Steam Scream V 2026 end time is 6pm GMT on Monday 2 November 2026 in the UK. Valve’s Halloween horror festival began on 26 October, so there’s still time to look for deals or try a demo before it finishes.
Steam’s fifth Scream event brings horror games, Halloween-themed titles, discounts and demos together. Being featured doesn’t mean a game is free or even discounted. The individual store listing tells you what you can buy, download or wishlist.
Steam Scream V 2026 end time: UK closing date and hour
| Steam event | Steam Scream V Fest |
|---|---|
| Dates | 26 October to 2 November 2026 |
| End time in the UK | 6pm GMT, Monday 2 November |
| End time in Pacific Time | 10am PT |
| What is available? | Horror games, Halloween-themed base games, discounts, demos and upcoming titles |
Valve gives the closing time as 10am Pacific on 2 November. Britain returned to GMT on 25 October, while the west coast of the US changes to standard time on 1 November. That makes the Steam Scream V 2026 end time 6pm GMT, not 5pm.
The Steam Scream V 2026 end time marks the festival’s overall finish, but a particular game’s offer may end earlier or later. If you’re buying something on sale, check the price and any Offer ends notice on its own store page first.
How to browse the Steam Halloween sale
Open the Steam Store on PC, Steam Deck or in a browser and select the Steam Scream V banner. Browse discounted games, demos and Coming Soon titles, or search for a horror game directly.
The Steam Scream V 2026 end time is a good prompt to check your wishlist, not a reason to rush into buying something. Compare the price in pounds before you pay. For ideas, our Best Horror Games of 2026 guide covers titles worth looking into, without suggesting they all have a festival discount.
How to find and play free Steam Scream V demos
Choose a game’s Steam page and look for Download Demo. If that option is available, install the trial and launch it through your library. You don’t have to purchase the full game to try its demo.
Demos can cover a short story section, a handful of levels or a particular mode. A Coming Soon listing may offer only a wishlist button. Steam Next Fest focuses on upcoming games and demos, whereas Scream V also features released horror games and discounts. See our Steam Next Fest October guide for the earlier festival.
Will demos disappear at the Steam Scream V 2026 end time?
Not necessarily. Developers decide whether their demos stay available after the festival. Some remain on Steam; others are withdrawn. Check the game’s Download Demo button rather than assuming every trial disappears on Monday.
If you’d like an example of downloading a trial from Steam, our CRYMELIGHT demo guide covers a specific game’s setup. That doesn’t mean CRYMELIGHT is discounted as part of Scream V.
Are there free-to-keep games in Steam Scream V?
There is no festival-wide promise of full games to keep for free. A demo is a trial, Free to Play is a different pricing model, and a discounted game still needs a purchase. Our Steam Free to Keep vs Free Weekend guide explains how to tell those offers apart.
A publisher can run its own free-to-keep promotion during the same period. Check for an explicit claim offer on that game’s page instead of treating Steam Scream V itself as a giveaway.
Which horror games qualify for Steam Scream V?
Valve is concentrating on horror, including psychological and supernatural games. It also allows games whose base game is explicitly about Halloween. A regular game with a spooky costume pack, seasonal DLC or a temporary Halloween event doesn’t qualify on that basis alone.
The Steam Scream V 2026 end time applies to Valve’s themed festival, not every discount on the wider Steam Store. If you’re after something to play with friends, our multiplayer horror games guide has more ideas, but check the live event page to see what’s taking part.
What happens after the Steam Scream V 2026 end time?
After the festival closes, games you’ve already purchased remain in your Steam library under their usual licence terms. A wishlist doesn’t reserve a sale price, and developers decide separately how long their demos remain available.
Valve’s next major seasonal sale runs from 17 December 2026 to 4 January 2027. That’s the Steam Winter Sale, with a broader selection than the Halloween festival. There’s no need to buy a game now just because the event is ending.
Related Guides
Check the current offers on the official Steam Scream V page.
