Event: Steam Next Fest: October 2026 Edition
Dates: October 19–26, 2026
Starts: Monday, 10 a.m. PT · 1 p.m. ET · 6 p.m. BST
Where: Steam (PC)
Price: Free demos
Host: Valve
🎮 Steam Next Fest starts Monday, October 19, at 10 a.m. PT. For a full week, until October 26, Steam is packed with free demos of upcoming games of every genre, straight from the developers making them. Valve has released an official trailer to give you a taste of what’s coming.
🗓️ A Week of Free Demos From Games That Aren’t Out Yet
Steam Next Fest is where developers from all over the world show off demos of games they haven’t launched yet. For them, it’s a chance to get feedback and start building an audience. For players, it’s a chance to try dozens of upcoming games for free, find a new favourite, and wishlist it to follow along until launch.
You can also interact with the developers behind the games during the event, so it’s a great time to ask questions and leave feedback that might actually shape the finished game.
Clear your schedule. Clear some storage space.
The October edition of Steam Next Fest runs from October 19 to 26, and kicks off on Monday at 10 a.m. PT. As usual, there’s no buy-in: every demo is free to download and play, so all it costs you is time and hard drive space. Here’s Valve’s official trailer for this edition:
How to Make the Most of Next Fest
⏰ Set a Reminder
Sign up on the Next Fest page and Steam will remind you when the event begins.
🔍 Browse by Genre
Demos from games of all kinds, so dig into the genres you love and a few you don’t.
💬 Talk to Developers
Interact with the people making the games and give them feedback while it still matters.
⭐ Wishlist Your Faves
Wishlisting helps indie games get noticed, and Steam will tell you when they launch.
📌 Demos We’ve Already Covered
A couple of the games we’ve written about recently have confirmed they’re taking part in this Next Fest:
• Coal Duty: a 1–5 player co-op extraction horror-comedy about meeting the State’s coal quota in a mine full of monsters, where proximity voice chat can get you killed
• On the Rocks: a post-apocalyptic bar management sim whose updated demo adds online co-op for up to four players
We’ll be playing plenty more during the week, so keep an eye on TheBigBois for our Next Fest picks.
When It Starts
Time Zone
Next Fest Begins · Monday, October 19
Pacific (PT)
10:00 a.m.
Eastern (ET)
1:00 p.m.
UK (BST)
6:00 p.m.
Central Europe (CEST)
7:00 p.m.
The event runs all week and wraps up on Monday, October 26. Some demos may disappear once Next Fest ends, so if something catches your eye, play it while you can.
📅 October 19–26 · Steam · Free DemosSteam Next Fest starts Monday, October 19, at 10 a.m. PT. Set a reminder on the event page, clear some space on your drive, and get ready to find your next favourite game.
Hi there! I’m Marie, also known as CtrlQueen. I’m passionate about keeping up with the latest in gaming news and sharing my insights. RPGs steal my heart with their rich narratives and immersive worlds, but I also love unwinding with fun, casual games. Whether you’re here for deep dives into game mechanics or just to chat about your favorite casual game, you’ve found the right place! Let’s game and explore together.
