The October 2026 edition of Steam Next Fest has begun, running from October 19 to October 26. For one week, you can download and play hundreds of unreleased game demos for free.

Dates and Times

According to Valve’s developer documentation, the event opened on October 19 at 10:00 AM PDT and will close on October 26 at 10:00 AM PDT. Here’s how that translates to European time:

The end time appears one hour earlier due to daylight saving time. Europe switches to standard time on October 25, while the US remains on PDT until early November.

How Does Next Fest Work?

This is not a sale but a festival of demos. With a free Steam account, you can visit the Next Fest page and download any demo directly from the game’s store page. This year there’s no official live stream, but developers’ own broadcasts are gathered in a separate tab.

• Filters: Browse demos by genre, theme, and features.
• Recommendations: If you’re logged in, Steam creates a personal list based on your play history.
• Rankings: The list of most popular demos is updated throughout the event.
• Wishlist: Add games you like to your wishlist to get notified about releases and discounts.

One note: Some demos are removed after the event ends. If there’s something you want to try, don’t wait until October 26.

Demos Worth Checking Out

To help you navigate the sea of demos, here’s a selection of highlights picked by the gaming press:

Frostrail is worth checking out as it’s from Shiro Games, the studio behind Northgard and Wartales. El Paso, Elsewhere 2 is an easy pick for fans of the first game’s style. According to Windows Report, Stronghold 4 and Tropico 7 were also among the most talked-about demos on day one.

What’s Next?

This October event is the final Next Fest of 2026. Right after it ends, Steam Scream Fest begins on October 26, focusing on horror games until November 2. Steam Winter Sale will run from December 17, 2026 to January 4, 2027, and the next Next Fest is set for February 22, 2027.

Many of the games you enjoy in demo form may go on sale during these periods. If you want to be ready for the Winter Sale, you can top up your Steam Wallet in minutes using a Steam Wallet code. If your account operates in euros, a EUR Steam Wallet code is the better choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Steam Next Fest demos free?

Yes. All demos are free to play, you just need a Steam account.

When does the October 2026 Next Fest end?

It ends on October 26, 2026 at 10:00 AM PDT, which is 18:00 CET in Europe.

Will my progress in the demo carry over to the full game?

This depends on the game. Some developers support save transfers, but most do not. Always check the notes on the game’s store page.

When is the next Steam Next Fest?

According to Valve’s calendar, it will be held from February 22 to March 1, 2027.