Fortnite 
Fortnite Winterfest 2025 is expected to drop mid-December with free skins, (speculative) Harry Potter collaboration rumors, and a snow-covered Battle Royale map that completely changes how familiar locations look and play. Epic Games runs this annual holiday event for roughly two weeks, giving players daily presents packed with exclusive cosmetics that won’t return once the event ends.
This guide covers likely start dates based on Epic’s historical patterns, how to claim all free rewards without missing anything, what collaboration content is rumored or datamined but not confirmed for this year, and the safest ways to acquire event items if you miss the window.
When does Fortnite Winterfest 2025 start?
Fortnite Winterfest 2025 will likely kick off sometime December 17-20, bringing free presents, snowy map changes, and holiday items like Snowball Launchers back into rotation. The event runs for roughly two weeks into early January, giving you plenty of time to log in daily and grab your freebies.
Epic Games follows a tight pattern with Winterfest timing. Every year since 2018, the event has launched between December 13th and 20th, aligning with school breaks when most players have time to participate.
| Year | Start Date | End Date | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | December 18 | January 7 | 20 days |
| 2019 | December 18 | January 7 | 20 days |
| 2020 | December 17 | January 5 | 19 days |
| 2021 | December 16 | January 6 | 21 days |
| 2022 | December 13 | January 3 | 21 days |
| 2023 | December 14 | January 2 | 19 days |
| 2024 | December 20 | January 7 | 18 days |
Daily presents have historically reset at 9 AM ET / 2 PM UTC. You’ll want to check in around that time each day to avoid missing exclusive rewards that won’t come back once the event ends.
The community on r/FortNiteBR has complained about late December launches, especially in 2024, when the event dropped on December 20th. That left only a few days before Christmas to open presents, which felt rushed for players trying to balance the game with holiday plans.
How to claim all free Winterfest 2025 rewards
The Winterfest Lodge typically appears as a menu area rather than a map location once the event goes live. It’s usually placed in a central spot that’s easy to reach, no matter where you drop from the Battle Bus.
Inside the Lodge, you’ll find wrapped presents waiting to be opened. Past events have included 14 to 15 total gifts spread across the event duration, with one or two new presents unlocking each day at the 9 AM ET reset.
What you’ll find in Winterfest presents:
- Character skins: Full outfits like the Frost Squad set from previous years
- Back bling and pickaxes: Cosmetic gear that matches seasonal themes
- Emotes and weapon wraps: Dances and gun skins exclusive to the event
- Loading screens and music tracks: Visual and audio items that personalize your lobby
The rewards follow a set sequence, so everyone gets the same items. You’re just picking which present to unwrap each day. Some years, Epic has hidden a bonus 15th present that unlocks after you’ve opened everything else.
Missing a day doesn’t permanently lock you out. You can catch up on unopened presents as long as Winterfest is still running, but once the event ends, unclaimed rewards disappear forever.
Set a phone reminder for 9 AM ET if you’re serious about collecting everything. Collaboration skins from events like Winterfest often gain value in the trading community because they rarely return to the Item Shop.
If you want to skip the grind entirely, check out Fortnite accounts for sale with exclusive items already unlocked.
Major possible collabs & event leaks
Fortnite Winterfest 2025 is rumored (but not yet confirmed) to include a Harry Potter collaboration based on leaked game files. Data miners have speculated about references to Harry Potter character skins, a broomstick item similar to the witch brooms from Fortnitemares, and possibly a Golden Snitch mythic that functions as a mobility or utility tool.
Hatsune Miku is also expected to appear during Winterfest, though it’s unclear if she’ll be a free present reward or sold separately in the Item Shop. Miku has a massive fanbase globally, and her inclusion would continue Fortnite’s push into anime and Vocaloid content.
Leaked weapons and items for Winterfest 2025 include:
- Snowball Launcher: Returns from past events, fires explosive snowballs
- Blizzard Grenade: Creates a temporary snowstorm that blocks vision and slows movement
- Sneaky Snowmando: An NPC boss that drops special loot when defeated
- Freeze Pistol: A new weapon that temporarily freezes opponents in place
Collaboration items historically become valuable after events end. When Winterfest wraps up, these skins and cosmetics either disappear entirely or return months later at full Item Shop prices, sometimes $15-20 per skin.
What to expect: Event mechanics, quests & map changes
Winterfest typically transforms the Battle Royale island with snow coverage across most named locations. You’ll see Christmas lights, holiday decorations, and festive props scattered throughout the map, creating a winter atmosphere that transforms familiar spots and makes them feel different.
Limited Time Modes (LTMs) typically accompany Winterfest. Past years have brought back Snowdown Shuffle, where teams compete in winter-themed mini-games and modes with modified ice physics that change movement mechanics.
Quests refresh daily or weekly during the event, offering bonus XP and sometimes exclusive rewards beyond the free presents. These quests usually involve holiday objectives like dealing damage with festive weapons, visiting decorated locations, or winning matches with specific loadouts.
The Winterfest Lodge serves as a solo menu space, not a multiplayer social area, though some years have included small interactive features, such as mini-games.
Winterfest quests often provide substantial XP bonuses, making it a solid time to push through Battle Pass tiers if you’re behind on progression for the season.
Why timing matters?
Epic Games schedules Winterfest to align with school winter breaks and the holiday shopping period. The December 14-20 launch window hits when students are off from school, and families have more free time for gaming.
The timing also creates urgency around the Item Shop. Players who receive gift cards or gaming funds during the holidays are more likely to spend on Fortnite when there’s a major event running with time-limited content.
From a development standpoint, Epic avoids launching Winterfest too early because they’re wrapping up the previous season’s content and preparing for new chapters or seasons that typically drop in early December. Winterfest serves as a mid-season refresh that keeps engagement high between major updates.
Plan your account activity around the event window to maximize rewards and take advantage of trading opportunities when demand peaks.
Missed out?
Winterfest rewards are account-bound, meaning you can’t transfer them between accounts through official channels. Once the event ends, the only way to get exclusive cosmetics is by acquiring an account that already has them unlocked. On Eldorado.gg, you can browse verified Fortnite accounts with clear listings of included skins and Winterfest items, purchase through secure escrow protection, and confirm full access before completing the transaction. This gives players a safe, structured alternative to risky private trades or unverified sellers when looking for accounts that still contain limited-time Winterfest cosmetics.
Common scam tactics:
- “Free accounts with rare skins”: Listings that ask for your email and password to “verify access,” then steal your credentials
- Phishing sites: Fake login pages that look like Epic Games but capture your account details
- Malware downloads: “Account checkers” or “skin unlockers” that infect your device
- Recovery scams: Sellers who give temporary access, then reclaim the account through Epic’s recovery system after you’ve paid
If you missed Winterfest and want the exclusive Fortnite items, your safest bet is using a marketplace with buyer protection and escrow services. These platforms hold your payment until you confirm the account works and hasn’t been reclaimed.
What to verify before acquiring any Fortnite account:
- Full access with the ability to change email and password
- No active payment methods or personal information left on the account
- Clear transfer without the seller retaining recovery options
- Confirmation that the account hasn’t been flagged or banned
