When Is the Next Star Citizen Free Fly?
You don't have to wait — a Free Fly is live right now. The Foundation Festival 2026 Free Fly runs July 29 – August 10, 2026, with five ships free to fly and no purchase required — see our Foundation Festival 2026 breakdown for every confirmed detail. After it ends, the most dependable yearly window is the Intergalactic Aerospace Expo (IAE) in late November, which has run a Free Fly every year since 2021.
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.
Live now — confirmed Free Fly
Foundation Festival 2026 — play free July 29 through August 10
CIG confirmed it in Comm-Link 21211: everyone can play free with five ships through August 10. The referral bonus — an Argo ATLS for the recruiter, a “Ready for Anything” Career Kit for the new player, both requiring the new player to pledge for a starter pack or ship — runs until August 12, 20:00 UTC. See the full Foundation Festival 2026 page for every confirmed detail, including what's still unpublished (ship names, exact end time).
The banner above counts down to the end of the event.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation Festival 2026 | Jul 29 – Aug 10, 2026 | RSI Aurora Mk II |
| 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 |
See the full event history for every Free Fly on record.
Be ready before the next one
You don't have to wait for a Free Fly to create your account. Make it free now, claim your 50,000 UEC referral bonus, and you'll be ready to jump in the moment the next event goes live.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next Star Citizen Free Fly in 2026?
One is live right now: the Foundation Festival 2026 Free Fly runs July 29 – August 10, 2026, with five ships free to fly and no purchase required (official Comm-Link 21211). After it ends, 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?
Yes — the Foundation Festival 2026 Free Fly is live from July 29 through August 10, 2026. The status banner at the top of every page on this site shows the live countdown; it updates automatically from the official event calendar.
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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