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Steam Next Fest is the ultimate celebration of upcoming Steam games! It’s your chance to try out demos, watch livestreams from developers, and wishlist your favourite titles - all before they’re officially released. Here’s everything you need to know about Steam Next Fest, plus some tips to make the most of it.

Steam Next Fest, also known as Steam Next Festival, is a week-long event dedicated to upcoming games. During this celebration, you can:

Try out demos for unreleased games.
Watch livestreams hosted by developers.
Wishlist your favourites to stay updated on future releases.

Steam Next Fest is perfect for experiencing the next big titles before they officially launch. It’s your chance to be among the first to dive into some of the gaming world’s most anticipated releases.

When is Steam Next Fest in 2025?

The Steam Next Fest 2025 Februari Edition took place from 24 February to 3 March. The second Steam Next Festival will run from 9 to 16 June, 2025.

Besides Next Fest, Steam hosts many other small events. Check out all the available dates:

Real-Time Strategy Festival: January 20–27
Idler Festival: February 3–10
Couch Co-Op Festival: February 10–17
Steam Next Festival (February): February 24–March 3
Visual Novel Festival: March 3–10
Steam Spring Sale: March 13–20
City Builder & Colony Sim Festival: March 24–31
Sokoban Festival: April 21–28
Wargames Festival: April 28–May 5
Creature Collector Festival: May 12–19
Zombies vs. Vampires Festival: May 26–June 2
Steam Next Festival (June): June 9–16
Fishing Festival: June 16–23
Steam Summer Sale: June 26–July 10

When was Steam Next Fest held in 2024?

These were the Steam Next Fests and other events in 2024:

FPS Fest: April 15th to April 22nd
Farming Fest: April 29th to May 6th
Endless Replayability Fest: May 13th to May 20th
Open World Survival Crafting Fest: May 27th to June 3rd
Next Fest: June 10th to June 17th
Tower Defense Fest: July 29th to August 5th
Fighting Games Fest: August 5th to August 12th
Rythm Fest 2024: August 19th to August 26th
Space Exploration Fest: September 2nd to September 9th
Planes, Trains and Automobiles Fest: September 16th to September 23rd
Turn-Based Strategy Fest: September 30th to October 7th
Next Fest: October 2024: October 14th to October 21st
Halloween Sale 2024: October 28th to November 4th
Cooking Fest: November 11th to November 18th

Big Steam Sales

Besides Next Fest, Steam hosts 4 big Steam Sales throughout the year. The first big Steam Sale will be the Steam Spring Sale, which is scheduled to take place from 13 to 20 March. The next Steam Sale will be the Steam Summer Sale, which will take place between June 26 and July 10 2025.

How does Steam Next Fest work?

Participating in Steam Next Fest is easy and completely free if you have a Steam account. Here’s how:

Visit the Steam Next Fest page on Steam.
Browse through available demos and recommendations based on your preferences.
Watch livestreams to learn more about upcoming titles.
Add your favourite games or demos to your wishlist to stay updated.

5 tips for Steam Next Fest

Want to get the most out of Steam Next Fest? Follow these tips to maximize your experience:

1. Turn on notifications:

The first step to not missing out on new game demos is by knowing when the new Steam Next Fest will be hosted. Head over to your Steam email preferences and check the box for Steam Next Fest notifications. By enabling notifications, you’ll always be informed ahead of time, giving you the chance to download and play demos for the full duration of the event.

2. Finding the best demo for you

With thousands of demos available, finding the right one can feel overwhelming. Start with the "For You" tab on the Steam Next Fest page, which offers recommendations based on games you previously played. You can also filter demos by genre, theme, or number of players supported to narrow down your options. If you’re curious about popular picks, sort by player count to see what other players are trying.

3. Don’t forget to wishlist

Make sure to add your Next Fest favourites to your Steam wishlist! This ensures you’ll be notified about future updates, additional playtests, release dates, and even potential sales. Simply click the blue star icon next to the game or demo to add it.

4. Get more insights

If you want to learn more about a demo you played, we recommend checking out the livestream section for in-depth developer discussions. Many developers share insights about upcoming features, release timelines, and behind-the-scenes development details. Missed a livestream? Don’t worry, most are available to watch later.

5. Prepare for release with a full Steam Wallet

Found a demo you can’t wait to play on release day? Prepare by topping up your Steam Wallet with Steam Gift Cards. This way, you’ll be ready to pre-order or purchase the full game as soon as it launches. Simply pick up one of our gift cards, instantly top up your Steam Wallet, and you’re ready for day one!