If you’re hoping Fortnite’s Winterfest is still handing out freebies, bad news: the cabin is closed, the presents are gone, and Glacial Dummy and Cheeks are officially off the table. Winterfest ended earlier this January, so you’ll have to look elsewhere for your summer skin fix.
Thankfully, free Fortnite skins aren’t completely dried up. There’s even a festive one still around if you’re still in the seasonal spirit. Only difference is that this month, the skins aren’t just free presents to open. Think account linking, LEGO quests, and the occasional oddly specific promotion instead of wrapping paper and snow globes.
Here’s what’s actually free right now, what’s not, and what to ignore.
Winterfest Skins Are Over
Let’s get this out of the way first. Winterfest 2025 is done.
Glacial Dummy and Cheeks were only available by opening presents inside the Winterfest cabin during the event window. If you missed them, there’s no backup method, no late unlock, and no secret code floating around Reddit. They’re gone.
Any guide still listing Winterfest skins as available in late January is outdated.
LEGO Fortnite Is Still Doing the Heavy Lifting
If you want free skins in January 2026 without grinding tournaments or spending money “by accident,” LEGO Fortnite remains the easiest win.
Explorer Emilie
Explorer Emilie unlocks the moment you link your LEGO Insiders account to your Epic Games account. No quests, no XP grind, no time limit. This is one of the most painless free skins Fortnite has ever offered.
Mr. Dappermint
Same deal as Emilie. Link LEGO Insiders to Epic, and Mr. Dappermint drops straight into your locker. Bright, goofy, and very much a LEGO Fortnite mascot skin.
Trailblazer Tai
Trailblazer Tai requires slightly more effort, but not much. Complete a short set of LEGO Fortnite quests and he’s yours. The quests are simple, the mode is chill, and there’s no expiry date attached.
If you haven’t touched LEGO Fortnite yet, this trio is currently the best return on investment for your time.
Other Free Skins Still Available
GHOST Monks
GHOST Monks is unlocked by redeeming a specific Fortnite promotional gift card. Regular V-Bucks cards do not count, which is where most players trip up. Once redeemed, the skin appears instantly in your locker.
Epic has hinted this one could rotate into the Item Shop eventually, but for now, the promo card is the only way.
Mad Moxxi Bundle*
This one isn’t free, it’s free. Buying Borderlands 4 through the Epic Store will drop Moxxi’s bundle into your connected Fortnite account as a bonus.
Skins You’ll See Mentioned but Can’t Actually Get
A lot of “January 2026 free skins” lists quietly mix in expired rewards. Here’s what’s no longer obtainable right now.
Elite Zadie was tied to a 2025 tournament.
UNSC Spartan required hitting Level 100 in a past Battle Pass.
Sage was a previous PlayStation Plus pack.
First Order Stormtrooper required a MyDisney account link that has since expired.
These may come back in future promos, but as of now, they’re not free, unlockable, or secretly claimable.
About Those Free Skin Codes
There are no active universal Fortnite skin codes in January 2026. Epic has largely moved away from public code drops in favor of events, challenges, and partnerships. Any site promising “working free skin codes” should be treated with extreme skepticism.
The January 2026 Reality Check
Right now, free skins are few and far between. It’s a disapointment because the last couple of months it’s been raining skins with crossovers and events. Who knows though, maybe next week will bring a skin-filled suprise? Either way, we’ll keep this updated as news breaks.