> At a Glance
> – Steam lists 15 themed fests from Jan. 12 through May 2026
> – Winter Sale ends Jan. 5; Spring Sale set for March 19-26
> – Platform moved 718 million games in 2024 across 89,000 titles
> – Why it matters: Monthly sales give gamers predictable chances to save on everything from indie gems to AAA blockbusters
Steam owners can circle a dozen-plus dates on next year’s calendar after Valve published its full slate of 2026 discounts, confirming at least one themed sale every month.
Sale Schedule
The digital store will open with Detective Fest on Jan. 12-19, followed quickly by Board Game, Typing, PvP and Horse Fests before spring. Quarterly mega-events return as usual:
- Spring Sale: March 19-26
- (Summer, Autumn and Winter dates remain 2025 for now)
Smaller fests focus on niche genres-tower-defense, hidden-object, deck-builder and ocean exploration-keeping prices low between the headline events.
Smart Shopping Tips
Veteran collector Daniel J. Whitman recommends wish-list sorting by discount size to surface the steepest markdowns during each fest. Third-party tracker SteamDB adds filters for user rating, platform and even 100%-off giveaways.
- Check GOG, Epic and Game Pass libraries first to avoid duplicates
- Compare prices on IsThereAnyDeal across competing storefronts
- Set a hard budget-cheap games add up fast
Key Takeaways
- Steam now runs four major seasonal sales plus monthly themed fests
- Next up: Detective Fest (Jan. 12-19) and Board Game Fest (Jan. 26-Feb. 2)
- Use wish-list sorting and SteamDB to spot the deepest cuts
With discounts rotating every few weeks, patient players can expect most titles to reappear at equal or lower prices throughout 2026.
