Valve has just announced its complete schedule of upcoming Steam sales through summer 2026, giving gamers a rare early look at when to expect discounts on PC titles. The list includes genre-specific events, seasonal blowouts, and new “Spotlight Fests,” offering PC gamers a chance to plan ahead and grab top titles at lower prices.
Steam locks in sales calendar till summer 2026
In a blog post published Thursday, Valve outlined every major sale event that will run on Steam from August 2025 to May 2026. The lineup includes popular events like the Steam Autumn Sale and Winter Sale, as well as focused sales for specific genres including shooters, RPGs, sports games, and more.
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These regular sale events are a major part of Steam’s continued popularity. With over 132 million monthly active users, Valve’s platform remains the go-to storefront for PC gamers worldwide, thanks in part to deep and frequent discounts.
What’s coming next: August to December 2025
August 2025
- 4X Fest: Aug 11 – 18
- Third Person Shooter Fest: Aug 25 – Sep 1
September 2025
- Political Sim Fest: Sep 8 – 15
- Autumn Sale: Sep 29 – Oct 6
October 2025
- Steam Next Fest: Oct 13 – 20
- Steam Scream 4: Oct 27 – Nov 3
November 2025
- Animal Fest: Nov 10 – 17
December 2025
- Sports Fest: Dec 8 – 15
- Winter Sale: Dec 18 – Jan 5
Steam sale dates for early 2026
January 2026
- Detective Fest: Jan 12 – 19
- Board Game Fest: Jan 26 – Feb 2
February 2026
- Typing Fest: Feb 5 – 9
- PvP Fest: Feb 9 – 16
- Horse Fest: Feb 19 – 23
- Steam Next Fest: Feb 23 – Mar 2
March 2026
- Tower Defense Fest: Mar 9 – 16
- Spring Sale: Mar 19 – 26
- House & Home Fest: Mar 30 – Apr 6
April 2026
- Hidden Object Fest: Apr 9 – 13
- Medieval Fest: Apr 20 – 27
May 2026
- Deckbuilders Fest: May 4 – 11
- Ocean Fest: May 18 – 25
Spotlight Fests aim to highlight niche genres
Valve is also experimenting with shorter “Spotlight Fests,” which will dive into niche game themes like typing games, hidden object puzzles, and horse simulators. These fests are designed to showcase more specific categories without needing a full week-long sale window.
For developers, Valve has also updated its Steamworks portal with instructions to register games for these events.
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Upcoming sales to watch
The next big one for shooter fans is the Third Person Shooter Fest, happening August 25 to September 1. Expect discounts on titles like Helldivers 2, especially as the game expands to Xbox during the same period.
If you’re into medieval combat or RPGs, April’s Medieval Fest could be your moment. Titles like Chivalry 2, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord are likely to see notable markdowns.
Budget planning just got easier for gamers
For players trying to stick to a budget, knowing this calendar helps avoid impulse buys and better plan purchases around big discounts. With costs rising across the board, this kind of advance notice is a welcome move from Valve.
And with more themed events ahead in the second half of 2026, Valve says the rest of the sales schedule will be revealed “in the coming months.” Stay tuned.
