*Dr. Squatch released a Sonic Speed collection through its subscription service. Products included Sonic Speed Bar Soap and Sonic Speed Deodorant using the "Blue Blur Blast" scent, as well as a Super Pack combining citrus, lavender, and earthy wood notes.

*Karakuri Tamashii produced an anniversary apparel range including embroidered reversible sukajan jackets and T-shirts incorporating Hokusai-inspired imagery, Green Hill artwork, and Chaos Emerald details.

*Wendy's UK distributed Sonic Gamer Cards in restaurants, through its app, and through delivery orders. Each set included one of seven collectible cases and five trading cards, with 35 cards available to collect.

*G FUEL brought back its Sonic Peach Rings flavor with a collector's box containing a 40-serving tub of Peach Rings Formula 2.0, a custom 24-ounce metal shaker, exclusive ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' stickers, and a holographic collector's box.

*The Woobles launched a ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' crochet collection with beginner-oriented kits for Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and a randomly selected Chaos Emerald.

*From June 19 through July 19, SEGA operated a pop-up shop at Little Akihabara in the Little Tokyo Mall in Downtown Los Angeles. Merchandise included Cororos and Labbies plush toys, while nearby participating businesses offered Sonic-themed food and drinks. Yoboseyo! Superette served the "Blue Blur Lemonade" and Midori Matcha offered "Amy's Rose Swirl", a matcha and rose soft serve inspired by Amy. Visitors could also complete a three-location SEGA punch card and redeem it at the pop-up for an exclusive mini tote bag.

*A Sonic collaboration introduced accessories through the official Giants online store.

*New ''Sonic & Friends'' travel-themed merchandise included plush keychains, acrylic stands, badges, ticket-style items, and luggage tag-style badges. The range was accompanied by a Sanrio collaboration and new plush toys of Silver, Chao, and Rouge.

*PIRMA released limited-edition Sonic and Shadow football boots through its online store and physical retail locations.

*Dark Horse Direct released statues of Classic Sonic and Classic Tails at San Diego Comic-Con 2026.

*Simple Modern produced a children's collection of Sonic-themed backpacks, lunch boxes, and drinkware aimed at preschool and elementary school-aged children.

*SEGA's collaboration with the International Olympic Committee produced the ''Let's Move'' merchandise collection, depicting Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Amy, and Shadow participating in Olympic sports.

*NERDS Clothing released a Sonic apparel collection.

*The SEGA Shop announced additional merchandise including a statue, pin set, varsity jacket, Sonic plush toy, and journal.

*A limited-edition Witch Sonic Funko Pop! was released on July 22.

*CptnAlex produced Sonic-themed controller kits for PlayStation and Nintendo Switch 2.

*Astromeda announced six portable batteries featuring artwork from [yadawiki link="Sonic Channel/Gallery" show="Sonic PICT"].

*SEGA STORE TOKYO celebrated its first anniversary with new merchandise and exclusive novelties. Sonic greeting events were held on July 18, while Romero Britto presented new Sonic SEGA Cooro merchandise on July 23. Prizes from the Sonic 35th Anniversary Celebration Campaign were also distributed during the festivities.

*SEGA collaborated with ZETA DIVISION on merchandise featuring k4sen.

*A special admission ticket featuring Sonic artwork was announced for Tokyo Game Show 2026's 30th anniversary, priced at 3.3 million yen in connection with SEGA and ATLUS's participation in the event.

*Zen Monkey Studios and Federation Comix produced exclusive Sonic enamel pins for convention events. Three San Diego Comic-Con designs featured Sonic, Shadow, and a combined Sonic, Shadow, and Silver design, while later Anime NYC exclusives featured Blaze the Cat and Silver the Hedgehog.

*Monogram offered a San Diego Comic-Con 2026-exclusive ''Scrapnik Island'' bag clip set featuring Sonic, [yadawiki link="Mecha Sonic Mark II" show="Scrapnik Mecha Sonic"], and [yadawiki link="Mecha Knuckles" show="Scrapnik Mecha Knuckles"].

*A Sonic Comic Collection of T-shirts used designs based on notable Sonic comic covers.

*A 35th anniversary commemorative coin was announced for release on October 30.

*Numerous products were revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, including:

**A poster for ''[yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog: 35th Anniversary Special"]''.

**A Costco-exclusive Sonic Prestige Jumpsuit.

**A large Metal Knuckles versus Knuckles figure exclusive to Target.

**A Sonic 35th anniversary plush toy.

**Ice cream-scented plush toys styled after Sonic ice cream bars and featuring Doctor Eggman, Sonic, Shadow, Knuckles, and Tails.

**A Tails Doll plush toy.

**A Metal Sonic collector figure.

**Plush toys of Ray, Classic Metal Sonic, Classic Amy, and Classic Sonic.

**A large Metal Sonic versus Sonic playset.

**Arcade1Up ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' Supreme and Deluxe Series arcade machines.

*Several additional figure, vehicle, and plush multipacks were revealed at San Diego Comic-Con 2026, including products based on ''[yadawiki link="DC X Sonic the Hedgehog"]'':

**A set featuring Digital Sonic, Classic Sonic, and Sonic.

**A Friends Unite diorama featuring Classic Sonic, Classic Amy, and Trip's Dragon Form, with Black Onyx and Flame accessories.

**A set featuring Classic Sonic, Tails, Storm, and Cream.

**A set featuring Sonic, Wave, Classic Knuckles, and Fang.

**A die-cast vehicle set featuring Sonic, Silver, and Doctor Eggman.

**A figure pack featuring Sonic, Shadow, Amy, Metal Sonic, and Doctor Eggman.

**Blind packs featuring Green Lantern Silver, Batman Shadow, and Flash Sonic, with Aquaman Big also included in the assortment and Starfire Blaze available as a chase figure.

**A set featuring Catwoman Rouge, Green Lantern Silver, Flash Sonic, Wonder Woman Amy, Lex Luthor Doctor Eggman, and Starfire Blaze.

**Figure and plush multipacks pairing Sonic characters with their DC counterparts.

**A Shadow figure with a Deluxe Feature Batmobile, announced as a GameStop exclusive for fall 2026.

*An Amazon merchandise collection celebrated Shadow, Rouge, Silver, and Doctor Eggman. The range included new designs for Shadow, Rouge, and Silver, with two designs specifically commemorating Silver's 20th anniversary.

*SEGA's Ebten storefront offered a ''Sonic the Hedgehog × BRITTO'' collection featuring T-shirts, hoodies, and keychains incorporating artwork by Romero Britto.

*Two additional Bitty Pop! mini-sets were announced, with one pairing Sonic and Amy and another pairing Knuckles and Shadow.

*The SEGA Shop revealed Shadow the Hedgehog high-top canvas sneakers through its newsletter.

*Farshore announced three children's novels for 2027: ''Sonic's Big Adventure!'', ''A Day With Knuckles!'', and ''Amy to the Rescue!''.

*Little Lion Entertainment partnered with SEGA to develop immersive and interactive Sonic experiences in the United Kingdom.

*AEON's Double Focus fashion brand collaborated with ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' on six T-shirt designs ranging from pixel artwork to summer-themed illustrations.

*The real-world Dark Rider motorcycle produced for the ''Fearless: Year of Shadow'' campaign was placed up for charity auction in support of the Luca Guintoli Foundation.

*WOLFpak launched a ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' 35th anniversary collection on August 14, accompanied by a giveaway for customers in the United States.

*M&S launched a McLaren Racing × ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' apparel collection, the first dedicated clothing range produced through SEGA and McLaren Racing's ongoing collaboration.

*Fanattik announced a metal replica of Sonic's shoes limited to 5,000 units, alongside a series of commemorative metal medallions also limited to 5,000 units.

*On August 26, Primark announced an upcoming Sonic and NBA apparel collection for its European stores.

*For the third anniversary of ''SONIC & FRIENDS'', SEGA announced a crossover with Kanahei's Small Animals and the ''SONIC & FRIENDS 3rd Anniversary POP UP STORE''. The store is scheduled to operate on the second floor of Shibuya MODI in Tokyo from October 2 through October 12, 2026.

*Baseballism released a Sonic collection on September 1 consisting of a Team Sonic T-shirt, Youth AeroFleece short-sleeve hoodie, matching Sonic blue hoodie and sweatpants, Sonic × Baseballism cap, Sonic the Hedgehog Diamond Pro Mesh shorts, ''No Risk No Rings'' T-shirt, and ''Sonic Stolen Bases'' T-shirt.

*Carl's Jr. introduced a ''Star Pals'' toy series based on ''[yadawiki link="DC X Sonic the Hedgehog"]''.

*MEDICOS Entertainment announced officially licensed ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' pop-up shops featuring merchandise based on Sonic, Tails, Amy, Knuckles, and Shadow. Products included mini acrylic dioramas, key holders, can badges, stickers, a card stand, T-shirt, daily tote bag, and pouch. Customers who met the qualifying purchase threshold received one random clear card from six designs, with separate illustration cards exclusive to the Tokyo and Osaka locations.

The '''35th anniversary''' of the [[Sonic the Hedgehog series|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' series]], also known as '''Forever Fast''', is a year-long celebration held throughout 2026 to commemorate 35 years since the release of the original [[Sonic the Hedgehog (1991)|''Sonic the Hedgehog'']] in 1991. The campaign spans the wider franchise, with anniversary activities encompassing video games, comics, animation and other media, music, merchandise, concerts, exhibitions, collaborations, promotional events and community-focused activities.

*LEGO offered the Badnik [yadawiki link="Skorp"] as a free gift with qualifying gaming purchases of $40 or more in the United States through August 24.

*Two additional Funko POP! products were announced. A ''Sonic with Ring / Tails / Amy / Shadow'' set featured glow-in-the-dark figures, while ''Bitty POP! Sonic'' was produced as a keychain.

*Porcelain manufacturer YOYOYO announced an upcoming ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' collaboration.

*Fashion label Favorite revealed a clothing collaboration based on Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, Shadow, Silver, and the Werehog on August 28.

*Sonic and Shadow appeared in an official set of LINE stickers produced for Tokyo Game Show 2026.

*Merchandise announced for SEGA STORE OSAKA included a Sonic plush toy, a Super Sonic figure, and a shopping bag depicting Sonic, Tails, Knuckles, and Amy in front of Osaka's Tsūtenkaku.

*A Digital Amy figure was released as part of Series 25 of the Sonic minifigure collection.

*Panini America announced a ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' trading card collection spanning characters from the classic and modern eras. The premium collection includes Kaboom!, Color Blast, numbered Prizms, and unique one-of-one cards among its rarest pulls.

*A merchandise collection featuring Sonic characters in panel-style designs was announced.

*ULTRA PLANET announced a limited-time ULTRA STORE at DECKS Tokyo Beach in Odaiba, operating from September 4 through September 23 and featuring ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' 35th anniversary merchandise.

*Disguise introduced a new Amy Rose costume alongside returning Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles costumes.

[/treelist]

<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Comics</h3>

[treelist]

*The international release of ''[yadawiki link="Sonic and the Blade of Courage 1" show="Sonic and the Blade of Courage 1"]''.

*''[yadawiki link="Sonic and the Blade of Courage Chapter 8" show="Sonic and the Blade of Courage Chapter 8"]''.

*''[yadawiki link="Sonic and the Blade of Courage Chapter 9" show="Sonic and the Blade of Courage Chapter 9"]''.

*The international release of the [yadawiki link="The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog (Tankōbon)" show="tankōbon"] edition of ''[yadawiki link="The Jet Black Hedgehog: Shadow the Hedgehog"]''.

*IDW Publishing's ongoing ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' comic series continued through:

**''[yadawiki link="IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 84" show="Sonic the Hedgehog #84"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 85" show="Sonic the Hedgehog #85"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 86" show="Sonic the Hedgehog #86"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 87" show="Sonic the Hedgehog #87"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 88" show="Sonic the Hedgehog #88"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 89" show="Sonic the Hedgehog #89"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 90" show="Sonic the Hedgehog #90"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 91" show="Sonic the Hedgehog #91"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="IDW Sonic the Hedgehog Issue 92" show="Sonic the Hedgehog #92"]''.

*''[yadawiki link="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds One-shot" show="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds One-shot"]''.

*''[yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog: 35th Anniversary Special"]''.

*''[yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog X Godzilla"]''.

*Humble Bundle and IDW Publishing released the ''Sonic 35th Anniversary Megabundle'', collecting a large selection of IDW Sonic comics. The bundle included ''[yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW trade paperback series)" show="Sonic the Hedgehog"]'' Volumes 1 through 21, ''[yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle & Whisper (graphic novel)" show="Tangle & Whisper"]'', ''[yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog: Bad Guys (graphic novel)" show="Bad Guys"]'', ''[yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog: Imposter Syndrome (graphic novel)" show="Imposter Syndrome"]'', ''[yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog: Scrapnik Island (graphic novel)" show="Scrapnik Island"]'', ''[yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog: Fang the Hunter (graphic novel)" show="Fang the Hunter"]'', and ''[yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog 30th Anniversary Celebration: The Deluxe Edition"]''.

*During the New York leg of the Sonic Chaos Hunt on August 15, where the Blue Chaos Emerald was activated, attendees were among the first to receive a new exclusive Sonic collaboration comic.

[/treelist]

<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Media</h3>

[treelist]

*''[yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog Presents: The Chaotix Casefiles"]''

**''[yadawiki link="Chaotix Are on the Case!"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="The Case of the Two-Faced Thief"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="The Case of the High-Stakes Heist"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="The Case of the Malicious Museum Misdirection"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="Assault on G.U.N. Base X"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="The Case of the Catastrophic Copter Crash"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="The Case of the Solitary Sage Siege"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="The Case of the Red Specter (Part 1)"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="The Case of the Red Specter (Part 2)"]''.

*A new series of short stop-motion videos featuring SEGA Cooro mascot toys was released during the anniversary campaign.

*''[yadawiki link="Forever Fast - 35th Anniversary of Sonic The Hedgehog"]''.

*The soundtrack album for ''[yadawiki link="Shadow the Hedgehog (game)" show="Shadow the Hedgehog"]'' was re-released in Japan.

*Nathan Sharp released a new album titled ''Gotta Go Faster & Knuckles''. The album includes the original song "Take Control", which was featured during the Sonic Birthday Livestream, as well as "Speed Is My Life".

Early indications of the anniversary appeared in March 2025, when marketing material for the ''Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary 2026 Wall Calendar with 4 Bonus Notecards'' surfaced ahead of its planned August 2025 release.[cite_web title="Amazon.com: Sonic the Hedgehog 35th Anniversary 2026 Wall Calendar with 4 Bonus Notecards: 9781419784392: Sega: Books" url="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1419784390?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_ZD8EGT82N3AGPQNPMMER&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_ZD8EGT82N3AGPQNPMMER&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_ZD8EGT82N3AGPQNPMMER&bestFormat=true" work="Amazon" access-date="9 June 2025"]

*''[yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog 4 (film)" show="Sonic the Hedgehog 4"]'' was among the media projects associated with the anniversary period.

*SonicMe, a Sonic-inspired avatar creator, was released, allowing users to create and share custom characters online using the hashtag #SonicMe.

*A set of Sonic LINE stickers was made available for use through the LINE messaging service.

*''[yadawiki link="Sonic's 35th Birthday Mixtape" show="Sonic's 35th Birthday Mixtape"]'', a Spotify playlist containing 35 songs, was released as part of the celebration.

*The Chinese-language song "Here We Go ~ Run For The Future" was released.

*''[yadawiki link="Sonic the Hedgehog: Memories and Beyond"]'', a ten-minute short-form animation, was announced as part of the anniversary media lineup.

*The Sonic 35th anniversary song, "Speed Is My Life", "Beyond the Speed of Sound", and the ''SONIC & FRIENDS'' theme featuring Reje-kun were made available through JOYSOUND's karaoke service.

[/treelist]

<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Events</h3>

[treelist]

*Fan meet-ups and community gatherings were held throughout the anniversary year.

**Hankyu Sanban Gai shopping center hosted an event celebrating the 35th anniversaries of both ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' and ''Puyo Puyo'' from February 1 through March 31, 2026.[ref]https://www.atpress.ne.jp/news/569034[/ref]

*Live concert celebrations included:

**''[yadawiki link="SONIC – LIVE! A Musical Odyssey of Sonic the Hedgehog"]''.

**''[yadawiki link="Sonic Live in Concert"]''.

**More than 30 additional tour dates were announced for Sonic concert productions.

*The ''[yadawiki link="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds"]'' Creator Tournament Cup was held as part of the anniversary celebrations.

*''Sonic Spirit Week'' was held from February 2 through February 6 as a community celebration built around a different fan activity each day:

**February 2: Enjoy Your Favorite Sonic Content Day.

**February 3: Fan Music Day.

**February 4: Cosplay Day.

**February 5: Collection Day.

**February 6: Fanart Day.

*Sonic Birthday Party 2026 was held at [yadawiki link="Joypolis"] from June 22 through June 28.

*SEGA and ATLUS partnered with Animate on a global crossover project involving eight SEGA and ATLUS properties across 140 Animate stores. The campaign included exhibitions, merchandise, cafés, and themed food, including "Graphic Lattes" with Sonic characters printed onto the cream and accompanying cookies.

*Sonic appeared at Good Smile Fest 2026 Tokyo on June 6 and 7, where a ''[yadawiki link="Sonic the Fighters"]'' figure was revealed for pre-order.

*A London running event incorporated Sonic-themed murals, with artwork from the project also made available as limited-edition 35th anniversary prints through Moor-Art Gallery.

*Sonic made a special appearance at Tokyo Dome for the Yomiuri Giants' game against the Chiba Lotte Marines on June 5.

*''Famitsu'' commemorated its 40th anniversary with an appearance by Sonic and a new celebratory illustration from SEGA featuring Sonic and Tails.

*Yura no Sato and Kirari hosted a Sonic collaboration in Japan from June 8 through June 28. Activities included a Sonic Blue Bath, exclusive augmented-reality photo frames, a coloring contest, and themed prizes.

*Kiddy Land Osaka Umeda hosted a Sonic pop-up shop from June 27 through July 7 featuring anniversary merchandise, ''[yadawiki link="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds"]'' products, collectibles, and sticker bonuses.

*Sonic's 35th Birthday Livestream was broadcast on June 23. The celebration featured special guests, gameplay, activities, and music while raising more than $55,500 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.[ref]https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxPdrMFGkWDyjh-PMNYxQWVTTcrV3PTnCK?lc=UgyYHiz4rloM0wlTMIZ4AaABAg[/ref]

*Anime Expo 2026 commemorated 35 years of Sonic with a frame-by-frame retrospective focused on the franchise's animated shorts. Four new posters were also distributed, including designs promoting the ''Godzilla'' and ''Evangelion'' collaborations.

*A new ''[yadawiki link="Sonic Station Live!"]'' broadcast was held on June 24, featuring behind-the-scenes stories, franchise updates, a special DJ performance, quizzes, and giveaways.

*SEGA hosted an official session at Cannes Lions centered on Sonic's 35-year creative evolution and fandom, with Shuji Utsumi and Takashi Iizuka appearing on stage.

*SEGA launched a nationwide Sonic collaboration with ROUND1 featuring merchandise and themed food based on Sonic, Amy, Tails, Knuckles, and Shadow. Items included a Sonic figure, cards, and keychains.

*Paradise City in Incheon, South Korea hosted ''Sonic Check In Adventure'', a 35th anniversary collaboration with the Paradise Sega Sammy-operated resort. The campaign included Sonic-themed hotel packages, exclusive merchandise, food menus, photo zones, character greeting events, and other limited-time experiences.

*''CLUB CHAOS'' was announced as a major Sonic 35th anniversary party tied to the Sonic Chaos Hunt, an alternate reality game in which fans searched for Chaos Emeralds at locations across the United States.

**Chaos Hunt prizes included exclusive Sonic merchandise and a VIP ''CLUB CHAOS'' experience with airfare, accommodation, and two tickets to the event's grand opening.

**The Sonic Chaos Hunt concluded on August 21, after which SEGA indicated that further details about the celebration would follow.

**On August 25, additional ''CLUB CHAOS'' details were announced. The event was confirmed to include appearances by Austin Millz, Thundercat, and Tee Lopes, the ''[yadawiki link="Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds"]'' World Championship Finals, Sonic Speed Cafe, immersive Sonic attractions, exclusive merchandise, meet-and-greets, a retro art and gaming lounge, a Chao Garden lounge, Sonic-themed cocktails, and additional activities. The event was also scheduled to be streamed through social media for fans unable to attend in person.

[[Sega|SEGA]] formally began the anniversary campaign on 15 January 2026, launching a dedicated anniversary website and releasing a commemorative trailer looking back across the history of the series.[cite_web title="Sonic 35th Anniversary" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJJZ6Cq9tqg" work="YouTube" author="Sonic the Hedgehog" date="15 January 2026"] The celebrations were planned to continue throughout the year, with initiatives focused on bringing fans together through new and existing games, digital projects, community gatherings, retail and brand partnerships, limited-edition products, exhibitions, live performances and other anniversary experiences.

*An anniversary collaboration with Sendai City, Miyagi focused on the scenic Akiu area, incorporating Sonic street decorations and exclusive limited-edition merchandise.

*SEGA and iam8bit announced a Sonic 35th anniversary art exhibition featuring works from more than 30 artists, fan-created artwork, and material from SEGA's archives.

[/treelist]

[[Takashi Iizuka]] described the anniversary's various projects as sharing a common theme of allowing people to have fun together and experience games with their friends. By August 2026, Iizuka stated that further surprises for the 35th anniversary were still to come, while additional games, collaborations, merchandise and events continued to be announced as the campaign progressed through the latter half of the year. :::

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">References</h2>

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