Steam Next Fest October 2026 is live: free demos until October 26
The October 2026 edition of Steam Next Fest, which Valve holds three times a year, started on October 19 and runs until October 26. Throughout this week you can download and try free demos of unreleased games and add the ones you like to your wishlist.
In short
- The fest ends on October 26 at 10:00 a.m. PDT (UTC-7), which is 17:00 UTC.
- According to the Steam Blog, there are thousands of free demos this edition. Valve has not shared an exact number.
- New this edition, demos can be searched by genre, theme, feature and subcategory.
- Each developer decides for themselves whether their demo stays up after the fest ends.
What is Steam Next Fest, and when does it end?
Next Fest is an event in which games not yet on sale on Steam are showcased with free demos for one week. Valve's aim is for players to try demos and for developers to gather feedback and build an audience before launch. The event is held every year in February, June and October.
According to the Steamworks documentation, the October 2026 edition started on October 19 at 10:00 a.m. PDT (UTC-7) and ends on October 26 at 10:00 a.m. PDT. In UTC, that is 17:00 on both days. On the same day, Valve will also open a recap page bringing together the most-played demos of the fest.
How do you find and download demos?
The event page is live in the Steam store under the name "Next Fest". Hovering over a game's card brings up a button that installs the demo directly, so you don't need to visit the store page. The star icon in the top-right corner of the card adds the game to your wishlist, and Steam notifies you by email when the game launches.
The page has tabs organized by genre, theme and feature, a "Charts" section and a tab collecting developers' livestreams. According to the Steam Blog announcement, what's new this edition is that demos can be searched by subcategory as well as by genre, theme and feature. Valve notes that most sections are shown in random order when the fest starts. Using what it learns from player behavior in the first days, Steam offers more personalized recommendations from Wednesday onwards. In other words, the recommendations on the main page change as the fest goes on, so checking back after a few days can pay off.
Developer livestreams are optional. Valve has not held an official opening broadcast since October 2024.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Start | October 19, 2026, 10:00 a.m. PDT (17:00 UTC) |
| End | October 26, 2026, 10:00 a.m. PDT (17:00 UTC) |
| Number of demos | "Thousands" (no exact number announced) |
| Price | Demos are free |
| Demos after the fest | Up to the developer |
| Next Next Fest | February 22 – March 1, 2027 |
| Source: Steamworks documentation, Steam store event page and Steam Blog, October 21, 2026. UTC times converted from PDT. | |
Are demos removed when the fest ends?
There is no fixed rule. Valve encourages developers to keep their demos available after the fest and notes that many players are frustrated when demos disappear right away. But the decision rests with the developer. If a developer disables their demo, players who have already downloaded it still see it in their library but can no longer launch it. If there is a demo you are curious about, the safest bet is to play it before the fest ends on October 26.
Which Steam events come after Next Fest?
According to the event calendar on Steamworks, Next Fest is followed immediately by Steam Scream V, from October 26 to November 2, focusing on horror and Halloween-themed games. The calendar does not state a start time for this event. The Auto-Battler RPG Fest runs from November 16 to 23, and the Winter Sale from December 17, 2026 to January 4, 2027. This year's Autumn Sale ended on October 8.
The next Next Fest will be held from February 22 to March 1, 2027. For games launching in full this week, see our October 19–23 release list.
Frequently asked questions
When does Steam Next Fest end?
On October 26, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PDT (UTC-7), which is 17:00 UTC.
Do Next Fest demos cost money?
No. The demos in the event are free. Playing a demo does not mean buying the game.
I downloaded a demo. Can I still play it after the fest ends?
It depends on the developer. If the demo stays up, you can keep playing. If the developer turns it off, it will still appear in your library but won't launch.
When is the next Steam Next Fest?
According to Valve's calendar, from February 22 to March 1, 2027.
Sources
- Valve / Steamworks — Steam Next Fest: October 2026 Official source
- Steam — Next Fest October 2026 Official source
- Steam Blog — Steam Next Fest is back! Official source
- Valve / Steamworks — Steam Next Fest Official source
- Valve / Steamworks — Demos Official source
- Valve / Steamworks — Upcoming Steam Events Official source
How this content was prepared
Prepared with AI assistance from the sources listed, key facts checked against official sources, not copied verbatim. Our AI principles
GAMEAREA Editörlüğü
