When Is the Next Star Citizen Free Fly?
As of July 2026, Cloud Imperium Games has not announced the next Star Citizen Free Fly. The nearest expected window is Foundation Festival, which press reports expect to return around mid-July — not yet officially announced. The most dependable yearly window is the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE) in late November, which has run a Free Fly every year since 2021. The most recent free-to-play event was DefenseCon 2956, which ran May 14–27, 2026.
Live status
No Free Fly is scheduled at this moment
CIG has not announced the next event. Based on the yearly pattern, the strongest candidate is the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE) in late November. The banner above updates the instant a new event is announced.
Watch note — expected next
Foundation Festival — expected around mid-July, per press reports
Gaming press expects Foundation Festival to return around mid-July 2026, based on last year's pattern. CIG has not officially announced it — no Comm-Link exists yet, and no dates are confirmed. Last year's Foundation Festival included a Free Fly alongside new-player mentorship activities, which is why this is the nearest window worth watching.
Press expectation — not a CIG announcement. This page and the banner above update the moment CIG posts the official Comm-Link.
The two windows to watch in 2026
Neither of these is an announcement — CIG has confirmed nothing for the rest of 2026. They are expectations based on how the event calendar has repeated in past years, with the historical instances sourced from official RSI Comm-Links.
Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE) — late November
Strong yearly patternIAE has run a November Free Fly every year since at least 2951 (2021), making it the most dependable free-to-play window on the calendar. IAE 2955 ran November 20 – December 3, 2025, was free for anyone with an RSI account, and included a Crusader Intrepid loaner plus a daily rotation of flyable ships from every manufacturer. IAE 2956 is unannounced, but if the pattern holds, expect it in late November 2026.
Pattern-based expectation — not an announcement.
CitizenCon — October
UncertainTreat this one with caution. CitizenCon 2953 (2023) and 2954 (2024) were in-person conventions, but CitizenCon Direct 2955 (October 11, 2025) was a free digital-only stream with no Free Fly component at all. Whether CitizenCon 2956 happens, what format it takes, and whether any Free Fly accompanies it are all unannounced.
Pattern-based expectation — not an announcement.
How you'll know it's official
CIG announces every Free Fly through an official Comm-Link on robertsspaceindustries.com, usually one to two weeks before the event starts. Until a Comm-Link exists, any date you see anywhere is a guess. When the announcement drops, this page updates and the status banner at the top flips to a live countdown.
What happened in May 2026
The most recent free-to-play event was DefenseCon 2956 (May 14–27, 2026), which was free to play and offered 48-hour ship rentals across the full manufacturer lineup. In the game's fiction, Invictus Launch Week was “pulled back to Sol” and DefenseCon replaced it as the May flagship. Every past event is logged on our event history page.
Recent Free Fly events
The cadence is visible in the record — a May flagship and a November IAE, year after year:
| Event | Dates | Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| DefenseCon 2956 | May 14–27, 2026 | 100+ ships via 48-hour rentals — full manufacturer lineup |
| Intergalactic Aerospace Expo 2955 | Nov 20 – Dec 3, 2025 | Crusader Intrepid (event loaner) |
| Invictus Launch Week 2955 | May 15–27, 2025 | Aegis Avenger Titan (event loaner) |
| Intergalactic Aerospace Expo 2954 | Nov 22 – Dec 5, 2024 | 100+ rotating ships — daily 48-hour manufacturer halls |
| Invictus Launch Week 2954 | May 17–29, 2024 | Military ship showcase — 2-day manufacturer rotation at the Bevic Convention Center |
| Intergalactic Aerospace Expo 2953 | Nov 17–30, 2023 | 100+ rotating ships — daily 48-hour manufacturer halls |
See the full event history for every Free Fly on record.
Be ready before the next one
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Frequently asked questions
When is the next Star Citizen Free Fly in 2026?
As of July 2026, Cloud Imperium Games has not announced the next Free Fly. The nearest expected window is Foundation Festival, which press reports expect to return around mid-July 2026 based on last year’s pattern — it is not yet officially announced, and last year’s edition included a Free Fly. Beyond that, the most dependable window is the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE) in late November, which has run a November Free Fly every year since at least 2951 (2021). Check the live banner at the top of this page — it updates the moment CIG posts an official Comm-Link.
How often does Star Citizen do Free Fly events?
Typically a few times a year. The most dependable is the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE) each November. There is usually also a free-to-play flagship event in May — Invictus Launch Week in past years, replaced by DefenseCon in 2026 — plus occasional extras around patches or conventions.
Is there a Free Fly happening right now?
The status banner at the top of every page on this site shows whether a Free Fly is currently active, upcoming, or not yet scheduled — it updates automatically from the official event calendar. As of July 2026, no Free Fly is active or announced.
How long does a Free Fly last?
Usually one to two weeks. The two most recent free-to-play events both ran about 14 days: IAE 2955 (November 20 – December 3, 2025) and DefenseCon 2956 (May 14–27, 2026).
Will CitizenCon 2026 have a Free Fly?
Unknown. CitizenCon 2953 and 2954 were in-person conventions, and CitizenCon Direct 2955 (October 11, 2025) was a free digital-only stream with no Free Fly attached. Whether CitizenCon 2956 happens, what format it takes, and whether a Free Fly accompanies it are all unannounced.
How do I get notified about the next Free Fly?
Bookmark this page and check the banner — it flips the moment an event is announced in an official RSI Comm-Link. You can also follow the new-player guides at dayonecitizen.com. CIG typically announces Free Fly dates one to two weeks before each event begins.
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