Guide for developers
Steam Next Fest October 2026: a practical guide for developers
Steam Next Fest is a week when Steam puts upcoming games with playable demos in front of players. Registration for October 2026 closed on 31 August, so this guide is for the developers taking part: what to check in the last days, what to do during the week, how to use it with press, and what to do once it ends.
The dates
| When | What |
|---|---|
| 8 October, 10:00 PDT | Press Preview started, for demos that opted in |
| 19 October, 10:00 PDT | Next Fest begins. Your demo must be live (or opted out) before this time |
| 26 October, 10:00 PDT | Next Fest ends |
| 26 October | Steam publishes the wrap-up of the most-played demos |
| February 2027 | The next edition. Each game can take part in only one Next Fest |
PDT is Pacific time (UTC-7). In London 10:00 PDT is 18:00, and in Sydney it is 04:00 the next morning.
The rules that catch people out
- Don't release the game before or during the fest. Valve says doing so ends your eligibility; the release has to come after 26 October.
- One Next Fest per game. If you took part before, the same game can't enter again, and neither can a prologue or a different edition of it.
- The demo has to be new. A prologue or "chapter 1" that players can already get doesn't count.
- The review isn't QA. Valve checks that the build runs and does what the page says, not that it's free of bugs. You can update the demo after review, but it won't be reviewed again, so test every update yourself.
- Don't run a Steam Playtest during the week. Valve advises against it because it splits players between two builds.
- There is no paid placement. Valve says there are no paid advertising options for Next Fest or Steam in general; anyone offering to sell you one isn't Valve.
The last week before the start
- Set your demo live at least 30 minutes before 10:00 PDT on 19 October; Valve says it must be live before the start to appear
- Play the exact build that is live, start to finish, on a clean install
- Check your store tags: they decide where Steam sorts your game during the fest
- Make sure your newest trailer is on the base game store page
- Put your press kit online at a short address, with the demo link at the top
- Write a short press email now, so you only have to send it on the day
- Decide who watches reviews and discussions each day of the week
During the fest
- Read every review and discussion thread, every day. A crash or a confusing first five minutes is what costs you most this week, and players tell you about it there first.
- Fix serious bugs quickly, carefully. Updates go live without a new review, so a rushed fix can break more than it repairs.
- Livestreams are optional. If you stream, test your setup before the fest and stream from the game, not from a launcher (VR games: point the stream at the game's own app).
- Make wishlisting easy. End the demo with a clear message that the full game is coming and where to wishlist it.
- Note what players say. Write down the questions and complaints you see more than once: they are your to-do list for the next build.
Press and creators
Thousands of demos launch the same week, so press and creators have more choice than time. The ones who cover your demo are usually the ones who found everything they needed in one place.
- Send a short, personal email to the writers and creators who cover your genre: the game in one sentence, why their audience would care, the demo link and your press kit link. One email each; no attachments.
- Send it early in the week. Coverage takes time to plan, and many pick their demos in the first days.
- Have a press kit ready before you send anything: facts, art, trailer, a contact and how to get a key. Our press kit guide has a checklist.
- Never promise or ask for review scores, and never pay for coverage that isn't labelled as sponsored.
After the fest
- Keep the demo up if you can. Valve encourages it, and if you plan to take it down, tell players first.
- Check the wrap-up on 26 October. Valve emails the developers of the games it features.
- Mind the wishlist email window. Steam lets you email wishlisters about a new demo within 14 days of the demo's launch; it's separate from Next Fest, and you get it once.
- Write down what you learned while it's fresh: which posts, streams or articles brought players, and what they asked for.
Sources
- Steamworks: Steam Next Fest October 2026 (dates, eligibility, one Next Fest per game). Checked 13 October 2026.
- Steamworks: Steam Next Fest (demo timing, review, updates, livestreams, Playtests, wrap-up, wishlist emails). Checked 13 October 2026.