Valve Plans Ahead with Steam Sale Calendar Through Mid-2026
Valve is giving PC gamers plenty of time to plan their purchases, as the company has announced its detailed schedule for Steam sales and themed festivals stretching into the first half of 2026. This early release includes both familiar seasonal sales and a series of experimental 'focus festivals' designed to highlight more niche gaming categories.
These themed festivals offer a unique opportunity for players to explore specific genres or themes they might not typically encounter, often featuring discounts and demos. The newly revealed schedule for the first half of 2026 is as follows:
- Detective Fest: January 12–19
- Tabletop Games Fest: January 26–February 2
- Typing Fest: February 5–9 (Focus Festival)
- Player-vs-Player Fest: February 9–16
- Horse Games Fest: February 19–23 (Focus Festival)
- Steam Next Fest: February Edition: February 23–March 2
- Tower Defense Fest: March 9–16
- Steam Spring Sale: March 19–26
- Home and Interior Fest: March 30–April 6
- Hidden Object Fest: April 9–13 (Focus Festival)
- Medieval Fest: April 20–27
- Deckbuilders Fest: May 4–11
- Sea & Ocean Fest: May 18–25
Looking back at 2025, Valve also reminded players about significant changes to the calendar. The Steam Autumn Sale, traditionally held towards the end of November, has been moved earlier to the end of September. Valve states this change aims to distribute seasonal events more evenly throughout the year.
Alongside this, the process for the Steam Awards nominations has also shifted. In previous years, the voting for Steam Awards nominees launched concurrently with the Autumn Sale. For 2025, these events will be separate: the Autumn Sale will occur on its new September dates, while the Steam Awards voting will take place during its usual period, from November 24 to December 1.
Here is the remaining schedule for 2025 events:
- 4X Fest: August 11–18
- Third-Person Shooter Fest: August 25–September 1
- Political Sim Fest: September 8–15
- Steam Autumn Sale: September 29–October 6
- Steam Next Fest: October Edition: October 13–20
- Steam Scream Fest 4: October 27–November 3
- Animal Games Fest: November 10–17
- Sports Fest: December 8–15
- Steam Winter Sale: December 18–January 5 (2026)
This early announcement provides a clear roadmap for PC gamers looking to plan their game purchases and discover new titles. Knowing the schedule so far in advance means players can better prepare for upcoming discounts and themed events, ensuring they don't miss out on deals for their favorite genres or unexpected gems.
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