Short answer
Star Citizen events may include Free Fly periods, trial opportunities, special offers or time-limited referral bonuses. None of these is guaranteed for every edition. Always check the latest RSI page and official Comm-Links before registering or buying.
Events at a glance
Events can be a good opportunity to discover Star Citizen or try different ships. You can create a free RSI account with a referral code beforehand and still wait before buying a Game Package.
Time-limited referral promotions vary from event to event. A reward from an earlier edition does not automatically return. Check the official terms before registering or buying something for a particular promotion.
Free Fly
A Free Fly is a useful way for beginners to try Star Citizen without pressure to buy. During the announced period, you can play for free and judge whether the controls, performance, feel and alpha state suit you.
Free Fly is not a permanent free-to-play model. RSI sets the dates, available ships and conditions for each event. Once the trial ends, you need a Game Package if you want to keep playing.
Lunar New Year / Red Festival
Lunar New Year, also associated with the Red Festival in Star Citizen, is a seasonal event celebrating the lunisolar new year in the 'Verse. Previous editions have included event items and time-limited promotions.
Dates and content can change each year. Use earlier editions only as background and rely on the relevant official RSI announcement for the actual terms.
Valentine's Day / Coramor
Coramor is a seasonal event themed around love and relationships in the 'Verse. Depending on the edition, it may feature cosmetic items, offers or other activities; an announced Free Fly is usually more useful for testing the game itself.
Do not plan around a guaranteed Free Fly or referral bonus. Only the official announcement for that edition can confirm whether any benefits apply.
Invictus Launch Week
Invictus Launch Week puts military ships and fleets in the spotlight. Previous editions have offered ways to try different ships. Beginners should still test and compare first, then decide at their own pace.
RSI publishes the schedule, ships on display and possible trial periods separately for each edition. An impressive event is not a reason to rush a purchase.
DefenseCon
DefenseCon focuses on ships and equipment from Drake Interplanetary. Some previous editions were paired with trial or referral promotions, but that does not promise a bonus for a later edition.
Whether DefenseCon includes a Free Fly or referral bonus depends on the relevant RSI announcement. Read the terms carefully, especially when a reward requires a purchase or has other conditions.
Alien Week
Alien Week focuses on alien ships, cultures, lore and presentations from non-human manufacturers. For beginners, it is mainly a window into the variety of the Star Citizen universe.
Alien Week is not a required starting point. Check RSI's latest information to learn which ships, trial opportunities or offers are part of a particular edition.
Recurring community event
Foundation Festival
The Foundation Festival is aimed especially at new players and highlights the Guide System, shared learning and changing community activities. The 2026 edition has ended; RSI will announce any future dates and content separately.
Ship Showdown
Ship Showdown is a community event built around popular ships, voting and fan favourites. New players may enjoy following the selection and community discussion.
The format, duration and available content can change with each edition. Popularity in a vote is not a reliable buying criterion for a beginner.
CitizenCon
CitizenCon is a major information and community event featuring announcements, previews and presentations about Star Citizen. It can help new players understand where the project is heading.
CitizenCon is more useful as a source of context than as a reason to buy. Check the official CitizenCon or Comm-Link page for dates, content and any digital offers.
Intergalactic Aerospace Expo
The Intergalactic Aerospace Expo, or IAE, is a recurring ship expo. Previous editions have featured many manufacturers and ships, sometimes alongside Free Fly periods or other time-limited promotions.
For beginners, the IAE is most useful as a chance to compare. Do not count on particular trial opportunities, manufacturer schedules or bonuses: RSI publishes the terms for each edition separately.
Luminalia
Luminalia is a winter holiday event in the 'Verse. Previous editions have included gifts, seasonal content or special offers. RSI announces what is available in each specific year.
Rewards, dates and conditions can change here too. Check the official Luminalia or RSI news page before registering or buying.
Important: This overview describes recurring events; it does not confirm that any promotion is active now. Always check RSI directly for an announced Free Fly, discount or additional referral bonus.
Check official sources
Official RSI pages are the definitive source for current dates, conditions and promotions. This overview only provides general context for beginners.
Explore selected events in more detail
These detailed guides explain three frequently searched events without presenting old dates or benefits as permanent.