Here we go again!
On January 19, 2026, Nintendo began a new distribution of Mario Kart World icons available now with Nintendo Switch Online. The new distribution will run until February 23, 2026, with new waves arriving weekly, every Monday, from January 19, 2026. Wave 8 is available now until January 26, 2026, at 00:59 UTC and consists of the following:
- 20 Characters (10 Platinum Points each)
- Of the 20 Characters, all 14 are NEW
- 6 Backgrounds (5 Platinum Points each)
- Of the 6 Backgrounds, all 6 are NEW
- 5 Frames (5 Platinum Points each)
- Of the 5 Frames, 0 are NEW
Images of the new icons can be seen pictured here:
About Mario Kart World:
Ready your wheels for a brand-new Mario Kart game exclusively for the Nintendo Switch™ 2 system—with a world of interconnected courses to race through — The whole world is your racetrack in this massive evolution of the Mario Kart™ series! The courses you race on are all connected in a seamless world. Drive the paths between them to traverse mountains, forests, cities, and more. Take in the sprawling vistas as you explore at your own pace in Free Roam—or watch how a sudden shift in the weather can mix up a dead heat in a tense Grand Prix.
Ride on rails, jump off walls, skim across water, and more as you race for the finish line. Master these new maneuvers and you might cut down your time to the finish line!
Take on a classic Grand Prix, or go the distance in the Knockout Tour elimination mode — Speed through one course and then drive to the next in a non-stop rally that stretches from one corner of the world to another in the adrenaline-packed Knockout Tour! In this fierce 24-driver mode, racers are steadily eliminated, checkpoint by checkpoint, until only one remains. With Grand Prix and VS Races also supporting up to 24 drivers, the competition has never been tighter!
Race online* across modes with up to 23 other players, or talk with friends using GameChat as you race or roam. Through CameraPlay, you can even see your friends’ faces next to their vehicles as you zoom past them, whether you’re online or on the same couch. Hop into a match of Balloon Battle or Coin Runners for even more mayhem, or get focused and strive for your personal best in Time Trials. There’s something for every kind of racer!
Go full speed with series-new drivers, vehicles, courses, outfits, items, and more! — Race on brand-new courses, as well as familiar ones that have been reimagined with additional routes and other details. Stick with your favorite driver or broaden your horizons—there are loads of drivers, many with different outfits to unlock, and plenty of vehicles to master too. Some of the new additions might surprise you! (Is that Cow?!)
