Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1 has a countdown timer ticking away in the lobby right now, and it's pointing to something bigger than a typical Power Hour. On February 28, 2026, Epic Games is rerunning the Rocket live event — the mini event that originally caught most of the playerbase off guard — at the start of the weekly Power Hour. If you missed The Visitor's dramatic arrival through a giant red rift the first time around, this is your second (and likely final) chance to witness it in-game.
Quick answer: The Fortnite Rocket live event rerun and Power Hour begin on February 28, 2026, at 3:30 PM ET (8:30 PM UTC). Just be in a match or join one at that time to see the event and earn the Visitor's Return loading screen.
Release time: February 28, 2026, 3:30 PM ET / 8:30 PM UTC
Why Epic is replaying the Rocket live event
The original Rocket live event dropped without warning after the Fortnite 39.50 update. Epic teased it roughly five minutes before it happened, which left a huge number of players unable to load into a match in time. The event itself featured a massive red rift opening in the sky above the Chapter 7 island, with The Visitor's rocket punching through it. That sequence brought The Visitor NPC to the map as part of the ongoing storyline involving the Dark Voyager and the return of The Seven.
Because so many players missed it, Epic confirmed a full rerun. The lobby countdown timer that appeared in Chapter 7 Season 1 is counting down specifically to this encore, not to a standard Power Hour or a new event.
Rocket live event rerun start times by region
The rerun kicks off simultaneously worldwide. You need to either be in a match or queue into one right around the start time. Here's the full regional breakdown:
| Region | Event Time |
|---|---|
| US Pacific (PT) | 12:30 PM, Feb 28 |
| US Mountain (MT) | 1:30 PM, Feb 28 |
| US Central (CT) | 2:30 PM, Feb 28 |
| US Eastern (ET) | 3:30 PM, Feb 28 |
| UK (GMT) | 8:30 PM, Feb 28 |
| Europe (CET) | 9:30 PM, Feb 28 |
| Africa (WAT/CAT/EAT) | 9:30 PM – 11:30 PM, Feb 28 |
| Middle East (GST) | 12:30 AM, Mar 1 |
| India (IST) | 2:00 AM, Mar 1 |
| China (CST) | 4:30 AM, Mar 1 |
| Japan (JST) | 5:30 AM, Mar 1 |
| Australia (AEST) | 7:30 AM, Mar 1 |
| New Zealand (NZST) | 9:30 AM, Mar 1 |
For players in Asia, the Middle East, and Oceania, the event falls in the early morning hours of March 1. Set an alarm if you're serious about catching it live.
Free reward: Visitor's Return loading screen
Everyone who logs in and is present during the Rocket live event rerun will automatically receive the Visitor's Return loading screen. This cosmetic ties into the broader narrative around The Seven's return to the Fortnite storyline. There's no additional challenge or objective — simply being in a match when the event triggers is enough. You'll know it worked when the loading screen appears in your locker after the event concludes.
How the Power Hour fits in
The Rocket live event rerun is scheduled to coincide with the start of Saturday's Power Hour, which also begins at 3:30 PM ET. Power Hours in Chapter 7 Season 1 have featured modified loot pools and gameplay tweaks, and previous weeks included the Love and Legends event with Valentine's-themed rewards like Candy Hearts and the Heartie Back Bling.
The most recent Love and Legends Power Hour on February 22 started players with a Legendary Arc-Lightning Gun and a Self-Revive Device, featured rectangular storm circles, and boosted Rare Chest spawn rates at two special POIs. That was confirmed as the final Love and Legends Power Hour, so the February 28 session will likely carry a different theme or ruleset now that the Valentine's event has wrapped up. Epic has not detailed the specific Power Hour modifiers for this week beyond confirming the Rocket event encore at its start.
What to do before the event
There's no special playlist or mode to select. Load into any standard Battle Royale match — Duos, Trios, or Squads all work — before 3:30 PM ET. The event will play out in the sky above the map during your match. If you're already mid-game when the clock hits, you'll still see it. The key is being in an active match, not sitting in the lobby.
Given the original event's five-minute warning left so many players scrambling, queuing up 10–15 minutes early is a safe bet. The countdown timer in the lobby will help you track exactly how much time remains.
This is the kind of moment Fortnite doesn't repeat often. The first Rocket event was a blink-and-you-miss-it surprise; the rerun is Epic's acknowledgment that surprises don't always land the way they're supposed to. Whether you care about the lore implications of The Visitor's arrival or just want a free loading screen, February 28 at 3:30 PM ET is the window.