When is the next Splatfest?

You won't have to wait long.

The theme for Splatoon 3's 11th Splatfest: "What's your go-to greeting? Handshake, fist bump, or hug?"
Image via Splatoon North America

Splatoon 3 developer Nintendo recently revealed information about the game’s 11th Splatfest, bringing back a holiday celebration not seen since 2020.

Recommended Videos

Splatfests are a big deal in the world of Splatoon. They act as both unifying events and weekend-long parties for everyone involved, transforming the hub worlds of Splatsville and Inkopolis Plaza into a night-time festival, where players can watch their favorite idols perform and listen to specialty songs while battling in the Splatfest.

In Splatoon 3, each Splatfest has a theme and three teams that players can choose from. Once they’ve chosen their team, each Turf War battle they win throughout the event grants points for their team. The team that wins at the end of the event will receive special rewards, such as additional Super Sea Snails over the losing two teams.

Splatoon 3’s Splatfests are unique from previous entries in the series because they are the first time three different teams have been able to compete on the same map, with the additional playlist of Tricolor battles available at the halfway point of each Splatfest.

The game’s previous Splatfests have featured themes such as Rock, Paper, Scissors and references to other Nintendo franchises, such as Pokémon’s Water, Grass, and Fire, or The Legend of Zelda’s Power, Wisdom, and Courage. This time, Nintendo asks you to decide what is your go-to greeting. A handshake, fist bump, or a hug?

Eager to get started? Here’s when the 11th Splatfest starts in Splatoon 3.

Splatfest: Handshake, Fistbump, Hug start date and time

The theme for Splatoon 3's 11th Splatfest: "What's your go-to greeting? Handshake, fist bump, or hug?"
Which is your favorite way to greet friends? Image via Splatoon North America

The next Splatfest will start on Friday, Nov. 17 at 6pm CT and will run until Nov. 19 at 6pm CT. Players will have two full days to get as many games as they can in for their team.

Once the Splatfest begins, you’ll be able to pick from one of three teams: Handshake, Fistbump, or Hug. You will receive a special team shirt only available during the event, which must be worn for all Turf War and Tricolor battles. Turf War is divided into three playlists: Open, Pro, and Tricolor. Tricolor Turf War is only available after the halfway results and pits four players from one team against two teams of two from the opposing teams.

After the Splatfest ends, the wins for each team will be tallied, and members of the winning team will receive special rewards. This is only one of many more Splatfests for Splatoon 3, so be sure to keep an eye out for additional announcements in the future.

Think hard about what matters most to you, and choose your side wisely!

Author
Image of Emily Morrow
Emily Morrow
Emily is a staff writer covering Apex Legends, Overwatch, Pokemon, and general gaming for Dot Esports. Her other bylines include Digital Trends, Screen Rant, and GameSpew. She also works as a narrative designer in games. Get in touch with her on Twitter @thepokeflute.
Author
Image of Nadine Manske
Nadine Manske
Nadine is a graduate of the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. She covers VALORANT and Overwatch with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region and marginalized genders in esports. Before joining Dot Esports as a freelance writer, she interned at Gen.G Esports and the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Her favorite Pokémon is Quagsire.
Author
Image of Justin-Ivan Labilles
Justin-Ivan Labilles
Freelance Writer for Dot Esports covering Apex Legends, League of Legends, and VALORANT. Justin has played video games throughout all of his life, starting his esports writing career in 2022 at The Game Haus. When he's not spectating matches, he can easily be found grinding the ranked ladder.