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Star Citizen Free Fly Events – How to Play for Free in 2026

Star Citizen Free Fly Events

Last Updated: May 27, 2026
Fly before you buy! A Star Citizen Free Fly event is the perfect time to explore the 'verse.

A Star Citizen Free Fly event is Active!

Star Citizen Was Free to Play During DRAKE DefenseCon / ILW: May 14th-27th, 2026!

Star Citizen was free to play from Thursday, May 14th, until Wednesday, May 27th, during the annual DRAKE DefenseCon / Invictus Launch Week (ILW) Free Fly Event. During the event, players were able to try out some of the best military-focused ships in the 'verse.

The next Free Fly Event will likely take place in July during Foundation Festival. Preparing for the Foundation Festival 2026 Free Fly event is easy—simply create an account using referral code STAR-SFVL-W7BT to instantly receive 50k in-game credits, and follow the steps below once the event is live!

Important Notes:

  • If you've created an account in the past but have not made any purchases, I recommend creating a brand new account. As of July 2, 2025, new accounts that sign up using a referral code receive 50k in-game credits—10× more than what was offered in the past. If you've not yet purchased the game, make a new account and take advantage of this improved offer.
  • A bonus referral reward was ACTIVE during the Drake DefenseCon Free Fly Event!

Enjoying a Star Citizen Free Fly event is easy

Follow the steps below and you'll be exploring the stars in minutes.

» 1. Create a FREE Star Citizen Account

For instructions on creating a new Star Citizen account, follow my guide. Or, simply enter referral code STAR-SFVL-W7BT on the Star Citizen account creation page. You will receive 50k in-game credits as soon as you confirm your email address.

Account creation successful

» 2. Download the Launcher

Once you've created an account and have logged in, simply visit the Launcher Download page and click "DOWNLOAD."

Download Star Citizen

» 3. Play!

Last but not least: run the launcher and play!

Play Star Citizen

If you enjoyed the Drake DefenseCon free fly event and would like to continue playing, consider one of these starter packs.

Star Citizen Free Fly FAQ

Free Fly events are generally scheduled 5 times per year, usually tied to major in-game activities. Below is a list of the most recent Free Fly event dates:

  1. • DefenseCon 2026 Free Fly — May 14 to May 27, 2026
  2. • Captains of Industry Free Fly — April 9 to April 20, 2026
  3. • Coramor 2026 Free Fly — February 12 to February 23, 2026
  4. • IAE 2025 Free Fly — November 20 to December 3, 2025
  5. • Ship Showdown 2025 Free Fly — August 26 to September 2, 2025
  6. • Foundation Festival 2025 Free Fly — July 2 to July 14, 2025
  7. • Invictus Launch Week (ILW) 2025 Free Fly — May 15 to May 27, 2025
  8. • April 2025 Free Fly — April 17 to April 28, 2025
  9. • IAE 2024 Free Fly — November 22 to December 5, 2024
  10. • Ship Showdown 2024 Free Fly — August 15 to August 22, 2024
  11. • Foundation Festival 2024 Free Fly — July 12 to July 19, 2024
  12. • ILW 2024 Free Fly — May 17 to May 29, 2024
  13. • Coramor 2024 Free Fly — February 8 to February 15, 2024
Keep this page bookmarked as I always announce upcoming Free Fly events.
Anyone can join a Star Citizen Free Fly event! If you have an old account you no longer use (or can’t access), you can simply create a new one using referral code STAR-SFVL-W7BT. Existing backers can also participate — all Free Fly ships become available to every account.
Once a Free Fly event ends, access to the game and included ships expires. To keep playing Star Citizen permanently, you only need to purchase a starter package. Free Fly periods are often the best time to do so because CIG frequently discounts starter packs or offers upgraded bundles for new players.
A bonus referral reward is a limited-time promotion where new players receive extra items after creating an account with a referral code and spending $40 USD or more on the pledge store. These bonus items vary by event—hoverbikes, small ships, armor sets, or weapon packs—and are often paired with Free Fly events, though they sometimes appear as standalone promotions.
Simply enter referral code STAR-SFVL-W7BT when creating your account, and you’ll automatically receive 50,000 aUEC (in-game credits).

If you want help setting up your account, follow the step-by-step account creation guide for new players.
Jumping into Star Citizen can feel overwhelming at first, but you’re not alone. Many players learn simply by launching the game and exploring, while others prefer a bit more structure. You’ll find dozens of great beginner guides on YouTube, but the best way to learn is through Star Citizen’s Guide System, where an experienced player is paired with you one-on-one to walk through the basics of flying, missions, and earning your first credits.

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