Animal Crossing: New Horizons Players Have 3 Brand-New Codes to Claim for January 2026 for Free Items

Nintendo has shared three new Design ID codes for Animal Crossing: New Horizons players to claim three free new items in-game. Players can head to the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Custom Design portal right now and enter these codes for some 2026-themed goodies to celebrate the new year in style.
The Animal Crossing: New Horizons Custom Designs hub allows players to create and share their in-game creations with others. Gamers can create unique items of clothing for others to wear, and Nintendo sometimes uses the system itself to hand out in-game goodies. Over the years, there have been tons of amazing custom designs from Animal Crossing: New Horizons players, allowing gamers to embrace their own sense of style, no matter how individual it is. It's a great layer of customization that is often forgotten about in the latest Animal Crossing game.
Over on X, Nintendo shared three Design ID codes for free in-game Animal Crossing: New Horizons clothing items. There's a knit cap, a hoodie, and a flag, all adorned with the number "2026," fun fireworks artwork, and a bright purple colorway. It's a great way for players to bring in the new year with some new items for their avatars. Players can enter MO-4BF9-FR90-X513 for the 2026 Knit Cap, MO-05W4-BPK8-3R2F for the 2026 Hoodie, and MO-T5KK-WX8Y-VKP0 for the 2026 Flag to grab these goodies just in time for the upcoming huge 3.0 update.
To redeem these items, players first need to make sure they have an active Nintendo Switch Online membership. They also need to have unlocked the Able Sisters clothing shop in-game, as this is where the Custom Design portal is located. Players then need to head to Able Sisters and interact with the kiosk at the back of the store, and search for the new 2026 freebies using the Design IDs found above. Alternatively, players can also search for the Creator ID MA-6818-1746-6029 to get access to all designs from Nintendo. After the correct designs have been located, players then need to press Save to download them. It's easy and quick to claim these free Animal Crossing: New Horizons items, and it's well worth doing. Players should still be able to get these in the future, too, so there isn't a huge rush to enter these Design IDs and pick up the free items.
2026 is going to be a big year for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. Almost six years after its initial release, Nintendo is launching Animal Crossing: New Horizons' 3.0 update on January 15. The initial announcement of this news came as a surprise to fans, with many feeling that the game had already been left behind by Nintendo. However, it appears the game has plenty of life left, with the 3.0 update bringing major features, including multicrafting, Slumber Islands, and collaborations with LEGO, Zelda, and Splatoon. On top of that, the game will finally be coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 on January 15, allowing owners of Nintendo's latest home console to enjoy it with enhanced resolution and improved graphics. And while some fans may already be hoping for the Animal Crossing game, there's still hope for plenty more updates to New Horizons in the future thanks to this latest content drop.