Valorant Night Market 2026: Dates, Mechanics, Discounts
The Night Market is a Valorant event where every player gets 6 random skins from their owned collections with 10–50% discount. In 2026 Riot consistently runs it once every 2 acts — roughly every 4 months. Here is the schedule, how the algorithm works, and the real odds of pulling an expensive skin discounted.
Night Market dates in 2026
Confirmed and expected events:
| Episode-Act | Night Market window | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| EP9 Act 2 | Feb 12 – Mar 5, 2026 | 21 days |
| EP9 Act 4 | Jun 18 – Jul 9, 2026 | 21 days |
| EP10 Act 2 | October 2026 (expected) | 21 days |
| EP10 Act 4 | February 2027 (expected) | 21 days |
In 2026 the market lasts 21 days — Riot extended the window from 14 days (in 2024) to three weeks, giving players more time to top up VP.
How the 6-skin pool is built
The Night Market algorithm in 2026:
- A random collection is picked from those where you own at least one skin.
- 6 unique skins you do NOT own are selected from it.
- Each skin gets a random discount of 10–50%.
- A knife slot appears with ~12% probability — only if you own a Premium+ skin in a collection that has a knife.
If your only owned skins are from Battle Passes, the market will mostly roll Select/Deluxe tier skins. The more Premium collections you have unlocked, the higher the chance of major discounts on expensive skins.
Real discount sizes
| Discount range | Probability | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 10–15% | ~30% | Prime Vandal 1494 VP vs 1775 |
| 16–25% | ~35% | Reaver Phantom 1330 VP vs 1775 |
| 26–35% | ~20% | Sentinels Phantom 1153 VP vs 1775 |
| 36–45% | ~12% | RGX Vandal 974 VP vs 1775 |
| 46–50% | ~3% | Elderflame Vandal 887 VP vs 1775 |
On average one Night Market gives a player 2–3 skins under 25% off and rarely one at 40%+.
How to make Night Market more profitable
- Unlock at least one Premium skin in each major collection before the market starts. This "opens" the collection for rotation.
- Wait for Night Market before buying Premium skins you do not own.
- Do not lock yourself to one collection — the wider the pool, the more varied the offers.
Can you get a knife in Night Market
Yes, but the chance is low: ~8% of players see at least one knife slot. Knife discounts average 25–35%, putting the price at ~2300–2700 VP instead of the standard 3550. The most-wanted knives (Reaver Butterfly, Prime Karambit) appear rarely — roughly once every 5–6 Night Markets for one player.
How much VP to stock
A minimum of 3000 VP ($30) is enough to grab 1–2 good discounts. For a guaranteed knife purchase chance — 5000+ VP. With Marix you buy VP in your local currency without linking a card to Riot.