Steam has officially shared its complete discount and festival schedule for 2026, confirming another packed year of themed events and major seasonal sales. Known for frequent promotions and deep discounts, Valve’s newly published calendar gives players a full year’s view of when to shop smart and avoid paying full price.
While Steam hasn’t revealed which specific games will be discounted during each event, the festival themes offer a clear idea of what genres will be highlighted. From niche showcases to massive store-wide sales, there’s something planned for almost every type of player.
January: Strategy and Brainpower
The year kicks off with events aimed at thoughtful, slower-paced gameplay.
- Detective Festival: January 12–19
- Board Games Festival: January 26 – February 2
Expect mystery titles, logic-heavy games, and digital tabletop experiences to shine.
February: A Month of Variety
February delivers one of the most diverse lineups of the year.
- Typing Festival: February 5–9
- Player vs Player Festival: February 9–16
- Equestrian Festival: February 19–23
- Steam Coming (February): February 23 – March 2
The Steam Coming event will also feature demos, upcoming releases, and developer spotlights.
March: First Big Seasonal Sale
March brings the first major storewide sale of 2026.
- Tower Defense Festival: March 9–16
- Steam Fall Sale 2026: March 19–26
- Home and Home Festival: March 30 – April 6
The Fall Sale is expected to include broad discounts across Steam’s catalog.
April: Puzzles and the Middle Ages
Two focused festivals take center stage.
- Hidden Object Festival: April 9–13
- Medieval Festival: April 20–27
Valve has hinted that the Hidden Object Festival will be a highlight this month.
May: Cards and the Sea
Fewer events, but still appealing for specific audiences.
- Deck Building Festival: May 4–11
- Oceanic Festival: May 18–25
Perfect for fans of card-based strategy and ocean-themed adventures.
June: A Packed Schedule
June is one of the busiest months of the year.
- Bullet Festival: June 8–15
- Steam Coming (June): June 15–22
- Steam Summer Sale 2026: June 25 – July 9
The Summer Sale remains Steam’s most anticipated event, known for some of the deepest discounts.
July: Deduction and Trains
Two unique themes dominate mid-year.
- Social Deduction Festival: July 13–16
- Railway Festival: July 20–27
Expect deals on games centered around deception, teamwork, and train simulations.
August: Futurism and Survival
August blends sci-fi and survival experiences.
- Cyberpunk Festival: August 3–10
- Pins and Stakes Festival: August 17–20
- PvE Crafting & Survival Festival: August 31 – September 7
The Cyberpunk Festival is likely to attract major attention.
September: Code and Roleplay
- Programming Festival: September 10–14
- Group RPG Festival: September 14–21
These events typically spotlight automation, experimental mechanics, and cooperative RPGs.
October: Sales and Spooky Season
October rivals June in activity.
- Steam Spring Sale 2026: October 1–8
- Gastronomic Festival: October 12–19
- Steam Coming (October): October 19–26
- Susteam Festival 5: October 26 – November 2
Susteam Festival aligns with Halloween and usually focuses on darker, horror-themed games.
November: Auto-Battle Focus
- Auto-Battle RPG Festival: November 16–23
Steam has also confirmed that additional Black Friday–related discounts will be announced later.
December: The Grand Finale
- Steam Winter Sale 2026: December 17, 2026 – January 4, 2027
This remains one of the best times of the year to grab major titles at steep discounts.
What Players Should Know
Although each festival has a clear theme, discounts aren’t limited strictly to those genres. Developers may run promotions at any time, and while schedule changes are rare, Valve notes that dates could shift if needed.
For players willing to plan ahead, Steam’s 2026 calendar offers plenty of chances to save money—without missing out on the games they’ve been waiting to play.
