Upcoming Animal Crossing: New Horizons events - Your digital island calendar

Animal Crossing: New Horizons events
(Image credit: Nintendo)

Now we have a year of Animal Crossing: New Horizons events under our belt the calendar for island life is very fleshed out. We've seen the full cycle of Animal Crossing: New Horizons events go around now, so we have a much fuller picture of what to expect over the next 12 months. 

Below, you'll find a constantly updated list of all confirmed events happening in the game, so consider this your Animal Crossing: New Horizons calendar. 

This also includes the details on regular events like the quarterly Animal Crossing: New Horizons Bug-off and Animal Crossing: New Horizons Fishing Tourney to look forward to, along with seasonal events like the Spring Blossom. 

See below for the full calendar of confirmed Animal Crossing: New Horizons events for the entire year.

January Animal Crossing: New Horizons events

  • Fishing Tourney: Second Saturday
  • Bug off: Third Saturday

February Animal Crossing: New Horizons events

Valentine's Day

Animal Crossing New Horizons Valentines Day Items

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Hemisphere: North and South

Dates: February 14

What is it? Valentine's Day! A time to celebrate the love for your villagers and the love they have for you. 

Things to watch out for: You'll receive a lot of gifts in letter form from your villagers on Valentine's Day, all either Heart-shaped Bouquets or Chocolate Hearts (in various color variations). You'll also be able to order those items through Nook Shopping too. 

Festivale

Animal Crossing New Horizons events

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Hemisphere: North and South

Dates: February 28 - March 3

What is it? Animal Crossing: New Horizons Festivale is a spring event hosted by Pavé in the plaza, described by Nintendo once as an "all-day festival of color, costumes, and craziness!" In reality, it's also the day before the Southern American Mardi Gras and worldwide Carnival.

Things to watch out for: Pavé will arrive on your island dancing his way to celebrate with you. On and around the event, Festivale clothing will appear in the Tailor's Store, but during the event itself you'll be asked to bring Pavé feathers. Three feathers of the same color can be exchanged for a Festivale item of the same color. Rainbow Feathers though, are rare and three of these can be exchanged for the elusive Festivale Float. You can also unlock DIY recipes that can be crafted using rainbow feathers too. 

  • Bug-off: Third Saturday (Southern Hemisphere)

March Animal Crossing: New Horizons events

No events scheduled

April Animal Crossing: New Horizons events

  • Cherry Blossom Season: April 1 - 10 (Northern Hemisphere)
  • Fishing Tourney: Second Saturday
  • Maple Leaf Season: April 16 - 26 (Southern Hemisphere)

Bunny Day

Animal Crossing: New Horizons

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Hemisphere: North and South

Dates: April 4 (Eggs arrive from April 1)

What is it? Animal Crossing: New Horizons Bunny Day is the in-game equivalent of Easter, complete with egg hunts and themed crafting recipes.

Things to watch out for: Zipper T. Bunny descends on your island in the days before and on Bunny Day (aka Easter Sunday), and you'll be able to find six varieties of eggs hidden around your island in different places. There are Sky, Water, Leaf, Stone, Earth, and Wood Eggs to be found in balloons, by fishing, by shaking trees, in rocks, and by chopping trees respectively. You'll be able to use these eggs to craft the Egg Series of furniture via the Animal Crossing: New Horizons Bunny Day recipes, and on Easter Sunday itself the Bunny Day set of recipes and items. 

Nature Day

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Hemisphere: North and South

Dates: Ran from April 23 to May 4 in 2020

What is it? One of the originally confirmed Animal Crossing: New Horizons events is Earth Day, or as it's known now Animal Crossing: New Horizons Nature Day. In real life, this event takes place on April 22, but in New Horizons this event runs from April 23 to May 4.

Things to watch out for: During this event, you'll be able to tick off special Nature Day themed Nook Miles challenges that are focused on nature-inspired goals, like planting trees and watering flowers. 

May Animal Crossing: New Horizons events

  • Mushrooming Season: May 1 - 31 (Southern Hemipshere)

May Day Tour

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Hemisphere: North and South

Dates: Ran from May 1 - 7 in 2020

What is it? The first week of May is now known as the Animal Crossing: New Horizons May Day Tour season, which will earn you a special May Day Ticket to use at the airport.

Things to watch out for: During this period, you'll be able to use a one-time use May Day Ticket at the airport to fly over to a special May Day island. There's a special visitor there, items to collect, and a maze to navigate by the looks of things too.

International Museum Day

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Hemisphere: North and South

Dates: Ran from May 18 - 31 in 2020

What is it? It might sound like a 24-hour event, but Animal Crossing: New Horizons International Museum Day is a celebration of Blathers' museum that runs across almost two full weeks.

Things to watch out for: You'll receive a special Stamp Card that you can complete by viewing fish, insects, and fossils at the museum. You'll get an in-game reward for completing them all.

June Animal Crossing: New Horizons events

  • Bug-off: Fourth Saturday (Northern Hemisphere)

Wedding Season

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Hemisphere: North and South

Dates: June

What is it? A whole month to celebrate weddings and nuptials in New Horizons. 

Things to watch out for: Head over to Harvey's island in June to meet Reese and Cyrus during Animal Crossing: New Horizons Wedding Season, who are celebrating their wedding anniversary. Help them take photos to mark the occasion, and you'll get wedding-themed items as a reward.

July Animal Crossing: New Horizons events

  • Fishing Tourney: Second Saturday
  • Bug-off: Fourth Saturday (Northern)

August Animal Crossing: New Horizons events

Fireworks

Animal crossing new horizons fireworks

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Hemisphere: North and South

Dates: August

What is it? Every Sunday you can enjoy an Animal Crossing: New Horizons fireworks show across your entire island, all throughout the month of August.

Things to watch out for: You can just enjoy the fireworks, but you can also speak to Isabelle and add your own designs to the show if desired. Plus, Redd makes a special visit every Sunday in August to set up a stall to sell firework-related items too, including sparklers. Make sure to also chat with Isabelle in the plaza each Sunday through August as she'll give you adorable, limited edition boppers for you to wear. 

September Animal Crossing: New Horizons events

  • Bug-off: Fourth Saturday (Northern)

October Animal Crossing: New Horizons events

  • Cherry Blossom Season: October 1 - 31 (Southern Hemisphere)
  • Fishing Tourney: Second Saturday

Halloween

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Halloween

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Hemisphere: North and South

Dates: October 31

What is it? The spooky season hits your island on October 31, with Jack the Halloween King paying your town a visit for trick-or-treat adventures. 

Things to watch out for: Animal Crossing: New Horizons Halloween might technically last only one day, but you'll be able to buy candy from Nook's Cranny to stockpile ahead of trick or treating on Halloween night and costumes via Able Sisters. On the night itself though, be on the lookout for Jack in the plaza, who you can also trick or treat with for exclusive rewards. 

November Animal Crossing: New Horizons events

  • Mushrooming Season: November 1 - 30 (Northern)
  • Maple Leaf Season: November 16 - 25 (Northern)
  • Bug-off: Third Saturday (Southern)

Turkey Day

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Turkey Day

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Hemisphere: North and South

Dates: Thanksgiving (4th Thursday in November)

What is it? Animal Crossing: New Horizons Turkey Day is the game's equivalent of Thanksgiving. 

Things to watch out for: A feast gets set up in the Plaza on Turkey Day, and Franklin will need your help to gather the ingredients he needs to make the dishes happen. you'll need to bring a variety of specific items for the recipes, including four secret ingredients that really enhance the dishes. This unlocks a range of new items that you'll be able to use to decorate your island. 

December Animal Crossing: New Horizons events

  • Bug-off: Third Saturday (Southern)
  • Festive Season: December 15 - Jan 6

Toy Day

Animal Crossing: New Horizons Toy Day

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Hemisphere: North and South

Dates: December 24 aka Christmas Eve

What is it? Animal Crossing: New Horizons Toy Day is in-game Christmas, with toys and joy for everyone. 

Things to watch out for: It's time to celebrate Christmas - aka Toy Day. Throughout December you'll see more winter clothing appear in the Able Sisters, and then on Toy Day itself, Jingle the Reindeer appears. You'll deliver presents for him to all of your villagers, but also gain special crafting recipes too. 

New Year's Eve

Animal Crossing New Horizons events

(Image credit: Nintendo)

Hemisphere: North and South

Dates: Midnight on December 31

What is it? The countdown to the New Year, Animal Crossing style!

Things to watch out for: On New Year's Eve, the countdown board will appear in the plaza to let you know how long it is until midnight strikes. You will be given party poppers and a New Year's Eve hat - and can buy more from Tom Nook's stall - in order to help the celebrations. Just before midnight, all your villagers will gather together to celebrate. in the last 10 seconds, the celebrations really begin, with a glorious two-hour firework show happening as the clock strikes midnight. 

Sam Loveridge
Global Editor-in-Chief, 12DOVE

Sam Loveridge is the Global Editor-in-Chief of GamesRadar, and joined the team in August 2017. Sam came to GamesRadar after working at TrustedReviews, Digital Spy, and Fandom, following the completion of an MA in Journalism. In her time, she's also had appearances on The Guardian, BBC, and more. Her experience has seen her cover console and PC games, along with gaming hardware, for a decade, and for GamesRadar, she's in charge of the site's overall direction, managing the team, and making sure it's the best it can be. Her gaming passions lie with weird simulation games, big open-world RPGs, and beautifully crafted indies. She plays across all platforms, and specializes in titles like Pokemon, Assassin's Creed, The Sims, and more. Basically, she loves all games that aren't sports or fighting titles! In her spare time, Sam likes to live like Stardew Valley by cooking and baking, growing vegetables, and enjoying life in the countryside.