Does Fortnite Have a New Year Event and Free Reward This Year?

The time around New Year’s is one of the most exciting times for gamers, and Epic Games is known for hosting the best festive celebrations in Fortnite. This is exemplified by the New Year’s Event that takes place in-game every year. The event is a short but exciting moment for many players who look forward to it at the end of each year.

With Winterfest 2025 already setting loopers in a festive spirit, old and new players alike are expecting to see the big ball drop in Fortnite this year, too. Here’s everything you need to know about the Fortnite New Year’s Event, including its timings and possible rewards.

Is Fortnite Doing a New Year’s 2026 Event?

Yes, like every year, Epic Games will be hosting a Fortnite New Year’s Event to celebrate the arrival of 2026. The event will continue the long-running tradition that started all the way back in Chapter 1. The 2026 celebration will be the final live event of the year. However, for players unfamiliar with it, they should not expect a full-fledged event.

Unlike storyline live events like Zero Hour, the Fortnite New Year’s Event is more of an in-game spectacle that serves as a short celebration during matches. The format of the event remains largely the same. Players can queue for a match in any game mode, including Battle Royale, Zero Build, OG, and Reload, to experience the event. The event will feature a giant disco ball spawning in the sky, with players being locked in a dance animation for a short period.

Fortnite New Year Event 2026 Countdown Timer and Ball Drop Timings

The Fortnite New Year Event for 2026, like past years, will take place across multiple time zones on December 31, 2025. Once the first New Year Event takes place in-game, Fortnite repeats the event at the end of every hour. This allows players who miss out on one event to experience the New Year’s ball dropping later in the day.

As of now, Epic Games has yet to give an official time or schedule regarding the New Year’s event. However, the chain of events likely begins around 6 AM ET on December 31, 2025. This would align with Fortnite’s previous New Year’s events as well as the OCE region heading into 2026.

To help you with the exact start time of the Fortnite New Year’s live event, we’ve added a countdown timer for you:

While players have the opportunity of catching this event multiple times, it is recommended that players join a match a short while before every hourly ball drop. This can help you have some buffer time between getting into a match and the live event taking place.

Is There a Free Fortnite New Year’s Event Reward This Year?

As of the time of writing, there is no leaked or official information regarding rewards tied to the Fortnite New Year Event this year. Since Epic Games has not attached exclusive rewards to previous New Year events, this is unlikely to change down the line.

While this may be disheartening for players, it is important to remember that players can still earn a ton of free cosmetics, including the Glacial Dummy skin, through the ongoing Winterfest lodge. However, the Winterfest lodge rewards are separate from the New Year’s Event, and you have to log in every day to receive these rewards rather than attend the event.

And that’s all you need to know about the Fortnite 2026 New Year’s Live Event. Will you be joining a match with your friends to see the ball drop on the Island? Tell us in the comments below!