Steam Sales

Steam Sale Schedule

Valve runs several major sales every year on a well-established schedule. Sale dates are announced ahead of time through Steamworks, and developers prepare their discounts for these events.

• Spring Sale — March, about one week. It replaced the Lunar New Year sale, which Valve retired in 2023
• Summer Sale — Late June to early July. The biggest sale of the year, about two weeks, thousands of games discounted
• Autumn Sale — Since 2025 Valve moved it from late November to early autumn: it ran Sep 29 to Oct 6 in 2025 and is set for Oct 1-8 in 2026. Coincides with The Steam Awards nominations
• Steam Scream Fest (Halloween) — Late October. Focus on horror and themed games, about one week
• Winter Sale — Late December to early January. The second biggest sale, about two weeks, coincides with The Steam Awards voting

Past Steam Sales Archive

Verified dates of past seasonal sales. Useful for estimating when a game is likely to be discounted next.

Sources: Valve's official schedule announcements — Valve: official Steam sales and fests, first half of 2025 · Valve: official Steam sales and fests, second half of 2025 · Valve: Steam sales and events schedule, first half of 2026 · Valve: Steam events scheduled in the second half of 2026

Steam Sale Shopping Tips

• Check price history — Use our Steam Price Checker to make sure the discount is real and compare prices across regions
• No rush to buy — Since 2015, prices don't change during the sale. Flash deals are gone — buy on any day you want
• Use your wishlist — Steam sends notifications when wishlist games go on sale. Fill your wishlist ahead of time
• Compare stores — Sometimes other stores offer Steam keys cheaper, even during a sale. Check alternatives
• Bundles save more — Game bundles often give extra discounts on top of individual game discounts

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the next Steam sale?

The countdown to the next sale is shown at the top of this page. Steam runs four major seasonal sales per year: Spring (March), Summer (June–July), Autumn (late September or early October since 2025), and Winter (December–January), plus the Steam Scream Fest in late October. The Lunar New Year sale was retired in 2023.

How long do Steam sales last?

Major sales (Summer and Winter) last about two weeks. Spring and Autumn sales run for about one week. The Steam Scream Fest lasts about one week. Publisher promotions and themed sales run from a few days to a week.

Do prices change during a sale?

No. Since 2015, Valve removed flash deals and daily deals. The price you see on day one of the sale will remain the same until the last day. Buy whenever it's convenient for you.

Which Steam sale is the biggest?

By scale — the Summer and Winter sales. They last longer, feature more games, and Valve often runs parallel events (voting, challenges). However, individual game discounts are usually the same across all sales.

Should I wait for a major sale?

Not necessarily. Most publishers set the same discounts for every sale. If a game is discounted during a smaller sale, go ahead and buy it. The exception: new releases may get their first-ever discount during a major sale.

Are there Steam discount codes?

Steam doesn't use promo codes or coupons in the traditional sense. However, Steam occasionally gives out game-specific coupons during events or promotions. Valve Points can also be exchanged for discounts in the Points Shop.