When Is the Next Star Citizen Free Fly?

Status as of August 26, 2026: Ship Showdown 2956 is running (Aug 26 to Sep 2) but is existing backers only. Next window open to new players: IAE in November.

Star Citizen runs four to five Free Fly events per year — short windows when anyone can play the game without buying a starter pack. This page tracks the current status and the next expected window. Updated as RSI announces events.

⏸ POSTPONED

DefenseCon 2956 Free Fly

Indefinitely postponed since May 15, 2026. RSI cited server instability from high existing-player activity. No confirmed reopening date.

↓ Running now: Ship Showdown 2956, Aug 26 to Sep 2 (existing backers only). Next window open to new players: IAE, November 2026 (dates unconfirmed)

STAR-JTV7-FXLR

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Create your RSI account NOW with this code: +50,000 UEC waiting for you when the next Free Fly opens.

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2026 Free Fly events — full timeline

Five events expected this year following the consistent annual pattern. In-game year for 2026 is 2956 — that is why the May event is called "DefenseCon 2956".

Event	Dates	Status	Theme
Coramor 2956	Feb 12 – Feb 23, 2026	✓ DONE	Valentine's Day
Captains of Industry 2026	Apr 9 – Apr 20, 2026	✓ DONE	Cargo / industrial (patch 4.7)
DefenseCon 2956 Free Fly	May 14 – May 27, 2026	⏸ POSTPONED	Military / Drake-hosted (replaces ILW)
Foundation Festival 2026	Jul 29 – Aug 10	✓ COMPLETED	UEE civic / volunteer
Ship Showdown 2956	Aug 26 – Sep 2	⚠ BACKERS ONLY	Community voting tournament
IAE 2956	~Nov 19 – Dec 3, 2026 (TBD)	⏳ EXPECTED	Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (biggest)

How to be ready when the next Free Fly opens

Three steps. Total time: about 5 minutes. Do these now so you can jump in the moment the next event starts.

Step 1 — Create your RSI account now

Sign up at robertsspaceindustries.com — no payment required. The account is permanent. Use the one-click link to pre-fill referral code STAR-JTV7-FXLR on the form.

Step 2 — Lock in the 50,000 UEC referral bonus

Enter STAR-JTV7-FXLR in the Referral Rewards field during signup. This grants 50,000 UEC of permanent in-game currency that will be waiting for you the moment you log into the game. You have 24 hours after account creation to add the code retroactively if you forget at signup.

Step 3 — Download the RSI Launcher

Download size is approximately 60+ GB. The launcher is at robertsspaceindustries.com/download. Pre-installing means you can start playing the moment the Free Fly opens — most people lose hours of event time to the download on day one.

Historical Free Fly pattern (2024-2026)

The events are predictable. Five per year, same months each year. The dates shift by 1-2 weeks between years but the season is consistent.

Slot	2024	2025	2026
Feb (Coramor)	Feb 8–15	Unconfirmed	Feb 12–23
Apr (Patch promo)	—	Apr 17–28	Apr 9–20
May (ILW / DefenseCon)	May 17–29	May 15–27	May 14–27 (free fly postponed)
Jul (Foundation Festival)	Jul 12–19	Jul 2–14	Jul 29 – Aug 10
Aug (Ship Showdown)	Aug 15–22	Aug 26–Sep 2	Aug 26 – Sep 2 (backers only)
Nov (IAE)	Nov 22–Dec 5	Nov 20–Dec 3	Expected ~Nov 19–Dec 3

What happens during a Free Fly

Quick reference for new players who have never participated.

	During Free Fly	After event ends
Game access	Yes — free	No — requires Game Package
Starter ship	Loaner Aurora MkII (or similar)	Removed from hangar
Free rental ships	100+ via in-game kiosks (event-rotating)	Removed from hangar
RSI account	Permanent	Stays permanent — keep using it
aUEC earned in-game	Yours	Preserved
Character + org	Yours	Preserved
50,000 UEC referral bonus	Granted on account creation	Persists forever (it is permanent UEC)

Frequently asked questions

When is the next Star Citizen Free Fly event?

As of August 26, 2026, the Ship Showdown 2956 Free Fly is running from August 26 to September 2, but CIG limited it to existing backers who already own a Game Package. A new account cannot use it. The last window open to everyone was the Foundation Festival, July 29 to August 10, 2026. The next one expected to be open to new players is the IAE in November 2026, dates not yet announced. Check RSI Comm-Link for announcements.

How often does Star Citizen have Free Fly events?

Approximately five Free Fly events per year. Typical cadence: Coramor (February), patch promotion event (April), Invictus Launch Week / DefenseCon (May), Foundation Festival (July), Ship Showdown (August), and IAE (November). Specific dates shift each year but the months are consistent.

Do I need a code to join a Star Citizen Free Fly?

No. Free Fly events are open to anyone with a free RSI account. No special access code is needed. The referral code STAR-JTV7-FXLR is separate — enter it at signup to get 50,000 UEC of permanent in-game currency, which works whether you sign up during a Free Fly or any other time.

Can I keep ships from a Star Citizen Free Fly event?

No. The ships available during a Free Fly are loaners or rentals — they disappear from your hangar when the event ends. Your RSI account, character progress, organization memberships, and any in-game aUEC you earned will persist. Only the rented ships are removed.

Why was the DefenseCon Free Fly postponed?

CIG's Jared Huckaby announced on Star Citizen Live on May 15, 2026 that the Free Fly would not begin until "the mission system cools down and we feel better about the experience." Existing-player activity caused server instability that RSI did not want to compound by opening new player access. No confirmed reopen date as of May 19.

How long is a typical Star Citizen Free Fly?

Smaller events (Coramor, Captains of Industry) run 10-12 days. Larger events (ILW/DefenseCon, IAE) run 13-14 days. RSI sometimes extends events by 2-3 days if technical issues delay the launch.

What's the difference between ILW and IAE?

ILW (Invictus Launch Week) is in May — military-themed, focused on UEEN warships, fighters, and capital ships. In 2026 it was rebranded as DefenseCon, hosted in-universe by Drake. IAE (Intergalactic Aerospace Expo) is in November — civilian and commercial spacecraft across all manufacturers, the biggest Free Fly of the year with 150-200 ships rotating across day-by-day manufacturer spotlights.

Full Free Fly + referral code guide

How Free Fly events work, ship lists, the 24-hour referral grace period, and more.

← Star Citizen Free Fly Guide