
Love is definitely in the air for Fortnite players this February! The Fortnite Valentine’s Day Event 2026 is right around the corner, and I’m here to give you the complete breakdown of everything you need to know. From the exact start date to exclusive skins, returning weapons, and special collaborations, this guide covers it all.
After diving deep into leaks, official announcements, and historical patterns from Epic Games, I’ve compiled the most comprehensive guide to help you maximise your Valentine’s Day experience in Fortnite. Whether you’re hunting for that perfect pink-haired skin or waiting to get your hands on the legendary Cupid’s Crossbow, I’ve got you covered.
| Start Date | February 5, 2026 (Update v39.40) |
| End Date | Approximately February 19-21, 2026 (10-14 days) |
| Main Attraction | New Valentine’s themed skin + Marvel Rivals Wave 2 |
| Weapon Return | Cupid’s Crossbow |
| Special Collab | Chappell Roan Festival Artist |
| Map Changes | Heart decorations & Great Turtle romance Easter egg |
| Free Rewards | Valentine’s Day quests with XP, wraps, and emotes |
The Fortnite Valentine’s Day Event 2026 officially kicks off on February 5, 2026, launching alongside the highly anticipated v39.40 update. This timing follows Epic Games’ traditional pattern of starting Valentine’s celebrations early in the first week of February, giving players plenty of time to complete challenges and grab exclusive cosmetics before the holiday ends.
Based on historical data from previous years, here’s how Fortnite Valentine’s events have launched:
The pattern is clear Epic consistently launches Valentine’s content between February 5-12, strategically timing it to build excitement leading up to Valentine’s Day itself on February 14.
The Valentine’s Day Event typically runs for 10-14 days, which means you can expect festivities to conclude around February 19-21, 2026. This gives players two full weeks to:
Epic uses this extended timeframe to ensure players worldwide, across different time zones and schedules, have ample opportunity to participate. Don’t sleep on these challenges once the event ends, some items may not return for another year (or ever).

The star of this year’s Valentine’s celebration is an all-new original skin featuring a mysterious pink-haired character that has the community buzzing with excitement. Epic Games recently teased this skin through official channels, and it matches perfectly with designs that appeared in player surveys earlier this year.
Key Details About the New Valentine’s Skin:
This skin represents Epic’s commitment to creating fresh, original content specifically for Valentine’s Day, rather than just recycling old favourites. The pink hair and romantic design elements make it perfect for players who want to show their Valentine’s spirit on the battlefield.
Get ready for some superhero romance! According to reliable leakers like ShiinaBR, Epic Games is bringing back the massively popular Marvel Rivals collaboration with Wave 2, featuring two fan-favourite characters:
Luna Snow, the K-pop sensation with ice powers from Marvel Rivals, is making her Fortnite debut. Players who enjoyed her gameplay in Marvel Rivals will love bringing her aesthetic to Fortnite’s battlefield.
What to Expect:
The mutant sorceress Magik brings mystical energy to Fortnite’s Valentine’s celebration. Her iconic Soulsword is rumoured to appear as either a back bling, pickaxe, or both.
What to Expect:
The Marvel Rivals Wave 2 skins are expected to drop between February 10 and 14, perfectly timed with the Valentine’s holiday. These collaborations represent Epic’s strategy of blending popular gaming crossovers with seasonal events.
Fortnite Festival is getting a major Valentine’s boost with the addition of Chappell Roan, the breakout pop star known for her bold, theatrical performances and LGBTQ+ advocacy. This collaboration was hinted at in the v39.30 update leaks and fits perfectly with the Valentine’s theme.
Chappell Roan Collaboration Details:
Two Outfit Styles:
Additional Content:
Expected Release: Mid-February 2026
Chappell Roan joining Fortnite Festival during Valentine’s season is a perfect match, as her music celebrates love, self-expression, and joy themes that resonate perfectly with the holiday.
Not everyone can afford to buy brand new skins, and Epic knows this. That’s why the Item Shop has been refreshed with returning Valentine’s cosmetics from previous years. As of mid-February, here’s what’s available:
Bundles:
Outfits:
Pickaxes/Harvesting Tools:
Emotes:
Wraps:
Gliders:
The Item Shop rotates these cosmetics throughout the Valentine’s period, so check back daily if you’re hunting for a specific item. Some of these skins, like Love Ranger and Cuddle Team Leader, have become iconic parts of Fortnite culture.
The moment many players have been waiting for Cupid’s Crossbow is making its triumphant return to the Fortnite loot pool! This iconic Valentine’s weapon has been absent from the game since 2021, making its 2026 comeback particularly special.
Cupid’s Crossbow Stats & Features:
Why Players Love It:
Let’s be real Cupid’s Crossbow is objectively one of the weakest weapons in Fortnite. The damage output is low, the projectile speed is slow, and in a competitive match, you’re better off with almost any other weapon. So why do players beg for its return every year?
The answer is simple: it’s fun!
Whether you’re a casual player looking for laughs or a content creator hunting for unique gameplay, Cupid’s Crossbow adds a refreshing change of pace to the standard meta weapons.
Epic Games traditionally includes free Valentine’s Day quests that reward players for completing various in-game activities. While specific challenges haven’t been officially announced yet, based on previous years, expect quests similar to these:
Predicted Valentine’s Day Challenges:
Estimated Total Rewards:
These quests typically reset daily or weekly, encouraging players to log in consistently throughout the two-week event period.
Valentine’s Day brings subtle but charming changes to the Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 map. Here’s what’s been confirmed and what you can expect:
In a heartwarming addition to the 2026 Valentine’s celebration, Epic Games has given the Great Turtle a romantic partner! This adorable Easter egg was added in the January 31 update and represents one of the sweetest map changes in recent Fortnite history.
Details of the Great Turtle Easter Egg:
This Easter egg may seem small, but it adds personality and charm to the Fortnite world. It’s these little details that keep players exploring and engaging with the map beyond just competitive gameplay.
Based on previous Valentine’s events, expect to see:
These changes are typically subtle enough not to interfere with competitive gameplay while adding festive flair for those who appreciate the seasonal touches.
Understanding Fortnite’s Valentine’s Day history helps contextualise this year’s offerings and shows how the event has evolved (and devolved) over time.
The Share the Love event set the gold standard for Valentine’s celebrations in Fortnite. Running from February 8-27, 2019, this event was packed with content:
This event was revolutionary because it rewarded player engagement with genuinely valuable prizes, including an entire Battle Pass worth $9.50.
Building on the previous year’s success, the Love and War event introduced:
The Hearts Wild event (February 8-16, 2021) represented the peak of Valentine’s Day celebrations:
Unfortunately, Valentine’s Day celebrations significantly declined after 2021. Here’s what changed:
2022-2024: Minimal Content
2025: The Bare Minimum
Players have repeatedly voiced disappointment on platforms like Reddit, with common sentiments including:
“They stopped doing it after realizing 99% of Fortnite players don’t have a Valentine” Reddit user
“They need to bring back the Valentine’s crossbow this year, and if they don’t, ima be mad” Community feedback
The community consensus is clear: Fortnite Valentine’s events used to be special, and players want that magic back.
Week 1: February 5-11
Day 1 (February 5):
Days 2-4 (February 6-8):
Days 5-7 (February 9-11):
Week 2: February 12-19
Days 8-11 (February 12-15):
Days 12-14 (February 16-19):
For Free-to-Play Players:
For Players with Limited Budget (1,000-2,000 V-Bucks):
For Players with Larger Budgets:
The Valentine’s Day Event starts on February 5, 2026, with the release of update v39.40. The event typically runs for 10-14 days, ending around February 19-21.
Yes! While specific challenges haven’t been officially announced, Valentine’s Day events traditionally include free rewards such as XP boosts, wraps, sprays, emotes, and possibly pickaxes or back blings earned through completing in-game challenges.
Based on leaks and historical pricing:
Yes! Cupid’s Crossbow is confirmed to return to the Fortnite loot pool during the Valentine’s Day Event. It will be available as floor loot and in chests throughout the map.
Many past Valentine’s skins have already returned and will continue rotating through the Item Shop during the event period. However, not all Valentine’s skins return every year some remain vaulted. The Item Shop refreshes daily at 00:00 UTC (8 PM ET/5 PM PT previous day).
No! Valentine’s Day events are accessible to all players, regardless of Battle Pass ownership. While Battle Pass holders may receive additional benefits or faster XP progression, the core Valentine’s content including Cupid’s Crossbow, challenges, and map changes is available to everyone.
No. Valentine’s Day challenges must typically be completed in standard game modes like Battle Royale, Zero Build, or designated Limited-Time Modes (LTMs). Creative maps don’t count toward event challenge completion.
Fortnite updates typically go live around 2:00 AM UTC (9:00 PM ET / 6:00 PM PT the previous evening) on Tuesday mornings. Server downtime usually lasts 1-3 hours. Check Fortnite’s official Twitter (@FortniteGame) for exact timing and downtime status.
There’s no guarantee. While popular skins like Love Ranger and Cuddle Team Leader often return annually, some Valentine’s cosmetics have remained vaulted for years. If you love a skin, it’s safest to purchase it during the current event rather than hoping it returns next year.
Visit the Great Turtle’s location on the map (ask NPC Ryuji for the current location, as the Great Turtle roams). Look for two turtles instead of one the new turtle companion features pink trees growing on its back, making it easy to identify.
As of current information, no specific LTMs have been announced for 2026. However, Epic Games sometimes surprises players with unannounced modes, so keep checking the game modes menu during the event period.
Yes! Fortnite’s gifting system allows you to purchase and send cosmetics to friends on your Epic Friends list. To gift:
You don’t need to play or own Marvel Rivals to purchase and use Marvel Rivals collaboration skins in Fortnite. These are standard Fortnite cosmetics inspired by Marvel Rivals character designs think of them like any other crossover skin (Star Wars, Marvel, etc.).
How does the Valentine’s Day Event compare to other Fortnite seasonal celebrations?
Advantages over Valentine’s:
Valentine’s Advantage:
Advantages over Valentine’s:
Valentine’s Advantage:
Advantages over Valentine’s:
Valentine’s Advantage:
Verdict: Valentine’s Day historically ranks as one of Fortnite’s smaller seasonal celebrations, but 2026 appears to be a step toward revitalising the event’s importance.
If you’re a content creator looking to capitalise on the Valentine’s Day Event, here are proven strategies:
After analysing all available information, leaks, and historical context, here’s my honest assessment of the Fortnite Valentine’s Day Event 2026:
✅ Cupid’s Crossbow returns after a 4-year absence
✅ New original skin shows Epic is creating fresh content
✅ Major collaborations (Marvel Rivals Wave 2, Chappell Roan) add value
✅ Great Turtle Easter egg demonstrates attention to detail
✅ Expected challenges provide free rewards
✅ 2-week duration gives players time to participate
⚠️ No dedicated LTM (Limited-Time Mode) announced
⚠️ Smaller scale compared to Winterfest or Fortnitemares
⚠️ Not matching 2019-2021 standards (no free Battle Pass equivalent)
⚠️ Minimal map changes beyond decorations and Easter egg
⚠️ Cupid’s Crossbow remains underpowered (nostalgia over functionality)
The 2026 Valentine’s Day Event represents a meaningful step in the right direction after years of lacklustre Valentine’s celebrations. While it doesn’t reach the peak of Share the Love (2019) or Hearts Wild (2021), it shows Epic Games is listening to community feedback.
Should you participate?
Absolutely yes if you:
Maybe skip if you:
The real question is: Will Epic Games continue improving Valentine’s events, or is 2026 a one-off effort?
Only time will tell, but community feedback matters. If players show enthusiasm for this year’s event through engagement metrics, purchases, and positive feedback, Epic Games will likely invest more in future Valentine’s celebrations.
My advice: Enjoy what we have, provide constructive feedback, and hope that Valentine’s Day 2027 brings back the magic of the early years.
Want to stay informed about all things Fortnite? Here’s how:
Official Sources:
Community Resources:
Tips for Staying Informed:
Love may or may not be in the air this February, but skins, challenges, and Cupid’s Crossbow definitely are! The Fortnite Valentine’s Day Event 2026 offers something for everyone whether you’re a fashion-focused cosmetic collector, a Marvel superfan, a Chappell Roan enthusiast, or just someone who wants to shoot heart-shaped arrows at opponents.
Mark your calendars for February 5, 2026, save those V-Bucks, and get ready to spread some love (and eliminations) across the Fortnite island. Whether you’re playing solo, with your Valentine, or with your squad, this event has something special waiting.
Now get out there, complete those challenges, cop those skins, and most importantly have fun! After all, that’s what Fortnite is really about.
Happy Valentine’s Day, and may your Victory Royales be as sweet as chocolate! 💕🏹