When is the next Fortnite update? v40.00 release date and more

Fortnite's v40.00 update is all set to arrive on March 19, 2026. It is going to be a major patch and will mark the launch of Chapter 7 Season 2: Showdown. As part of the same, there will be a new storyline commencing in the battle royale title.
The patch comes after the extended Chapter 7 Season 1, which was the longest season in five years. In the section below, we take a look at all the known details regarding the upcoming Fortnite v40.00 update.

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2 update release date and timings

Following the pattern of previous major updates, it is anticipated that the Fortnite v40.00 update will be released at 4:00 AM ET / 1:00 AM PT on March 19, 2026, across all regions globally. The update will feature server maintenance lasting approximately 3-4 hours before the patch goes live, during which you will not be able to access the Battle Royale, Zero Build, and other game modes.
Essentially, v40.00 is anticipated to introduce a revamped battle royale map, new weapons, balance mechanics, and story content concluding The Seven's narrative arc.
Here are the expected release timings for the Fortnite v40.00 update:
North America:

• Pacific Time (PT): 1:00 AM
• Mountain Time (MT): 2:00 AM
• Central Time (CT): 3:00 AM
• Eastern Time (ET): 4:00 AM

Europe:

• Greenwich Mean Time (GMT): 9:00 AM
• Central European Time (CET): 10:00 AM
• Eastern European Time (EET): 11:00 AM

Asia:

• India Standard Time (IST): 2:30 PM
• Japan Standard Time (JST): 6:00 PM
• Singapore Standard Time (SGT): 5:30 PM

Oceania:

• Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT): 8:00 PM
• New Zealand Daylight Time (NZDT): 10:00 PM

Fortnite v40.00 update expected content

Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 2: Showdown will be bringing highly anticipated chances to the game. It is basically expected to introduce a completely revamped with new locations, landmarks, and POIs. Speaking of the storyline, the new Season 2 is likely going to focus on Ice King and The Foundation, which was already seen in the teaser released by Epic Games.
Lastly, you can also expect new weapons, vehicles, and mythic items to overhaul the existing loot pool and combat mechanics.

Fortnite v40.00 update maintenance window

Before the update goes live, Epic Games will put the servers under maintenance for around 3 hours. During the downtime, you will not be able to play the game. The exact maintenance duration will be announced by the developers on @FortniteStatus, and you can follow the same.
Further details about the new Fortnite update will likely be revealed as the March 19 release date draws closer.