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The first Steam Next Fest of 2026 is now in the rearview mirror, but there are still plenty more on the horizon to keep track of. And trust us, you'll want to catch these events, especially if you have your eyes on upcoming PC games. Next Fests are the time to download a mountain of fun demos, add games to your Steam wishlist, and also connect with new communities.
They are events that feel like a true celebration for gaming, and are also great avenues for discovery. Who knows? The next demo you download may just end up being one of the best games of 2026. So, if you're looking to build up your wishlist or want to keep track of when you can get a taste of some of the top new games of the year via Valve's platform, then you've come to the right place.
What is Steam Next Fest?
Steam Next Fest is a week-long event that celebrates upcoming games by letting players download exciting new demos and watch live streams of future titles from developers.
It's during this event that Steam users will get the chance to populate their wishlists and potentially join more communities to support the release of their favorite games discovered during the multi-day time period.
This is also a recurring event that has three dates for 2026. Steam Next Fests appear just before the Steam Spring sale, Summer sale, and Winter sale, so by the time discounts start coming in, you have a clear idea of all the games you'll want to pick up when the time comes.
When is Steam Next Fest?
The next Steam Next Fest kicks off on June 15, 2026, and runs until June 22.
Next Fests tend to always happen just before seasonal sales, so the next one will drop just before the Steam Summer Sale. This gives you the opportunity to refine your wishlist before discounts drop. It's a great way to feel a bit more sure about where to spend your hard-earned cash, as well as get excited about any games that may have otherwise slipped under your radar.
To participate in the Next Fests, you'll of course need to have a Steam account (which is free to create). So, if you plan on installing a bunch of demos, make sure that you're signed up and get ready to install plenty of demo goodness.
To see an overview of all dates of the year, you can find all the 2026 Steam Next Fest dates below:
- February 23 – March 2, 2026
- June 15 - June 22, 2026
- October 19 - October 26, 2026
Are demos free during Steam Next Fest?
The good news is that all the demos during Steam Next Fest are free. All you need to do is sign into your Steam Account and click the green "download" button on the game you wish to investigates store page.
There is no limit to the amount of demos you can play during the event, and you can also replay demos as much as you want without worrying about encountering some kind of paywall. Keep in mind, though, that while the demos may be free, the full game probably won't be once it releases in the future.
Is Steam Next Fest a sale?
Technically, Steam Next Fest isn't a sale. However, we do normally see some discounts go live during this time. Steam Next Fest is focused on devs showcasing their future games and giving space for players to see the title's progress and potentially wishlist new games after installing demos.
Any discounts that are typically around Next Fest are unrelated and more likely due to the opportunity to garner more sales, as teams know that there will be more active users exploring the Steam Store page during the week-long event.
The next big Steam sale is the Spring Sale, which begins very soon on March 19. So, if you are after discounts instead of free demos, be sure to check it out before it ends on March 26, 2026. In the meantime, you can check out our list of all the best free Steam games currently available to play today.
For more titles, read our list of the best PC games, or check out our ranking of the best laptop games available right now.
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