SteamExplainer
Trending
Next Steam sale: Scream Fest starts Oct. 26, and the Winter Sale runs Dec. 17 to Jan. 4
The next Steam sale is Steam Scream V, Valve's Halloween event for horror games, which runs from Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. PT to Nov. 2, 2026. The next Steam-wide seasonal sale is the Winter Sale, from Dec. 17, 2026, to Jan. 4, 2027. This year's Autumn Sale already ran from Oct. 1 to 8, and Valve's calendar has no Steam-wide sale in Black Friday week. Valve has also set the 2027 Spring Sale for March 18 to 25 and the Summer Sale for June 24 to July 8.
- PC
Steam sales follow a calendar Valve publishes for developers months in advance. Here’s what’s next, and what you already missed.
When is the next Steam sale?
The next one is Steam Scream V, Valve’s yearly Halloween event. It runs from Monday, Oct. 26, at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) to Monday, Nov. 2, and spotlights horror games plus games that are specifically about Halloween, with sections for discounts, upcoming games and demos.
Right before it, Steam Next Fest runs from Oct. 19 to 26, but that’s a festival of free demos, not a sale; our Steam Next Fest page covers it. After Scream Fest, Valve has an Auto-Battler RPG Fest from Nov. 16 to 23.
The Winter Sale and Black Friday
The next Steam-wide seasonal sale is the Winter Sale, from Dec. 17, 2026, to Jan. 4, 2027. Valve runs four seasonal sales a year, and any game released at least 30 days before the start can join with a discount.
If you’re waiting for a Black Friday sale on Steam, Valve’s calendar doesn’t have one. The Autumn Sale, which used to land around Thanksgiving, ran from Oct. 1 to 8, 2026, this year. Publishers can still discount their own games at any time.
Steam sale dates for 2027
Valve has already set the Spring Sale for March 18 to 25, 2027, and the Summer Sale for June 24 to July 8, 2027. The Autumn Sale 2027 hasn’t been dated yet. Next Fest returns from Feb. 22 to March 1 and June 14 to 21, 2027.
Themed fests fill the gaps: Desktop Companion Fest (Jan. 14 to 18), Shop Keeper Fest (Jan. 25 to Feb. 1), Couch Co-Op Fest (Feb. 8 to 15), Rhythm Fest (March 8 to 15), Racing Fest (April 12 to 19), Fighting Fest (April 26 to May 3) and Real-Time Strategy Fest (May 10 to 17), among others.
Valve’s own hardware is a separate story: our Steam Machine and Steam Deck 2 pages track those prices.
This page is updated as soon as Valve adds or changes a Steam sale date.
Official images
1
FAQ
When is the next Steam sale?
Steam Scream V, from Oct. 26 at 10 a.m. PT to Nov. 2, 2026. It’s a themed sale for horror games and games about Halloween.
When is the Steam Winter Sale 2026?
From Dec. 17, 2026, to Jan. 4, 2027, according to Valve’s sales calendar for developers.
Is there a Steam Black Friday sale?
Valve’s calendar has no Steam-wide sale in Black Friday week. The Autumn Sale ran earlier this year, from Oct. 1 to 8, and the next seasonal sale is the Winter Sale on Dec. 17. Individual publishers can still discount their games.
Did I miss the Steam Autumn Sale 2026?
Yes. Valve ran it from Oct. 1 to Oct. 8, 2026, earlier than the late-November timing many players expect.
When is the Steam Summer Sale 2027?
June 24 to July 8, 2027. The Spring Sale comes first, from March 18 to 25, 2027.
Is Steam Next Fest a sale?
No. Steam Next Fest, Oct. 19 to 26, 2026, is a week of free demos for upcoming games. The next Next Fests run Feb. 22 to March 1 and June 14 to 21, 2027.
Pop quiz
2 questions from this story.
When does the Steam Winter Sale 2026 start?
Valve’s calendar sets the Winter Sale for Dec. 17, 2026, to Jan. 4, 2027.
What is Steam Scream V?
Steam Scream V, Oct. 26 to Nov. 2, spotlights horror games and games about Halloween.
Your call
Which Steam sale do you wait for?
