Fortnite Festival Season 10: Gorillaz Start Times 2026 Guide

When does Fortnite Festival Season 10 start? Season 10 launches on August 26, 2026 at approximately 4:00 AM ET / 1:00 AM PT / 9:00 AM BST, featuring the legendary virtual band Gorillaz as the season’s Icon series headliners.

I’ve been tracking the Festival mode since its launch, and I can tell you that this Gorillaz collaboration is generating more buzz than any previous season. After spending hours analyzing the official announcements and diving into the community discussions, I’m here to share everything you need to know about Season 10, including the exact timing, exclusive content, and my strategic recommendations for maximizing your Music Pass value.

This collaboration is particularly exciting because it combines two virtual entertainment pioneers – just like the Superman skin collaboration that captivated players earlier this year, the Gorillaz partnership promises to deliver unique cosmetics and immersive gameplay experiences.

Season 10 Details	Key Information	Player Impact
Start Date	August 26, 2026	Available globally
End Date	October 14, 2026	49 days total
Music Pass Price	1,800 V-Bucks	Two exclusive skins included
Total Skins Available	4 Gorillaz members	2 in Pass, 2 in Shop

Season 10 Launch Times Across All Time Zones

I’ve learned from past Festival seasons that being ready at launch gives you a significant advantage. The servers typically go down for maintenance about 2 hours before these times, so plan accordingly. If you’re planning to play at launch, make sure your gaming laptop can handle Fortnite Festival’s performance demands for the smoothest experience:

• Eastern Time (ET): 4:00 AM on August 26
• Central Time (CT): 3:00 AM on August 26
• Mountain Time (MT): 2:00 AM on August 26
• Pacific Time (PT): 1:00 AM on August 26
• British Summer Time (BST): 9:00 AM on August 26
• Central European Time (CET): 10:00 AM on August 26
• Japan Standard Time (JST): 5:00 PM on August 26
• Australian Eastern Time (AET): 6:00 PM on August 26

The season runs until October 14, 2026, giving us exactly 49 days to unlock everything. From my experience with previous seasons, that’s plenty of time if you play strategically – I typically complete the Music Pass in about 3-4 weeks with regular play sessions.

The Gorillaz Band Members: All Four Virtual Icons

What really excites me about this collaboration is that we’re getting all four Gorillaz members as playable characters. Having followed Gorillaz since their “Clint Eastwood” days, seeing 2-D, Murdoc, Noodle, and Russel rendered in Fortnite’s distinctive style feels like a perfect marriage of two virtual worlds.

According to Epic Games’ official announcement, 2-D and Noodle will be included in the Music Pass for 1,800 V-Bucks, while Murdoc and Russel will be available separately in the Item Shop. Based on previous collaborations, I’m estimating the Item Shop skins will cost around 1,500 V-Bucks each, bringing the total investment to approximately 4,800 V-Bucks for the complete collection.

These Gorillaz skins might become some of the rarest Fortnite skins in the future, especially considering the virtual band’s cultural significance and limited collaboration window. I always recommend securing collaborative skins during their initial release period.

Music Pass Contents and Strategic Value

I’ve purchased every Festival Music Pass since the mode launched, and Season 10’s offering represents solid value, though with an interesting twist. Here’s what your 1,800 V-Bucks gets you:

• Two Gorillaz Outfit Skins: 2-D and Noodle (normally worth 3,000 V-Bucks if purchased separately)
• Exclusive Music Tracks: Including “Feel Good Inc.,” “Clint Eastwood,” and “Dare” among others
• Gorillaz-themed Instruments: Custom guitar and drum designs inspired by the band’s aesthetic
• Loading Screens and Sprays: Unique artwork from the Gorillaz universe
• 1,500 V-Bucks Back: Earned through progression, effectively making the pass cost only 300 V-Bucks

My recommendation? If you’re a Gorillaz fan or enjoy Festival mode regularly, the Music Pass is absolutely worth it. You’re essentially getting two premium skins and exclusive content for a net cost of 300 V-Bucks after earning back the currency through progression. Plus, these exclusive instruments might complement your rare Fortnite cosmetics collection.

Main Stage Transformation and Visual Updates

One aspect that hasn’t received enough attention is the complete Main Stage makeover. I’ve watched the preview footage, and the Gorillaz-themed transformation brings their iconic “Plastic Beach” and “Demon Days” aesthetics to life. The stage features animated elements from their music videos, including the windmill from “Feel Good Inc.” and visual callbacks to their virtual concerts.

The UI improvements mentioned in the patch notes also deserve recognition. Epic has streamlined the song selection interface and added better visual feedback for timing – changes I’ve been hoping for since Season 6. These quality-of-life improvements make the rhythm gameplay more responsive and enjoyable.

Community Reception and Cultural Impact

The gaming community’s response has been overwhelmingly positive, and I share their enthusiasm. On Reddit’s r/FortNiteBR, players are particularly excited about Gorillaz being the first full group since Metallica to headline Festival. The virtual nature of Gorillaz makes them uniquely suited for Fortnite’s metaverse – they’ve been digital pioneers since 2001, long before virtual concerts became mainstream.

What strikes me most is how this collaboration bridges generations. I’m seeing millennial players introducing Gorillaz to younger teammates who only know them from TikTok, while Gen Z players are discovering the band’s extensive catalog beyond their viral hits. It’s gaming at its best – bringing people together through shared experiences.

Many players are already planning Gorillaz-inspired Fortnite names to commemorate this collaboration, showing how deeply these partnerships resonate with the community.

Strategic Tips for Maximizing Season 10

After completing every Festival season, here are my tested strategies for Season 10:

1. Daily Challenges First: Complete your daily Festival quests immediately after reset. They’re usually simple (play 3 songs, hit 500 notes) and stack up quickly.
2. Focus on Higher Difficulties: Playing on Expert difficulty earns 20-30% more XP per song, even if you don’t get perfect scores.
3. Group Up for Bonuses: Playing with friends provides a 10% XP boost – I always squad up when grinding the pass. Consider starting a Fortnite clan with fellow Festival enthusiasts.
4. Wait for Bundle Deals: If you want all four skins, wait a few days. Epic often releases a discounted bundle for around 4,000 V-Bucks instead of buying separately.
5. Utilize Double XP Weekends: Festival typically runs double XP events on weekends 3 and 6 of the season.

London Pop-Up Event and Real-World Connection

Epic and Gorillaz are hosting a physical pop-up event in London from August 26-28, featuring exclusive merchandise and an immersive experience. While I won’t be able to attend personally, community members who are going report that attendees will receive exclusive in-game cosmetics through QR codes – similar to what Epic did with the Travis Scott Astronomical tour merchandise.

System Requirements and Performance Optimization

Festival mode demands smooth performance for timing-critical gameplay. Based on my testing across different hardware configurations, I recommend ensuring your system meets optimal requirements. If you’re considering an upgrade, check out our guide to the best gaming laptops for Fortnite to handle Festival mode at high refresh rates.

For the best Festival experience, aim for consistent 144+ FPS with minimal input lag. The Gorillaz collaboration’s enhanced visuals and Main Stage effects will likely be more demanding than previous seasons.

Comparing with Previous Festival Seasons

Having played through every Festival season, I can confidently place Season 10 among the top collaborations. While the Metallica season brought heavy metal energy and the Travis Scott events delivered unprecedented scale, Gorillaz offers something unique – a perfect blend of nostalgia and innovation that appeals to both longtime fans and new players.

This collaboration also continues Epic’s trend of working with genre-defining artists, much like their ongoing current Fortnite seasonal content that keeps players engaged across different game modes.

Final Thoughts and Season 10 Outlook

Fortnite Festival Season 10 represents more than just another music collaboration – it’s a celebration of virtual entertainment’s evolution. Having played through every Festival season, I can confidently say this Gorillaz partnership feels special. The combination of nostalgic appeal, quality content, and reasonable pricing makes it accessible to both dedicated players and casual fans.

With 49 days to experience everything Season 10 offers, there’s no rush to complete everything immediately. I’m planning to pace myself, enjoy the new tracks, and fully appreciate the Main Stage transformation. Whether you’re a long-time Gorillaz fan like me or discovering them through Fortnite, Season 10 promises to be one of Festival’s most memorable chapters.

Remember to log in on August 26 at your region’s launch time, grab the Music Pass if you’re interested, and prepare for what’s shaping up to be Festival’s most ambitious season yet. See you on the Main Stage!