Steam Sales 2026 — Dates and Schedule

A Steam sale is a major event for millions of gamers worldwide. Valve holds four seasonal sales per year, during which tens of thousands of games receive discounts of up to 90%. In addition, themed festivals, weekly deals and publisher sales run throughout the year. On this page we have compiled the full Steam sale schedule for 2026 with exact dates and shopping tips.

Seasonal Steam Sales — Dates and Details

Each year Valve holds four major sales. Their dates are roughly the same from year to year, and the schedule is announced in advance through private developer mailings. All sales start and end at 10:00 AM Pacific Time (6:00 PM UTC).

The Spring Steam Sale takes place in March and lasts one week. It is the first major sale of the year with solid discounts on past hits and recent releases. The Spring Sale 2026 is a great time to pick up games you missed during the winter season.

The Summer Steam Sale is the longest, usually running for two weeks (late June to early July). It is one of the two largest sales in terms of participating games and discount depth. Maximum discounts on AAA titles and indie hits.

The Autumn Sale takes place in early October and lasts one week. Great prices on games released in the first half of the year. The Autumn Sale often coincides with the start of Steam Awards voting.

The Winter Steam Sale is the most anticipated and largest. It runs from mid-December to early January (usually around 18 days). Maximum discounts, gift cards and Steam Awards results. The Winter Sale traditionally sees the highest number of purchases.

Steam Themed Festivals

In addition to seasonal sales, Valve runs dozens of themed festivals throughout the year. Festivals focus on specific genres (shooters, RPGs, strategy, horror) or themes (survival, medieval, cyberpunk). Games matching the theme receive discounts. Festivals last 3 to 7 days and often include free demos of upcoming titles.

Festivals are an underrated opportunity for bargains. Their discounts can be just as deep as seasonal sales, but there is less competition for buyers' attention. If your favorite genre is featured in a festival — check the prices, you may be pleasantly surprised.

How to Prepare for a Steam Sale

To make the most of a sale, prepare in advance:

• Wishlist — add games you're interested in. Steam will email you when they go on sale
• Top up your balance — Top up your Steam wallet through a payment service before the sale starts
• Check price history — sometimes publishers raise the base price before a sale to make the discount look bigger. Compare the current price with historical data
• Don't rush — discounts during seasonal sales are fixed for the entire period. Flash Sales were removed in 2015 — prices won't change until the sale ends

Regional Prices and Savings

During a sale, pay attention to regional pricing. The same discounted game can cost significantly less in the Turkish, Kazakh or Brazilian Steam store. On our site you can browse all games on sale and compare prices across regions for each one. The price difference can be 30-50% even after accounting for top-up service fees.

To save on purchases, it also helps to keep an eye on Steam exchange rates — Valve's internal rates can differ from market rates in your favor, making purchases through another region even cheaper.

What to Expect from 2026 Sales

Steam sales in 2026 follow the established format: fixed discounts for the entire period, curated thematic collections, and participation from virtually all major publishers. Expect discounts up to 90% on games older than 2 years, 40-60% on last year's titles, and 10-25% on fresh releases. Bundles are especially good value — the bundle discount often exceeds the sum of individual discounts.