HoYoverse has locked in the Genshin Impact Version 7.1 Special Program, the broadcast that reveals the next banner schedule, event lineup, and a batch of free redemption codes. It continues the Snezhnaya storyline, and two new five-star characters have already been shown off ahead of the stream.
Quick answer: The Version 7.1 Special Program airs Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 8:00 AM EDT (12:00 PM UTC / 1:00 PM BST) on the official Genshin Impact Twitch and YouTube channels. Join 15 minutes early, since the waiting room opens ahead of time with extra content.
Release time: Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM UTC (8:00 AM EDT)
Genshin Impact 7.1 livestream start time by region
The Special Program starts at the same moment worldwide. Here is that single start time converted into the major regions.
| Region | Date | Local start time |
|---|---|---|
| UK (BST) | Saturday, September 12 | 1:00 PM |
| Central Europe (CEST) | Saturday, September 12 | 2:00 PM |
| US East Coast (EDT) | Saturday, September 12 | 8:00 AM |
| US West Coast (PDT) | Saturday, September 12 | 5:00 AM |
| UTC | Saturday, September 12 | 12:00 PM |
The channels open the waiting room 15 minutes before the official start, and special content plays during that window. Tune in early if you don’t want to miss it.
Where to watch and claim the free codes
The stream runs on the official Genshin Impact Twitch channel and the official Genshin Impact YouTube channel. Both carry the same broadcast, so either works.
During the program, HoYoverse drops redemption codes that grant Primogems. These livestream codes typically expire within about 24 hours, so redeem them quickly. Enter each code in the in-game redemption menu or on the official website, and the reward arrives in your in-game mail once the code is accepted.
Tip: Check your pity counter before the broadcast so you know how close you are to a guaranteed pull once the new banners go live.
Genshin Impact 7.1 banner leaks
HoYoverse has already introduced two new five-star characters through drip marketing, so their arrival in 7.1 is set. Vesna is a new Anemo sword user built around the Stellar-Swirl reaction and expected to play as an on-field main DPS. Vodyanitsa is a new Hydro catalyst user described as an off-field support who heals and applies Hydro to enable reactions.
The returning five-stars are not confirmed. Leaks most often name the Cryo units Skirk and Escoffier as reruns, though other reports point to Zibai and Linnea instead. Phase order and the exact character pairings stay unconfirmed until the broadcast.
| Character | Element / Weapon | Expected role | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vesna | Anemo / Sword | Main DPS | New five-star (drip marketed) |
| Vodyanitsa | Hydro / Catalyst | Support | New five-star (drip marketed) |
| Skirk | Cryo / Sword | Main DPS | Rumored rerun |
| Escoffier | Cryo / Polearm | Support | Rumored rerun |
Element and weapon type for Vesna and Vodyanitsa come from pre-release testing and could still shift before the livestream locks them in. If both launch as limited five-stars, each should bring a new signature five-star weapon during its banner phase.
Vesna and Vodyanitsa kit details
Vesna is tied to the main Snezhnaya storyline, and her leaked kit builds a personal resource while she stays on the field, then unlocks an enhanced Elemental Skill. She can reportedly take to the air through that Skill and control her height, with early links to Charged and Plunging Attacks. Her damage centers on Anemo and Stellar-Swirl.
Vodyanitsa is the Prima Soprano of the Korolevskiy Troupe and is friends with Odette, so you may have already met both characters in-game. Her leaked support kit applies Hydro off-field, reduces enemy resistance to Anemo, Cryo, and Hydro, and grants interruption resistance rather than a traditional shield. She can also provide healing. Reported resistance-shred figures such as 25% Cryo/Hydro and 40% Anemo should be treated as tentative, since they could belong to Constellations, weapons, or an earlier build.
None of these kit details are official. Solid numbers and confirmed roles only land when the Special Program airs.
Sixth anniversary rewards to expect
Version 7.1 is expected to line up with Genshin Impact’s sixth anniversary on September 28, and the broadcast should detail those rewards. Following past years, players can expect roughly 1,600 Primogems by mail, a seven-day login card worth 10 Intertwined Fates, a commemorative wind glider, and a Sanctifying Elixir for artifact crafting.
The headline gift is the free Standard five-star Character Selector. As before, you should be able to pick one character from the Wanderlust Invocation pool, which currently includes Diluc, Jean, Mona, Keqing, Qiqi, Tighnari, Dehya, and Mizuki.
Version 7.1 itself is expected to release on September 23, 2026, following the game’s usual six-week patch cadence, with a second banner phase around October 14. The confirmed banner order, weapon lineup, and anniversary details all become official once the Special Program goes live on September 12, so treat every leaked pairing above as provisional until then.
