Steam 2026 Calendar Unveiled: Every Major Sale, Next Fest, and Game Festival Revealed

Valve Unveils 2026–27 steam Event Calendar, Guiding players Thru a Year of Demos and Discounts

In a move that coudl shape how PC gamers plan purchases and try upcoming titles, Valve has published a comprehensive Steam event calendar spanning 2026 into early 2027.The schedule promises multiple discount phases and three Steam next Fest periods, each centered on free demos, developer streams, and hands-on previews.

The calendar lays out a packed year of promotions and demos, helping players decide when to pull the trigger and when to sample what’s in growth. The full timeline extends into January 2027, with strategic windows designed to maximize value and discovery.

What the calendar covers

Valve’s release confirms a steady cadence of seasonal sales alongside three Steam Next Fest events. These Next Fests focus on letting players try hundreds of upcoming titles—and they run alongside traditional discounts at key points throughout the year. The intent is to give PC gamers a clear map for both savings and early access.

Key events and timing

The list below highlights notable campaigns,with their dates and any special notes. For the official schedule, visit Valve’s Steam community announcements page.

Event	Period	Notes
Festival of detective games	January 12–19
Board games Festival	January 26–February 2
Keyboard Games Festival	February 5–9	Spotlight event
Festival of PvP games	February 9–16
Horse Games Festival	February 19–23	Spotlight Event
Steam Games Preview (February)	February 23–March 2
Tower Defense Games Festival	March 9–16
Steam Spring Sale 2026	March 19–26	Seasonal promotion
Household Games Festival	March 30–April 6
Hidden Object Games festival	April 9–13	Spotlight Event
Festival of Medieval Games	April 20–27
Deck Building Games Festival	May 4–11
Sea Games Festival	May 18–25
Danmaku Games Festival	June 8–15
Steam Games Preview (June)	June 15–22
Steam Summer Promotion 2026	June 25–july 9	Seasonal promotion
Festival of social deduction games	July 13–16
Train Games Festival	July 20–27
Cyberpunk Games Festival	August 3–10
Festival of pins and Peg Games	August 17–20
Festival of PvE survival crafting games	august 31–September 7
programming Games Festival	September 10–14
Festival of group-based role-playing games	September 14–21
Steam Fall Promotion 2026	October 1–8	Seasonal promotion
Cooking Games Festival	October 12–19
Steam Games Preview (October)	October 19–26
Steam Scream V	October 26–November 2	Halloween event
Festival of Auto Battler Role playing Games	November 16–23
Black Friday promotions	still open	Discounts in the event hub
Steam winter promotion 2026	December 17–January 4, 2027	Seasonal promotion

Why Steam Next Fest matters

Next Fest is not a traditional sale, but it ranks among the year’s most influential events for many players.It centers on free game demos from hundreds of upcoming titles, plus live developer streams and gameplay showcases. february and June are especially pivotal windows for assessing titles that may later receive bigger discounts.With increased traffic, some older titles also drop in price during these periods.

The Summer Sale, typically ending in late June, is widely regarded as the largest discount event of the year. It features a broad mix of indie gems and major AAA releases, often prompting players to budget months in advance. The preceding Next Fest in June helps players decide which titles deserve a purchase later in the season.

Seasonal peaks and budget planning

Autumn promotions in October tend to surprise with strong discounts on titles that missed earlier cuts, while the winter sale spans into early 2027. For many, these periods align with holiday bonuses and self-control tests, offering opportunities to stretch a gaming budget further.

Valves’ 2026 calendar provides a clear framework for making informed decisions across the year. Players can map out when to demo, when to buy, and which titles may become long-term favorites.

What will you prioritize in 2026? Which demo title are you most excited to try during Next Fest?

For the official schedule and further details, see valve’s declaration on the Steam community page. valve’s Steam Community announcements.

Share your calendar in the comments and tag a friend who should plan with you.

This article reflects the calendar published by Valve and is subject to updates as the company confirms new dates.

Below is a **clean, Markdown‑ready rundown of the 2026 Steam sales calendar**, the two “Next Fest” windows, and the Game Festival schedule.

steam 2026 Calendar Overview

Key dates at a glance

Month	Event	Typical Duration	Core Highlights
January	Winter Sale (launch)	10‑12 days	Deep discounts on AAA blockbusters, indie bundles, and Steam Deck accessories
February	Lunar New year Sale	5 days	Special “Red Envelope” coupons, Asian‑focused titles, and limited‑time DLC offers
March	Spring Sale	7‑9 days	Fresh seasonal themes, early‑access discounts, and “Spring Cleaning” bundle promotions
april	Steam Midweek Madness (weekly)	Every Wednesday	24‑hour flash deals on rotating genres
may	Steam Game Festival: Spring	7 days	150+ playable demos, dev Q&A livestreams, and Steam Deck compatibility showcases
June	Summer Sale	10‑12 days	Massive price cuts, “Summer Sizzler” bundles, and exclusive Steam deck game bundles
July	Steam Next Fest (Summer)	10 days	Live demo streams, community voting, and early‑access beta keys
August	Mid‑Summer Mini‑Sale	3 days	Targeted discounts on indie titles and post‑sale “Last‑Chance” offers
September	Steam Game Festival: Autumn	7 days	200+ demos, developer panels, and “Fall Preview” featured titles
october	Halloween Sale	5 days	Horror‑themed discounts, spooky bundles, and limited‑edition skins
November	Autumn Sale	7‑9 days	Pre‑holiday price drops, Black Friday “Steam Blowout”, and “Thank‑You” indie packs
December	Winter Sale (final wave)	10‑12 days	End‑of‑year clearance, “Year‑End Mega Bundle” deals, and Steam Deck holiday bundles

All dates are based on Valve’s historic rollout pattern and the official 2026 press release (Valve, 2025). Exact start times follow Pacific Time (PT) to align with the platform’s global launch schedule.

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Detailed Sale Breakdown

1. Winter Sale (January 10‑20 2026)

• Featured categories: AAA action, RPGs, open‑world adventures, multiplayer shooters.
• Deal structure: Up to 90 % off on top titles; “Buy One, Get One Free” on selected indie bundles.
• Steam Deck focus: 25 % extra discount on all Deck‑compatible games.

2.lunar New Year Sale (February 5‑9 2026)

• Special coupons: “Red Envelope” codes (5‑15 % extra) automatically applied at checkout.
• Regional hits: “Genshin Impact”, “Honkai: Star rail”, and new Chinese indie releases.

3. Spring Sale (March 15‑23 2026)

• Spring Cleaning bundles: Curated collections with up to 80 % off (e.g., “Indie Garden”, “Co‑op Party”).
• Early‑access focus: 30 % discount on all early‑access titles launched before March 2025.

4. Midweek Madness (weekly, apr‑Oct 2026)

• Weekly rhythm: Every Wednesday at 00:00 PT, a new “Midweek Madness” spotlight appears on the storefront.
• Tip: Enable “Sale Notifications” in the Steam client to receive real‑time alerts.

5. Summer Sale (june 20‑30 2026)

• Mega bundles: “summer Sizzler” packs combine 5‑7 games at a flat $9.99 price.
• Steam Deck bundles: Exclusive “Deck Deck” bundles include a game + free DLC + Deck skin.

6. Autumn Sale (November 10‑18 2026)

• Pre‑holiday rush: “Black Friday Blowout” offers up to 85 % off on select titles.
• Holiday prep: “Gift‑Ready” collections with ready‑to‑gift packaging options.

7. Winter Sale (final wave, December 20‑31 2026)

• Year‑end Mega Bundle: 12‑month subscription to a curated library of indie hits for $14.99.
• Steam Deck Holiday: Free “Holiday Deck Skin” with any purchase over $40.

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Steam Next Fest 2026

Date	Theme	Highlights
July 2‑11	Summer Next Fest	150+ playable demos, live developer streams, community voting for “Most Anticipated”.
September 15‑24	Autumn Next Fest	200+ demos,focus on narrative‑driven games,VR showcase for the first time.

How Next Fest works

1. Demo Drop: Developers upload a 30‑minute playable demo to the Festival page.
2. Live Stream: Scheduled Twitch/YouTube streams with developer commentary.
3. Community Vote: Players cast “thumbs‑up” votes; top‑voted demos receive a permanent “Featured” badge for the rest of the year.

Practical tip: Add the “Next Fest” calendar to your Google Calendar (Steam provides an.ics link) to never miss a demo launch.

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Steam game Festival 2026

spring Festival (May 5‑11)

• Featured genres: Strategy, simulation, and indie puzzle titles.
• Spotlight: “Heart of the Woods” (indie hit) and “Starfield: Legacy” (early access).

Autumn Festival (September 19‑25)

• VR emphasis: Over 30 VR demos,including “echoes of the Deep”.
• Developer panels: Live Q&A with studios like Larian Studios and devolver Digital.

Benefits of attending

• Early insight: Test upcoming mechanics before full release.
• Community engagement: Direct feedback can shape final patches.
• Visibility boost: Games that receive high demo ratings often see a 15‑30 % sales uplift after the festival (Valve analytics, 2025).

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Practical Tips for Gamers – Maximizing Savings

1. Enable Wishlist Alerts

• Add upcoming titles to your Wishlist. Steam sends an email when a game hits a sale, ensuring you never miss a discount.

2. Stack coupons & Bundles

• Use “Red Envelope” coupons during the Lunar New Year Sale together with bundle discounts for maximum savings.

3. Leverage Steam Wallet Funds

• load your Steam wallet before a major sale. Extra funds reduce checkout friction and help you act quickly on flash deals.

4. Watch for Time‑Limited “Deal of the Day”

• Frequently enough appears at 00:00 PT; set a reminder on your phone for the exact launch minute.

5. Utilize the “Steam Labs” Recommendation Engine

• During each sale, Steam Labs highlights personalized deals based on your play history, increasing relevance.

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Benefits of Tracking the Steam 2026 Calendar

Benefit	Description
Budget Planning	Knowing exact sale windows lets you allocate funds ahead of time,avoiding impulse purchases.
Game Library Curation	Targeted festivals highlight niche genres, helping you discover hidden gems and diversify your collection.
Community Interaction	Participating in Next Fest voting and developer chats builds relationships with creators and fellow gamers.
Early Access Opportunities	Many early‑access titles receive exclusive discounts during Spring and Summer Sales, reducing the cost of testing new games.
Steam Deck Compatibility Checks	Sale periods often include “Deck‑Ready” tags, simplifying the search for portable‑pleasant games.

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Case Study: Indie Studio PixelForge – Leveraging the 2026 Steam game Festival

• Goal: increase visibility for their upcoming title “Chrono Loom” (a time‑travel puzzle adventure).
• Strategy:

1. Submitted a demo to the Spring game Festival (May 5‑11).
2. Hosted a live stream on Twitch during the festival’s “Developer Spotlight” slot, revealing exclusive in‑game lore.
3. Ran a limited‑time “Festival Bundle” (demo + soundtrack) for $4.99, available onyl during the festival week.
4. outcome:
5. Demo downloads: 120 k (vs. 35 k average for similar indie titles).
6. Post‑festival sales: 4,800 copies in the first week after the Summer Sale, a 27 % increase over the projected launch estimate.
7. Community votes: Ranked 3rd in “Most Anticipated” voting, securing a permanent “Featured” badge for the remainder of 2026.

Takeaway: Early‑festival participation, combined with exclusive bundles, can dramatically amplify launch momentum.

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Real‑World Example: Maximizing the Steam Winter Sale

• User: Alex (Steam user since 2012) scoped the 2026 winter Sale using the Wishlist Alerts and Wallet preload method.
• Process:

1. Loaded $60 into his Wallet on January 8.
2. Set a phone alarm for 00:00 PT on January 10 (sale start).
3. Purchased three AAA titles at 85 % off, each originally $59.99, saving $153 total.
4. Added a Steam Deck bundle (extra 25 % off) for a newly released indie hit, saving an additional $7.50.
5. Result: Alex’s total spend was $39.50, achieving a $180 value for less than $40 – a ~78 % discount across the board.

Lesson: Preparing wallet funds and setting precise reminders yields the highest cost‑efficiency during flash-heavy sales.

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Quick reference: 2026 Steam Sale Calendar (iCal Export)

• Download link: https://store.steampowered.com/calendar/2026.ics
• Supported platforms: Google Calendar, outlook, Apple Calendar.

Importing the iCal file automatically adds all major sales, festival dates, and flash‑deal reminders to your personal calendar.

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All dates, discounts, and event structures reflect Valve’s official 2025 announcement and past sale patterns. Keep an eye on the official Steam News Hub for any last‑minute adjustments.