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Valve’s 2026 calendar includes seasonal sales, themed Fests and Steam Next Fest events. PC Guide counted 29 scheduled events in the announced calendar; that is the publication’s count, not a total Valve itself announced. Six events are scheduled before the Steam Spring Sale, which runs March 19–26.
What the 2026 Steam calendar includes
The schedule is broader than sales alone. Valve distinguishes four annual Steam-wide seasonal sales from themed Fests focused on particular game categories and Steam Next Fest editions, which spotlight upcoming games and demos. Dates below are scheduled dates; the event types do not all share the same discount or participation rules.
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PC Guide’s January 23, 2026 article counted 29 scheduled events. Valve’s official calendar supplies the dates and event descriptions, but does not state that year-total.
Six events before the Spring Sale
Valve’s first-half schedule lists six events before the Spring Sale begins on March 19:
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
| Event | Scheduled dates |
|---|---|
| Board Game Fest | January 26–February 2, 2026 |
| Typing Fest (Spotlight) | February 5–9, 2026 |
| PvP Fest | February 9–16, 2026 |
| Horse Fest (Spotlight) | February 19–23, 2026 |
| Steam Next Fest — February edition | February 23–March 2, 2026 |
| Tower Defense Fest | March 9–16, 2026 |
| Steam Spring Sale | March 19–26, 2026 |
The first six entries are themed events or Next Fest; the Spring Sale is the seasonal sale. For the first-half announcement, see Valve’s Steam sales and events schedule. PC Guide’s January 23 event list also records the full count and early-year dates.
What is still on the calendar as of October 8
Valve’s current schedule lists the Autumn Sale for October 1–8, so it ends on October 8. The remaining listed events are:
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
| Event | Scheduled dates | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking Fest | October 12–19, 2026 | Themed Fest |
| Steam Next Fest — October edition | October 19–26, 2026 | Next Fest |
| Steam Scream V | October 26–November 2, 2026 | Themed Fest |
| Auto-Battler RPG Fest | November 16–23, 2026 | Themed Fest |
| Steam Winter Sale | December 17, 2026–January 4, 2027 | Seasonal sale |
The current Valve Steam events calendar also lists the 2027 Spring and Summer Sale dates. Check that calendar for changes before planning around a future event, as scheduled dates can change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How sales, Fests and Next Fest differ
Seasonal sales
Valve says it runs Steam-wide seasonal sales four times a year. These are broad store-wide events, distinct from category-focused Fests. Valve’s Seasonal Sales documentation says a discount of 20% or more during a seasonal sale triggers an email notification to players who have that game on their wishlist. This is a developer-facing notification rule, not a promise that a particular game will receive a discount or be featured.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Themed Fests
Fests spotlight a category or theme, such as board games, cooking or tower defense. Discounted games can participate, but Valve also says free games, Coming Soon titles and games with demos can be welcome. A Fest therefore should not be read as a guarantee that every participating game is on sale.
Steam Next Fest
Next Fest centers on upcoming games and demos rather than functioning as another seasonal sale. It gives players a chance to try demos and discover games still in development; the February and October editions appear separately in Valve’s schedule.
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- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
