The second Steam Next Fest of 2026 is now here, and already we're tucking into a mountain of demos ahead of the upcoming Steam Summer sale. In fact, this event is the perfect warm-up before we start reaching for our wallets with the wave of bargains on the way, and after years of covering all things PC, I'd say that this is an event that you won't want to miss, folks.
Next Fests really 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.
Below, you'll find a helpful breakdown of everything you need to know when it comes to Steam Next Fest. This includes all the dates for the year, when the next one is, and a bunch of questions about the demos and what you'll need before you can jump in. If you are looking for Steam Sales dates, you'll need to head over to our guide on that, but for Next Fest fun, there is no better place to be than right here!
What is Steam Next Fest?
Steam Next Fest is a week-long event that celebrates upcoming PC 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?
Steam Next Fest is officially here and kicked off on June 15, 2026. It will run June 22 @10AM PT and @5PM GMT.
Next Fests tend to always happen just before seasonal sales, so the next one will drop just a few days 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 Summer Sale, which begins very soon on June 25. So, if you are after discounts instead of free demos, be sure to check it out before it ends on July 9. 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.
