Understanding when Fortnite seasons end has become increasingly complex as Epic Games now runs multiple seasonal systems simultaneously.
Each mode—Battle Royale, OG, and Festival—operates on its own independent timeline with different durations, themes, and content cycles.
This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about current season end dates, what to expect when seasons conclude, and how Epic’s evolving seasonal structure works.
When Does the Fortnite Season End?
Understanding Fortnite’s Multi-Seasonal Structure
Since the launch of Chapter 7, Fortnite has evolved into a platform featuring several distinct experiences, each with its own seasonal calendar:
- Battle Royale serves as the flagship experience, determining major chapter transitions, map overhauls, and primary storyline progression. This is what most players consider the “main” Fortnite season, featuring the Pacific Break theme for Chapter 7 Season 1.
- Fortnite OG recreates classic Chapter 1 seasons with a permanent dedicated mode, cycling through nostalgic content on an elongated timeline that doesn’t necessarily align with current Battle Royale seasons.
- Fortnite Festival operates as a rhythm game with artist-focused seasons that run shorter cycles, typically 60-70 days, centered around featured musicians and their exclusive content.
This parallel structure means players tracking season end dates must pay attention to which specific mode they’re interested in, as the timelines rarely synchronize perfectly.
Battle Royale: Chapter 7 Season 1 “Pacific Break”
Official End Date: March 4, 2026
The current Battle Royale season, Chapter 7 Season 1, launched on November 29, 2025, following the spectacular “Zero Hour” live event that concluded Chapter 6.
This season will end on March 4, 2026, making it one of the longer standard seasons in recent Fortnite history.
Season Duration and Timeline
As of early February 2026, Chapter 7 Season 1 is approximately 72% complete, with about 26 days remaining until its conclusion.
The season spans approximately 95 days total—significantly longer than the typical 70-80 day average for recent seasons, but not unprecedented in Fortnite’s history.
This extended timeline gives Epic Games more room to develop the storyline, introduce mid-season events, and allow the meta to evolve naturally without feeling rushed.
With almost four months allocated for the season, players have ample time to complete the Battle Pass and unlock all available rewards.
What “Pacific Break” Brings to the Island
Chapter 7 Season 1 features a theme centered around the United States West Coast, particularly the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area and Hollywood cinema.
The new map, called “Golden Coast,” introduces 13 brand-new Points of Interest (POIs) that capture the essence of Southern California culture.
The season’s narrative continues the ongoing saga of The Seven, the superhero team that mysteriously disappeared after defeating the Imagined Order.
The Battle Bus was shot down during the Zero Hour event, and loopers are working to repair it while searching for The Seven, who remain missing.
A mysterious shape resembling The Cube Queen’s Cradle from Chapter 2, Season 8, has appeared in the sky, suggesting The Last Reality is returning to threaten the island.
Battle Pass and Rewards
The Pacific Break Battle Pass costs the standard 1,000 V-Bucks, with an optional 25-level bundle available for 1,800 V-Bucks.
Fortnite Crew subscribers automatically unlock the Battle Pass alongside passes for OG, Festival (Music Pass), and LEGO modes.
A non-linear progression system was introduced, allowing players to freely choose which cosmetic sets to unlock after reaching certain level thresholds.
This gives players more agency over which rewards they prioritize, though the final page remains locked until level 85.
Featured cosmetics include iconic characters like:
- The Bride from Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill films (with Uma Thurman reprising her role via motion capture)
- Marty McFly from Back to the Future
- Various Hollywood-inspired skins and accessories
The season also features unique collaborations, including the Kill Bill partnership that brought Human Bill as a Boss character alongside Gogo and Yuki Yubari, and added “Kill Bill” by SZA as a Jam Track.
Mid-Season Updates and Events
Epic Games has confirmed three major content updates for Pacific Break:
- Update v39.20 – Early February 2026
- Update v39.40 – Mid-February 2026
- Update v39.50 – February 19, 2026 (final major update)
Once the final update goes live, that version will remain in place until March 4, 2026, when the season concludes and Chapter 7 Season 2 begins.
The season has already featured Winterfest 2025, the annual holiday celebration, and is currently running a South Park collaboration that concludes on February 5, 2026.
This partnership includes South Park character skins, themed challenges, and Professor Chaos’ Power Hour Event.
What Happens When the Season Ends?
When March 4 arrives, players can expect the following:
- Matchmaking shutdown: Approximately 30 minutes before the official end time, matchmaking for Battle Royale will be disabled as Epic prepares for the transition.
- Server maintenance: A downtime period of 2-3 hours typically occurs during major season transitions, allowing Epic to deploy the new season’s content.
- Battle Pass closure: Players will no longer be able to earn Battle Pass rewards once the season ends, though all previously unlocked items remain permanently in their locker.
- Potential live event: Leaks suggest there may be a live event where The Seven finally make an appearance, though Epic has not officially confirmed this. The unusual one-day gap before Chapter 7 Season 2’s planned March 5 start date hints at possible event-related extended downtime.
Historical Context: How This Season Compares
To understand where Pacific Break fits in Fortnite’s seasonal history, it’s helpful to compare it to previous seasons:
- Longest season ever: Chapter 2 Season 3 on iOS lasted an unprecedented 1,521 days due to Fortnite’s ban from the Apple App Store in 2020. The game was frozen in that state for EU and non-US territories until Epic returned with iOS updates in 2024.
- Shortest recent seasons: Both Chapter 5 Season 5 and Chapter 6 Mini Season 2 lasted just 28 days, representing Epic’s experiment with rapid seasonal rotations.
- Average duration: Most “full” seasons in Chapters 5 and 6 lasted 60-90 days, averaging around 75-80 days.
Pacific Break’s 95-day duration places it on the longer end of the spectrum but remains well within normal parameters for a major chapter launch season. This is longer than average compared to recent releases, allowing more time for progression and meta development.
Fortnite OG: Season 7 “You Better Watch Out”
- Official End Date: March 18, 2026
Fortnite OG has evolved from a limited-time nostalgia event into a permanent dedicated mode that recreates classic Chapter 1 seasons. OG Season 7 launched on December 11, 2025, and will conclude on March 18, 2026, making it one of the longest OG seasons to date.
- Season Duration and Structure
As of early February 2026, OG Season 7 is approximately 59% complete with about 40 days remaining. The season spans a total of 97 days, which is notably longer than typical Battle Royale seasons.
This makes it the longest season in Fortnite OG history, interestingly mirroring its Chapter 1 counterpart, which was also one of the longest seasons of the original Chapter 1 era at 83 days.
Independent Timeline from Battle Royale
One critical aspect of OG mode’s seasonal structure is that it now operates completely independently from Battle Royale:
- Battle Royale ends: March 4, 2026
OG ends: March 18, 2026
Gap: 14 days
This 2-week extension allows OG players to continue enjoying the winter-themed Season 7 content even after the main game transitions to Chapter 7 Season 2. Epic has deliberately chosen to desynchronize these timelines, likely to:
- Reduce the complexity of coordinating simultaneous seasonal transitions
- Give OG mode its own identity and breathing room
- Allow different player bases to engage with content at their own pace
- Maintain consistent engagement across the Fortnite platform
The Winter Wonderland Returns
OG Season 7 faithfully recreates Chapter 1 Season 7 from December 2018, widely considered one of Fortnite’s golden eras. The season brings back the iconic Iceberg collision event, where an iceberg crashes into the southwest corner of the island, adding new frozen terrain and making it snow in that region.
Major returning POIs include:
- Polar Peak: The frozen fortress returns to the southwest, complete with its mysterious castle
- Happy Hamlet: A charming snowy village located west of Lucky Landing
- Frosty Flights: Featuring hangars and runways for the season’s signature vehicle
Map Changes:
The Iceberg’s collision caused significant geographical changes. Water from Viking Village’s waterfall flooded Greasy Grove, which was subsequently frozen solid. The Viking Village waterfall itself became frozen over. Two factories in Yonder Yard were crushed by the Iceberg, and Haunted Castle is now crumbling and heavily decayed. The Giant Chair landmark was replaced by the Giant Sled.
Returning Weapons and Vehicles
The season’s loot pool features beloved Chapter 1 weapons and items:
- Signature vehicle: The X-4 Stormwing airplane returns, bringing aerial combat, rapid rotations, and chaotic dogfights back to OG mode.
- Weapons: Dual Pistols, Suppressed Sniper Rifle, and various winter-themed armaments
- Items: Balloons for mobility, Stink Bombs for area denial
- Mythic controversy: The Infinity Blade is confirmed to return but will not be available at launch. It will arrive later in the season via a mid-season update, echoing its original controversial release, where it quickly became one of Fortnite’s most overpowered items before being vaulted.
Epic is using a staggered rollout strategy, introducing items gradually through mid-season updates rather than overwhelming players with all Season 7 content on day one. Additional mobility options like drift boards are planned for later introduction.
OG Pass and Cosmetics
The OG Season 7 Battle Pass (called the “OG Pass”) costs 1,000 V-Bucks and is automatically included with Fortnite Crew subscriptions.
Unlike the original Chapter 1 Season 7, which featured the first-run versions of popular skins, the OG Pass focuses on remixed versions of classic cosmetics:
- Remixed Lynx: A new interpretation of the fan-favorite tech assassin
- Remixed Onesie: A fresh take on the cozy character
- Remixed Sgt. Winter: An updated version of the holiday commander
OG Pass items are not exclusive to the season in which they’re offered and will likely be added to the Item Shop sometime after the season ends. However, players cannot access OG Passes from previous seasons once they’ve concluded.
The Long-Term Vision for OG Mode
Fortnite OG as a whole is planned to continue until the end of November 2026, cycling through the remaining Chapter 1 seasons on an extended timeline. This gives Epic Games approximately nine more months to work through classic seasons, likely including:
- Season 8 (Pirate/Volcano theme)
- Season 9 (Future/Neo Tilted theme)
- Season X (Time travel/The End event)
The elongated seasonal structure allows Epic to pace out iconic content, run nostalgic events, and maintain steady engagement from veteran players who want to relive Fortnite’s early days while giving newer players a chance to experience what they missed.
Fortnite Festival: Season 12 “STARLUX” featuring LISA
- Official End Date: February 5, 2026
Fortnite Festival operates on the shortest seasonal cycle of all Fortnite modes, with artist-focused seasons that typically run 60-70 days. The current Festival season (Season 12) launched on November 29, 2025, alongside Battle Royale’s Chapter 7 launch, and will end on February 5, 2026.
This means Festival Season 12 is ending today or within the next day, making it the most imminent seasonal transition across all Fortnite modes.
Festival’s Unique Seasonal Model
Festival seasons differ significantly from Battle Royale and OG mode in several key ways:
- Artist-driven content: Each season centers around a featured musician or band, with exclusive tracks, themed cosmetics, and unique instruments tied to that artist.
- Shorter duration: Season 12 runs for 68 days, considerably shorter than the 95-day Battle Royale season or 97-day OG season.
- Cosmetic focus: Unlike Battle Royale, Festival seasons don’t drastically alter gameplay mechanics. The core rhythm game experience remains consistent, with seasons primarily adding new songs, skins, and instruments rather than changing how the game plays.
- Independent launches: Festival seasons don’t always align with Battle Royale chapter transitions, though Epic has been experimenting with occasional synchronized launches.
Season 12: LISA and K-Pop Integration
Season 12 features LISA, the Thai rapper, singer, and member of BLACKPINK, as its headlining artist. The season carries the slogan “STARLUX,” suggesting a glamorous, star-powered aesthetic.
Players can unlock LISA-themed content through the Music Pass (formerly called the Festival Pass), which was rebranded in Season 6. The Music Pass can now be leveled up in any Fortnite experience, not just Festival mode, allowing players to progress their Festival rewards while playing Battle Royale, Creative, or other modes.
What’s Next: Season 13 “HEARTCORE” featuring Chappell Roan
Festival Season 13 begins on February 5, 2026, featuring Chappell Roan as the headlining artist with the slogan “HEARTCORE”. This 70-day season will run until April 16, 2026, extending well beyond both the Battle Royale and OG seasonal transitions.
Chappell Roan’s inclusion represents Epic’s continued strategy of partnering with contemporary pop artists to drive Festival engagement. Season 13 marks the first time a Festival season was billed without the “Fortnite Festival” branding, instead being presented as part of the wider Fortnite platform.
How Festival Seasons Work?
For players new to Festival or unsure how its seasonal structure operates:
- Main Stage: 1-4 players perform songs together, timing button inputs to the music across four instrument tracks (drums, lead guitar, bass, vocals).
- Jam Stage: Players create mashups using different instrumental stems from unlocked songs, similar to Harmonix’s previous game Fuser.
- Battle Stage: A competitive player-versus-player mode where musicians face off.
- Music Pass progression: Players unlock new songs, skins, instruments, and emotes by leveling up the Music Pass through any Fortnite mode.
- Controller support: The mode supports traditional controllers, but also works with guitar controllers like the PDP Riffmaster, CRKD attachments, and upcoming Gibson-inspired controllers.
Why Festival Runs on a Different Schedule?
Epic Games likely maintains Festival’s independent timeline for several strategic reasons:
- Artist availability: Coordinating with musicians and their management teams for exclusive content releases may require flexibility that doesn’t align with Fortnite’s broader seasonal calendar.
- Content pipeline: Producing licensed music tracks, securing rights, and creating artist-specific cosmetics operates on a different production timeline than Battle Royale map design and weapon balancing.
- Player engagement: Staggered season endings across modes ensure there’s always something new happening in the Fortnite ecosystem, reducing the risk of player burnout or gaps in fresh content.
- Community separation: Festival appeals to a distinct player demographic (music game enthusiasts) who may not be as invested in Battle Royale’s competitive meta or OG’s nostalgic value.
Understanding Chapter vs. Season Transitions
Fortnite’s terminology can be confusing, especially when differentiating between Seasons and Chapters:
What Is a Season?
A Season represents a content cycle lasting 2-4 months, featuring:
- A new or updated Battle Pass with exclusive cosmetics
- Thematic changes to the map and storyline
- Shifts in the loot pool (weapons vaulted or unvaulted)
- Limited-time events and collaborations
- Adjustments to game mechanics and balance
Seasons are numbered sequentially within their Chapter (e.g., Chapter 7 Season 1, Chapter 7 Season 2).
What Is a Chapter?
A Chapter represents a major era in Fortnite’s history, typically lasting 1-2 years and encompassing multiple seasons. Chapter transitions involve:
- Complete map overhauls (new island geography)
- Fundamental changes to game mechanics or engine technology
- Significant narrative shifts in the overarching storyline
- New art styles or visual redesigns
- Major feature additions (e.g., swimming, building rework, zero build mode)
Chapter 7 launched with Unreal Engine 5’s newest features via Unreal Engine 5.1, representing Epic’s ongoing commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology.
Historical Chapter Breakdown
Fortnite’s history spans 39 total seasons across seven chapters:
- Chapter 1 (2017-2019): 10 seasons – The original Fortnite experience
- Chapter 2 (2019-2021): 8 seasons – Introduction of swimming, fishing, and new physics
- Chapter 3 (2021-2022): 4 seasons – Sliding, camping, web slingers
- Chapter 4 (2022-2023): 4 seasons – Reality Augments, new movement system
- Chapter 5 (2024): 4 seasons + mini-seasons – Medallions, Movement Mods
- Chapter 6 (2024-2025): Multiple seasons, including mini-seasons and The Simpsons collaboration
- Chapter 7 (2025-present): Currently in Season 1
Chapters have become progressively shorter in recent years, with Epic accelerating the pace of major content releases to maintain player engagement in an increasingly competitive live-service landscape.
How to Track Season End Dates In-Game?
Epic Games provides several official methods for players to track when seasons end:
1. Battle Pass Screen (Most Reliable)
The most accurate source is the Battle Pass tab in-game. At the bottom corner of the Battle Pass screen, you’ll see a line displaying the current chapter and season with text like “Chapter 7 Season 1 ends on…” followed by the specific date.
This timer is automatically updated if Epic adjusts the season length, making it the single most trustworthy reference point.
2. Fortnite Status (Official Updates)
The @FortniteStatus account on X (formerly Twitter) announces upcoming seasons, maintenance windows, and any changes to scheduled end dates. Following this account ensures you receive official notifications about season transitions.
3. Community Countdown Websites
Fan-maintained sites like Fortnite.GG provides live countdowns for:
- Battle Royale season endings
- OG season endings
- Festival season endings
These sites parse data from the game files and official announcements to provide real-time countdowns with day-hour-minute precision.
4. Epic Games Support
The official Fortnite support page includes articles on current season end dates, though these may not be updated as quickly as in-game sources.
What Happens to Your Progress When Seasons End?
Understanding what carries over and what resets between seasons is crucial for planning your gameplay:
Battle Pass Rewards
What you keep:
- All cosmetics, skins, emotes, and items you’ve unlocked remain permanently in your locker
- V-Bucks earned through the Battle Pass stay in your account
- XP levels are reset, but your lifetime account level continues to track
What you lose:
- The ability to unlock any remaining Battle Pass rewards you didn’t claim
- Access to that season’s specific challenges and quests
- Limited-time seasonal items that weren’t unlocked
Pro tip:
If you’re close to unlocking a desired cosmetic but won’t finish before the season ends, consider purchasing the remaining Battle Pass levels with V-Bucks. Epic typically offers bundle deals near season’s end.
Seasonal Currency and Items
- V-Bucks: Permanent currency that carries over indefinitely
- Battle Stars: Reset each season; spend them before the season ends
- Seasonal event tokens (e.g., Winterfest presents, event-specific currency): Usually expire when the event concludes
Competitive Rankings
Ranked mode progression resets each season, allowing all players to compete for placement on fresh leaderboards. Your previous season’s rank may influence your initial placement matches in the new season.
Account Level and XP
While seasonal XP resets (you start back at level 1 for the new Battle Pass), your overall account level continues accumulating across seasons. This account level doesn’t affect gameplay but serves as a prestige indicator of total time invested.
Tips for Maximizing Your Time Before the Season Ends
With Battle Royale ending March 4, OG ending March 18, and Festival ending today (February 5), here are strategies to make the most of the remaining time:
For Battle Royale (26 Days Remaining)
Focus on high-XP activities:
- Complete daily and weekly challenges
- Play during Supercharged XP periods (when you’ve missed daily challenges)
- Participate in limited-time modes that offer bonus XP
- Complete story quests and milestones
Strategic level purchasing:
- Evaluate which Battle Pass rewards you truly want
- Calculate how many levels you can realistically earn
- Consider purchasing levels only for must-have items
- Remember that buying the entire pass outright is less economical than playing
Engage with limited-time content:
- The South Park collaboration ends February 5 – complete those challenges now
- Final major update (v39.50) arrives February 19 – expect new content to grind
For OG Mode (40 Days Remaining)
Experience Season 7 fully:
- Land at all three major POIs (Polar Peak, Happy Hamlet, Frosty Flights)
- Try the X-4 Stormwing for aerial combat practice
- Unlock OG Pass cosmetics (Remixed Lynx, Onesie, Sgt. Winter)
Prepare for the Infinity Blade:
- The controversial mythic weapon arrives mid-season
- Plan to experience it before the season ends, as it may not return soon
Grind the OG Pass:
- OG Pass items will eventually hit the Item Shop, but unlocking them through the pass is more economical
- Previous season passes cannot be accessed after they expire
For Festival (Ending Today/Tomorrow)
Last-minute LISA content:
- Unlock as much of the Music Pass as possible
- Purchase any LISA-themed items from the shop you want before rotation
- Complete any Season 12-specific challenges
Prepare for Chappell Roan Season 13:
- Season 13 starts immediately on February 5
- New Music Pass will be available for 1,000 V-Bucks
- Fortnite Crew subscribers get it automatically
Looking Ahead: What to Expect in Future Seasons
Chapter 7 Season 2 (Starting March 5, 2026)
Epic Games has not yet revealed specific details about Chapter 7 Season 2’s theme or setting, but several clues suggest potential directions:
- Norse mythology speculation: The Ice King will likely return to the storyline in Chapter 7 Season 2 as a Boss, leading some players to speculate about a Norse mythology theme, though this connection is not confirmed.
- The Last Reality continuation: The mysterious Cube Queen-like shape that appeared during Chapter 7, Season 1 strongly suggests The Last Reality will play a major role in Season 2.
- The Seven’s return: The ongoing narrative about The Seven’s disappearance will likely culminate in their reappearance, potentially during a season-ending live event or early in Season 2.
- Update v33.10 deployment: Chapter 7 Season 2’s update is scheduled for March 5, 2026, with the usual 2-3 hour downtime period for server maintenance and content deployment.
OG Season 8 (Starting March 18, 2026)
Following Season 7’s winter theme, OG Season 8 will begin on March 18, 2026, likely recreating Chapter 1 Season 8’s pirate and volcano theme. Expected features include:
- The volcanic eruption that destroyed Wailing Woods and created the Pressure Plant
- Pirate-themed POIs like Lazy Lagoon
- The return of the Pirate Cannon and Flintlock Pistol
- Potential appearance of the Volcano and Loot Carrier events
This progression continues Epic’s strategy of methodically recreating Chapter 1’s timeline with modern improvements.
Festival Season 13 and Beyond
Chappell Roan’s “HEARTCORE” season runs until April 16, 2026, after which Epic will likely announce another artist collaboration. Based on past partnerships, potential future artists could include:
- Major pop stars with new album releases
- Legendary rock bands celebrating anniversaries
- Hip-hop artists with strong streaming presence
- Genre-diverse collaborations to appeal to global audiences
Epic has shown willingness to partner with artists across decades and styles, from Metallica to LISA to Eminem.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Will there be a live event for Chapter 7 Season 1?
Leaks point toward a live event where The Seven finally make an appearance, but Epic has not officially confirmed this. The unusual scheduling gap between the March 4 season end and March 5 Season 2 start suggests extended downtime that could accommodate an event.
-
Can I still complete past Battle Passes?
No. Once a season ends, its Battle Pass becomes permanently inaccessible. You cannot earn rewards from previous seasons’ passes, though Epic occasionally re-releases popular skins in the Item Shop months or years later.
-
Do my V-Bucks expire between seasons?
No. V-Bucks are a permanent currency that never expires and can be used across any Fortnite season or mode.
-
Will OG mode continue after Season 7?
Yes, Fortnite OG is planned to continue until the end of November 2026, cycling through the remaining Chapter 1 seasons.
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Why don’t all Fortnite modes end on the same day?
Epic has deliberately desynchronized seasonal timelines to:
- Maintain continuous fresh content across the platform
- Reduce the complexity of simultaneous updates
- Allow different development teams to work on independent schedules
- Ensure there’s always something new for different player demographics
- How long is the downtime between seasons?
Typically 2-3 hours, though major chapter transitions or live events can extend this to 4-6 hours. Epic announces exact timing via @FortniteStatus on X.
- Can I play during season transitions?
No. Matchmaking is disabled approximately 30 minutes before the season officially ends, and servers remain offline during the update deployment period.
Conclusion: Planning Your Fortnite Experience
With Fortnite now running three distinct seasonal timelines, staying informed about end dates has never been more important:
Immediate priority (February 5-6, 2026):
- Festival Season 12 ends today/tomorrow
- Complete any remaining LISA content
- Prepare for Chappell Roan Season 13
Short-term planning (March 4, 2026):
- Battle Royale Chapter 7 Season 1 concludes
- Finish Pacific Break Battle Pass
- Expect a potential live event
- Chapter 7 Season 2 begins March 5
Medium-term horizon (March 18, 2026):
- OG Season 7 wraps up
- OG Season 8 (Pirates/Volcano) likely begins
- Festival Season 13 continues until April 16
Epic Games has built Fortnite into a year-round engagement platform where something is always happening.
By understanding each mode’s independent seasonal calendar, you can prioritize your time effectively, ensure you don’t miss limited-time rewards, and stay prepared for the next wave of content.
Whether you’re grinding Pacific Break’s Battle Pass, reliving Chapter 1 nostalgia in OG mode, or jamming to LISA tracks in Festival, knowing exactly when seasons end empowers you to make informed decisions about how to spend your time in the Fortnite ecosystem.
Stay tuned to official Epic Games channels, check your in-game Battle Pass timers regularly, and remember: when in doubt, the Battle Pass screen never lies.
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