Every year, the March 10 is a special day for Nintendo fans. This date has become a tradition to celebrate one of the most iconic video game characters: Mario. Known as MAR10 Daythis annual meeting allows Nintendo to honor the famous mustachioed mascot through different initiatives. Promotions, announcements or exclusive content are often offered to mark the event.
In 2026, Nintendo continues this tradition by offering new free gifts for players on Nintendo Switch. These bonuses are accessible through the Nintendo Switch Online service and allow users to personalize their profile with visual elements inspired by the Mario universe.
A tradition that has become essential for Mario fans
Mario Day was officially recognized by Nintendo in 2015. The date of March 10 was chosen because the writing “MAR10” visually resembles the name “Mario”. Since then, this day has become a moment awaited by the community. Every year, Nintendo takes this opportunity to recall the importance of the franchise in the history of video games.
Mario first appeared in Donkey Kong in 1981before becoming the star of his own series with Super Mario Bros. in 1985. Over the decades, Nintendo’s mascot has become one of the most famous characters in the entire video game industry. Even today, the series continues to evolve with new titles and millions of players around the world.
Free icons to personalize your profile
To celebrate Mario Day 2026, Nintendo has added a new set of icons to the section Missions and Rewards from Nintendo Switch Online. These icons can be used to customize the avatar displayed on the player’s profile. The designs highlight several iconic characters from the franchise. Players can notably find:
- Mario
- Luigi
- Peach
- Bowser
- and other famous figures from the series
Each icon can be obtained for 10 platinum pointsthe virtual currency used in the Nintendo rewards program. In addition to characters, Nintendo also offers decorative backgrounds and frames inspired by the Mario universe. These additional items are available for 5 platinum points each.
Several Mario games in the spotlight
This collection of icons pays homage to several popular games from the franchise. Among the titles represented, we find in particular:
- Super Mario Bros. Wonder
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
- Super Mario Odyssey
These games cover different periods and styles of gameplay, showing the diversity of the famous plumber’s adventures. Nintendo’s goal is clearly to celebrate the entire franchise rather than just one game. Players can choose visual elements inspired by their favorite episode.
How to get these rewards on Switch
To collect these bonuses, players simply need to access the app Nintendo Switch Online on their console. In this application just open the section Missions and Rewards. The icons available for Mario Day then appear in the list of redeemable rewards. If a player does not have enough platinum points, he can easily obtain them by completing different missions offered by Nintendo.
These missions generally consist of performing simple actions, such as:
- play a game on Nintendo Switch
- use certain features of the online service
- participate in activities offered by Nintendo
These tasks allow you to quickly accumulate points that can be used to unlock rewards. As Nintendo points out, however, it is not necessary to recover all the icons.
One player explains: “As you can only use one avatar at a time, it’s better to choose the one you really like rather than collecting them all.” With these new gifts, Nintendo therefore perpetuates the tradition of Mario Day and continues to celebrate one of the most popular licenses in video game history.