Fan Festival
Final Fantasy XIV Fan Festival (colloquially known as Fanfests) is a series of roughly biennial fan conventions that take place in the months before an expansion's release. They primarily take place in the three main regions of service, Japan, North America, and Europe. Details about the upcoming expansion are revealed at each of the events, including the title, new jobs, locations, raids, story content, and other major features or system updates. The conventions typically include a trailer, a keynote presentation by Naoki Yoshida, a Letter from the Producer LIVE, developer panels, a PvP Tournament, piano and rock concerts, and various activities such as scavenger hunts, cosplay showcases, and a preview of an upcoming trial fight. Additional Fan Festivals take place in South Korea and China in line with those service regions' patch schedules. The 2020 Fan Festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In its place, the 2021 Digital Fan Festival Around the World was streamed for free, coinciding with the in-game Moogle Treasure Festival 2021: The Hunt for Pageantry and other events.
2014
The 2014 Fan Festival previewed the Heavensward expansion. The battle challenge was an in-development version of the Urth's Fount fight against Odin. The in-game reward for attending was the Moogle Attire Set.
The North America event took place from October 17–19 at the Rio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. It revealed the name of the expansion.
The Europe event took place on October 25 at the Tobacco Dock in London, UK.
The Japan event took place from December 20–21 at Tokyo Big Sight.
2016–2017
The 2016–2017 Fan Festival previewed the Stormblood expansion. The battle challenge was an in-development version of Proto Ultima in a special instanced arena in Azys Lla. The in-game reward for attending was an option of the Abes Attire Set or the High Summoner's Attire Set, as well as one of three minions from Final Fantasy X, depending on which event or digital stream was purchased. They were Wind-up Rikku, Wind-up Lulu, and Wind-up Yuna for North America, Japan, and Europe, respectively.
The North America event took place from October 14–15, 2016 at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Japan event took place from December 24–25, 2016 at Tokyo Big Sight.
The Europe event took place from February 18–19, 2017 at Festhalle Frankfurt in Frankfurt, Germany.
2018–2019
The 2018–2019 Fan Festival previewed the Shadowbringers expansion. The battle challenge was an in-development version of the Kugane Ohashi fight against Yojimbo. The 2018 Feast Regional Championships took place at each event. The in-game reward for attending was the SDS Fenrir, as well as one of three minions from Final Fantasy VII, depending on which event or digital stream was purchased. They were Wind-up Tifa, Wind-up Cloud, and Wind-up Aerith for North America, Europe, and Japan, respectively.
The North America event took place from November 16–17, 2018 at the Rio Las Vegas Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Europe event took place from February 2–3, 2019 at Grande Halle de La Villette in Paris, France.
The Japan event took place from March 23–24, 2019 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba.
2021
The 2020–2021 Fan Festival events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They were originally scheduled for November 6–7, 2020 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California, December 19–20, 2020 at Aichi Sky Expo in Nagoya, Japan, and February 20–21, 2021 at ExCeL London in London, UK. In their place, the 2021 Digital Fan Festival Around the World was streamed for free from May 14–15, 2021 to preview the Endwalker expansion. No tickets were sold; instead certain new items were launched on the Final Fantasy XIV Online Store with a limited time discount during the event including the Lunar Whale, Wind-up Rydia, Wind-up Edge, Wind-up Rosa, Scions & Sinners: Piano Orchestrion Roll Set, Scions & Sinners: Band Orchestrion Roll Set, and Pulse Orchestrion Roll Set I.
Coinciding with the streamed shows were various in-game activities including Moogle Treasure Festival 2021: The Hunt for Pageantry, a screenshot contest, the Uznair Challenge, and other events.
2023–2024
The 2023–2024 Fan Festival previewed the Dawntrail expansion. The battle challenge was an in-development version of the Gilded Araya fight against Asura. The 2023 Crystalline Conflict Regional Championships took place at each event. No in-game items were included with a physical ticket and all stage events were streamed for free (other than the concerts). Instead, like the previous Fan Fest, certain new items were launched on the Online Store with a limited time discount including the Garlond GL-IS, Advent of Light, Fan-tastic Cheer Set, Eorzean Symphony Orchestrion Roll Set, Pulse Orchestrion Roll Set II, Forge Ahead: Piano Orchestrion Set, and Forge Ahead: Band Orchestrion Set.
The North America event took place from July 28–29, 2023 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Europe event took place from October 21–22, 2023 at ExCeL London in London, UK.
The Japan event took place from January 7–8, 2024 at the Tokyo Dome. The concerts were available via an optional paid stream.
2026
The 2026 Fan Festivals will preview the patch 8.x expansion.
The North America event will take place from April 24-25, 2026 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.
The Europe event will take place from July 25-26, 2026 at Messe Berlin, hub27 in Berlin, Germany.
The Japan event will take place from October 31-November 1, 2026 at Makuhari Messe in Tokyo.
It was implied by Naoki Yoshida that the gap between the Japanese Fanfest and the release of patch 8.0 will be comparatively short.
China
Fan Festivals have taken place in China in 2017, 2019, and 2024.
South Korea
Fan Festivals have taken place in South Korea in 2017, 2019, and 2024.