Brands run sweepstakes around the moments people are already thinking about: holidays, sports seasons, back to school. Once you know the pattern, you can look for the prizes you want at the right time of year.
January and February
Football playoffs and the big championship game bring a wave of promotions from snack, beverage, and TV brands, often with game tickets, TVs, and party packs. New Year's means fitness, health, and organizing giveaways. Valentine's Day brings jewelry, flowers, chocolate, and couples' getaways.
March and April
College basketball season wraps up, with plenty of sports and snack promotions. Spring also kicks off home and garden giveaways: grills, patio sets, lawn equipment. Easter brings candy and family prizes.
May and June
Mother's Day and Father's Day mean gift-style prizes: spa days, tools, grills, gift cards. Summer travel promotions start up, with trips, luggage, and airline or hotel credit. Outdoor and camping brands are busy too.
July and August
Grilling, July 4th, and summer drinks lead the way. Then back-to-school takes over in late July and August: laptops, tablets, school supplies, and gift cards from retailers.
September and October
Football season is back, so expect a lot of tailgate and game-day promotions. Fall brings home and cooking giveaways, and October has Halloween candy and costume promotions.
November and December
This is the busiest stretch of the year. Many brands run daily "12 days" or advent-style giveaways with a different prize every day. Electronics, toys, and gift cards are everywhere. Many of these run only a short time, so check often.
Holiday giveaways that change every day are easy to miss. Saving them on SweepQueue means you get a reminder when the next day's entry opens.
What stays the same all year
Gift card sweepstakes, cash prizes, and daily-entry promotions run year-round. So do sweepstakes tied to TV shows, music, and movies. Don't wait for a season to start entering.
A few tips for busy seasons
- Plan for more entries. During the holidays, your daily list can double. Keep your daily routine short by dropping ones you don't care about.
- Watch the end dates. Seasonal promotions are often short, sometimes just a week or two.
- Check your email more often. More entries mean more chances of a winner notice landing in spam.
See what's open right now in new sweepstakes or ending this week.