I stared at the countdown clock on my screen and felt the tiny panic that comes when a rare drop has a deadline. You and your Duo are two matches away from the cup window closing, and the Aaliyah outfit is the prize everyone is whispering about — like a timed heist. The lobby feels electric; one mistake and the chance slips away.
I’ve tracked Fortnite events for years, and I’ll cut to the chase: you can earn the Aaliyah skin for free if you put in the work on the right day. Below I’ll tell you exactly when to show up, what placements matter by region, and what happens if you decide to buy instead of compete.
At the back of the queue the map glows with festival icons — How to Claim the Aaliyah Skin for Free
The Aaliyah outfit is the Reload Lantern Fest mascot for Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 1, introduced by Epic Games during the Lantern Fest celebration that coincides with Ramadan. If you want the skin without paying, you and a partner must play the Reload Lantern Fest Duos Cup on March 3, 2026 and secure a high placement in your region’s leaderboard.
Here’s the placement threshold your Duo must reach during the Cup playlist to earn Aaliyah for free:
- EU: Top 2,350
- NA Central: Top 900
- NA West: Top 400
- Brazil: Top 400
- Asia: Top 250
- Oceania: Top 250
- Middle East: Top 250
Is the Aaliyah Fortnite skin available for free?
Yes. You can earn the Aaliyah skin by competing in the Reload Lantern Fest Duos Cup on March 3, 2026 and finishing within your region’s required placement range.
The pre-match chat tightens and you adjust sensitivity — What the Cup Needs from You
The Cup uses Fortnite’s standard competitive playlist for limited-time events, similar to how the Sung Jin-woo skin cup awarded that outfit for players who placed high. Expect the same focus on consistent placements and survival points rather than one-off eliminations.
Play smart: prioritize placement points in later circles, rotate to avoid hot-drop chaos unless you’re confident, and split responsibilities with your Duo partner (one hunts rotations, the other holds high ground). I recommend warming up in Arena or scrims beforehand so your aim and rotations feel clean when the Cup opens.
When will the Aaliyah skin release in the Fortnite Item Shop?
If you miss the Cup, Epic Games typically adds the event outfit to the Item Shop shortly after the competition window closes. That means you’ll likely see Aaliyah appear in the shop within days after March 3, 2026.
You tab to the Item Shop between matches — If You Miss the Cup: Item Shop Details and Price
If you decide to skip the Cup stress-test, the Aaliyah skin will be purchasable in the Fortnite Item Shop. The expected price is about 1,500 V-Bucks (roughly $11.99 / €11), and the event bundle should include Ramadan-themed extras like a matching pickaxe and back bling.
V-Bucks are Epic’s currency for Fortnite; you can buy enough V-Bucks through the Epic Games Store or console stores ahead of time if you plan to purchase the skin the moment it drops.
How much will the Aaliyah skin in Fortnite cost?
Epic is expected to price the skin at approximately 1,500 V-Bucks, which converts to around $11.99 (≈ €11) when it hits the Item Shop.
I’ve seen events tilt a lobby into frenzy in seconds, and Lantern Fest looks primed for that same intensity — like catching a comet, you only get a flash to grab it. You can test your skill and earn the skin for free on March 3, 2026, or buy it later; which route will you take to claim Aaliyah?