Epic Games is bringing Valentine's Day to Fortnite on February 5, 2026, with the v39.40 update. The event runs for roughly 10 to 14 days, giving players time to complete challenges and collect themed cosmetics before the holiday wraps up.
Quick answer: The Valentine's Day event launches February 5, 2026, at 4:00 AM PT / 7:00 AM ET with update v39.40.
What's arriving with the event
A pink-haired original skin is the centerpiece of this year's Valentine's cosmetics. Epic teased the character on social media, and it's expected to hit the Item Shop between February 10 and 14 for around 1,200 V-Bucks. The exact name hasn't been revealed yet, but the design closely matches a character that appeared in earlier player surveys.
Marvel Rivals Wave 2 brings skins for Luna Snow and Magik, two of the most popular characters from the Marvel Rivals game. Both designs are expected to be direct translations of their in-game appearances, with Magik's Soulsword potentially appearing as a back bling, pickaxe, or both.
Chappell Roan is joining as the next Fortnite Festival artist, with two outfit variants. One draws inspiration from her medieval-themed VMA performance, while the other features her signature "Pink Pony" aesthetic. Festival collaborations typically include multiple cosmetics and exclusive songs for the event.
Gameplay and rewards
Cupid's Crossbow returns to the Chapter 7 Season 1 loot pool as a limited-time weapon. It's historically one of the least powerful weapons in the game, but it remains a fan favorite for its thematic appeal during Valentine's events. Players who want to challenge themselves can attempt to earn a Victory Royale using only the Crossbow.
Valentine's Day quests reward XP and cosmetics, including a seasonal weapon wrap and a group emote. The map will feature temporary heart-themed decorations scattered across Chapter 7 Season 1 locations, adding to the holiday atmosphere without major structural changes.
Update timing across regions
The v39.40 update rolls out globally at the same moment, though local times vary by region. North American players can expect the update around 4:00 AM PT or 7:00 AM ET. Players in the United Kingdom will see it at noon GMT, while European players get it at 1:00 PM CET. Japan experiences the update at 9:00 PM JST, Brazil at 9:00 AM BRT, and Australia at 11:00 PM AEDT.
Server maintenance typically precedes the update, so expect brief downtime before the new content goes live. All platforms—PC, console, and mobile—receive the update simultaneously, though app store approval can occasionally delay mobile availability by a few hours.
Fortnite has celebrated Valentine's Day annually for several years. The 2020 "Love and War" event ran from February 5 to 17 and featured dual-themed challenges split between love and war objectives. The 2019 "Share the Love" event spanned three weeks and included Support-A-Creator rewards alongside standard challenges. This year's event follows the established pattern of launching early in the second week of February to align with Epic's standard Tuesday patch cycle while giving players adequate time to engage with limited-time content.
