NEXT FREE EPIC GAME IN
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The Epic Games Store rotates its free-to-keep games every Thursday at about 11:00 AM ET. Estimated next drop: Sep 17, 2026.
DEALCHECKPOINT / PC SALE CALENDAR
Next Steam sale & free Epic games — counting down.
A live countdown to the next free-to-keep Epic Games Store title, plus the estimated windows for every major PC sale so you know whether to buy now or wait a few weeks.
UPCOMING PC SALE EVENTS (ESTIMATED)
- ~28dOct 14, 2026
Steam Next Fest (October) · up next
The autumn demo festival for upcoming releases.
Steam · expected mid-October (about 1 week) · estimated, not official - ~71dNov 26, 2026
Steam Autumn / Black Friday Sale
Runs across Black Friday weekend with strong discounts.
Steam · expected late November (about 1 week) · estimated, not official - ~94dDec 19, 2026
Steam Winter Sale
The other biggest sale of the year; expect tracked USD lows plus free-game giveaways.
Steam · expected late December – early January (about 2 weeks) · estimated, not official - ~94dDec 19, 2026
Epic Holiday Sale
Epic's winter sale, historically paired with 15 days of free games.
Epic Games · expected late December (about 2 weeks) · estimated, not official - ~178dMar 13, 2027
Steam Spring Sale
A mid-tier seasonal sale with fresh discounts across most catalogues.
Steam · expected mid-March (about 1 week) · estimated, not official - ~242dMay 16, 2027
Epic Mega Sale
Epic's flagship sale, often with extra coupons stacking on top of discounts.
Epic Games · expected May – June (several weeks) · estimated, not official - ~266dJun 9, 2027
Steam Next Fest (Summer)
Hundreds of free demos rather than discounts — great for discovering upcoming games.
Steam · expected early-mid June (about 1 week) · estimated, not official - ~283dJun 26, 2027
Steam Summer Sale
One of the two biggest Steam sales of the year; many titles hit their yearly low.
Steam · expected late June – mid July (about 2 weeks) · estimated, not official
Seasonal sale dates are estimates based on recent years and are not official until the store confirms them. The Epic weekly countdown is based on Epic's regular Thursday schedule and can shift on holidays.
SALE-TIMING PLAYBOOK
Use the calendar as a planning signal, not a price promise.
Seasonal patterns answer “when should I check again?” They do not guarantee that one game, edition or publisher will participate at a specific discount.
Sale is more than a month away
Judge the current offer on its own merits. If the price is near your target and you will play immediately, waiting through several weeks may save less value than it costs in lost playtime.
Major event is within weeks
Delay non-urgent purchases and prepare a short wishlist. Check edition and current price now so you can recognise whether the event actually improves the offer.
The event has started
Compare final checkout totals rather than banners. Recheck the tracked USD range, confirm the deadline and ignore urgency when the game will remain in your backlog.
How date confidence works
Official dates should be tied to a store or publisher announcement. Estimated windows are pattern-based planning aids and remain labelled as estimates until confirmed. The weekly Epic rotation follows the regular storefront cadence, but a publisher can still change timing or availability. DealCheckpoint keeps those confidence levels visible instead of presenting every date as equally certain.
SALE CALENDAR FAQ
Questions about PC sale timing
When is the next Steam sale?
Steam runs four big seasonal sales each year — Spring (mid-March), Summer (late June to mid-July), Autumn/Black Friday (late November) and Winter (late December to early January) — plus Next Fest demo events in February, June and October. Exact dates are announced by Valve a few weeks before each event; the calendar above shows the estimated windows based on recent years and highlights which one is coming up next.
When do the free Epic Games Store games change?
The Epic Games Store gives away at least one free-to-keep game every week, refreshing every Thursday at around 11:00 AM ET (8:00 AM PT). The live countdown above estimates the next rotation. During its Holiday Sale, Epic often switches to a daily giveaway for about 15 days.
Are the sale dates on this page official?
No. Seasonal sale dates are estimates based on the pattern of the last several years and are clearly labelled as such. They are useful for planning, but only become official when the store confirms them. The weekly Epic countdown follows Epic's regular Thursday schedule.
How do I not overpay before a sale?
Add the games you want to My Radar with a target price. When a sale arrives, check each game's price against its tracked USD low on its DealCheckpoint price page — our buy / wait / skip verdict tells you instantly whether the sale price is genuinely strong in our comparison history.
Plan your buys
Steam sales calendar 2026: when to actually buy →
Estimated seasonal dates are based on recent years and are not official until confirmed by the store. Plan with them, but always confirm the live price on the game's deal page before buying.