Fortnite Battle Royale is turning nine, and Epic Games is marking the occasion with a special celebration on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Rather than limiting the anniversary to cosmetics or an in-game message, Epic is activating two Birthday Power Hours lasting three hours each.

The first starts at 2 PM ET, while the second begins at 9 PM ET. Combined, the two sessions give players six hours of special birthday gameplay across the day.

During those windows, everyone drops into matches carrying Presents, the Birthday Sprite joins the celebration and special items can appear throughout matches. Epic is also bringing the Exotic Balloon Popper Assault Rifle into the loot available during the event.

Fortnite Battle Royale ninth birthday event
Fortnite Battle Royale celebrates its ninth birthday on September 26 with two special Birthday Power Hours.

What time does the Fortnite birthday event start today?

The first Birthday Power Hour begins Saturday, September 26 at 2 PM ET, or 6 PM UTC.

That first round lasts three hours, running from 2 PM until 5 PM ET.

Players who cannot make the afternoon session have another opportunity later in the day. The second Birthday Power Hour begins at 9 PM ET, which is 1 AM UTC on Sunday.

The second session also lasts three hours. Together, both windows provide six hours to experience Fortnite's special birthday conditions.

What changes during Birthday Power Hours?

Epic is directly changing how matches begin during the event. Everyone drops in carrying Presents, making one of Fortnite's traditional birthday items a guaranteed part of the experience during the Power Hours.

Another highlight is the Exotic Balloon Popper Assault Rifle. According to Epic Games, the Exotic weapon can be found in the wild during the celebration.

Presents and the Exotic Balloon Popper Assault Rifle during Fortnite's birthday celebration
During the Birthday Power Hours, players drop in with Presents and can find the Exotic Balloon Popper Assault Rifle.

Chests can also drop two additional resources: 1-Up Tokens and Portable Extractors. That means the celebration goes beyond birthday visuals and directly changes some of the loot players can encounter during matches.

Because these special conditions are tied to the Birthday Power Hours, players who want to experience the full celebration should prioritize one of the two official windows.

Birthday Sprite joins the celebration

The Birthday Sprite is another major part of the anniversary. Epic has confirmed that it joins the Birthday Power Hours and connects the current Sprite system with Fortnite's traditional birthday cake mechanic.

Players who equip a Birthday Sprite can find cake slices in Chests or obtain them from eliminations once the Sprite reaches its maximum level.

Birthday Sprite and special Fortnite birthday items
The Birthday Sprite joins the celebration and can help players find cake slices during the event.

The Birthday Sprite also allows Epic to connect the anniversary with Battle Royale's current systems rather than simply bringing back older birthday items.

For players interested in collecting Sprites or exploring the current system, the Power Hours offer a particularly useful opportunity to look for the birthday content while the special conditions are active.

Fortnite Battle Royale is nine years old

Saturday's anniversary specifically celebrates Fortnite Battle Royale, the experience that transformed Fortnite into one of gaming's biggest phenomena.

Fortnite originally launched in 2017, but Battle Royale dramatically changed the scale of Epic's project and helped establish a model built around seasons, live events, major collaborations and continuous updates that would influence much of the wider market.

Nine years later, Fortnite has expanded far beyond a single Battle Royale mode. The modern ecosystem includes multiple experiences, creator-built content and collaborations with some of entertainment's largest properties.

Epic nevertheless continues to treat Battle Royale's anniversary as its own milestone, and the 2026 celebration puts traditional matches back at the center of the event.

Do you need to play both Birthday Power Hours?

Players do not need to participate in both sessions to experience the birthday celebration. Both windows feature the special event conditions, so anyone available for only one session can still take part.

For players who want as much time as possible with the event, want to hunt for Birthday Sprites or simply want to play under the special conditions for longer, joining both rounds naturally increases the available time from three to six hours.

The key detail is the schedule: the first Birthday Power Hour begins at 2 PM ET and the second starts at 9 PM ET on Saturday, September 26.

With Presents on drop, the Birthday Sprite, the Exotic Balloon Popper Assault Rifle and special Chest drops, Fortnite's ninth birthday temporarily changes the rhythm of Battle Royale and gives players a reason to return during both event windows.