How to earn every DK Challenge Card before Sept. 1

The Nintendo Switch Online DK Challenge runs from June 9 to 7:59 a.m. BST on Sept. 1, 2026. The event lets players earn Donkey Kong Challenge Cards by completing tasks in the Nintendo Classics library and in Donkey Kong Bananza. Participation requires an active Nintendo Switch Online membership, an internet connection and a copy of Donkey Kong Bananza for the Bananza-specific tasks.

The event appears in the Nintendo Switch Online app on the console main menu. There are 15 Nintendo Classics challenges and 24 Donkey Kong Bananza challenges. Selecting a Classics challenge loads the exact game moment for you to complete; Bananza challenges provide directions that must be followed during normal play sessions.

Challenges include stage completions, boss fights, time-trial objectives and transformation-specific actions. Several challenges are marked hard or specify that they must be completed while the event is active. Bananza tasks also award Banandium Gems for finishing certain nostalgia-themed stages.

Challenge Cards are normally awarded immediately after the specified moment is completed. The app logs completions for Nintendo Classics and tracks Bananza objectives during play. In some cases a late-game Donkey Kong Bananza save file will trigger retroactive card awards when loaded, but challenges that state they must be played “while the event is active” require completion during the event window.

Some Challenge Cards will only be granted when played on Switch 2, even if the playthrough itself was completed on Switch 1. If a card does not appear after finishing a challenge, restart the game or the Nintendo Switch Online app, check that the console and game firmware are up to date, and load any completed Bananza save files to prompt retroactive awards.

Specific examples of tasks include defeating King K. Rool in Donkey Kong Country, completing mine-cart or scaffold sections in early arcade entries, using transformation moves in Bananza such as Charge Punch, Zebra Water Dash and Elephant Water Vacuum, and defeating Bananza story bosses including Grumpy Kong, Poppy Kong and Void Kong. Time-based Bananza challenges require finishing sections with set time remaining, and some objectives demand completing a Boss Rush or Final Rehearsal with no skills unlocked or earning +6000 gold in a Bonus Stage.

Players aiming to collect every Challenge Card should confirm they have an active Nintendo Switch Online membership, a stable internet connection, a copy of Donkey Kong Bananza, and current console and game firmware. Complete any challenges that must be played during the event before the Sept. 1, 2026 deadline.