Fortnite’s annual birthday bash has become one of the most anticipated events on the island, and 2026 is no exception. This year marks the game’s 9th anniversary, and Epic Games is throwing a party complete with balloons, cake, and a fresh batch of limited-time quests. Any player who hops into Battle Royale mode between now and October 1, 2026, can rack up bonus Battle Pass XP and snap up three exclusive cosmetic items. The catch? Once the birthday candles are blown out and the event ends, these goodies disappear for good.
Time is short, so here’s everything you need to know to knock out the quests before the cake goes stale.
Limited-Time Birthday Quests for Fortnite’s 9th Anniversary
The birthday event brings a set of six quests, ranging from a simple emote to some slightly trickier gear-based feats. Every completed task rewards a handful of XP, and stacking them unlocks the birthday cosmetics. Here’s the full list of challenges players have to face:
| Quest | Quick Description |
|---|---|
| 🚌 Wish the Bus Driver a Happy Birthday | Use the emote button while riding the Battle Bus |
| 📦 Open Chests | Loot chests scattered around the island |
| 🍰 Consume Birthday Cake Slices | Find a birthday cake at most named locations and eat the slices next to it |
| 🎈 Release or Pop Balloons | Open balloons that drop randomly from chests or pop those you see in the world |
| 🎈 Travel 777 Units Airborne with Birthday Medallion Balloons | Equip a Birthday Medallion, let the balloons spawn, and float through the air |
| 🔥 Reveal Players with the Firework Flare Gun | Fire a firework flare gun to tag nearby enemies |
Most of these are straightforward and can be cleared in a single match if luck is on your side. The last two, however, demand a bit more patience and map knowledge.
How to Complete Each Quest Smoothly
A friendly emote for the Battle Bus driver is the easiest start. As soon as the bus launches, any player can press the emote button to mark the quest as done, even before jumping. Chests and cake slices come naturally. Birthday cakes sit in just about every named point of interest, including fan-favorite drop spots. All anyone has to do is run up to the cake, grab the glowing slices nearby, and consume them. No complex mechanics, no special conditions.
Balloons are another passive task. They emerge from chest loot at random, so opening every chest in sight usually does the trick. If patience runs short, keep an eye open for other players who have already released balloons and pop them with a weapon. One way or another, the counter ticks upward quickly.
Now, the two quests that cause the most head-scratching: airborne travel with a Birthday Medallion and the Firework Flare Gun.
To tackle the medallion quest, a player must first find a Legendary-quality Birthday Present item. This is a throwable object. When tossed, it spawns a giant birthday present structure that holds a Birthday Medallion. Equip that medallion, and balloons will periodically appear on the character’s back, giving a massive jump boost and a gentle fall. Floating around for 777 units — a combined distance measured by the in-game counter — might take a couple of tries. The tricky part is locating a Birthday Present at all, because they are extremely rare. Players often need multiple matches to stumble across one. Once the medallion is in hand, though, staying airborne near high cliffs or in open fields is a breeze.
The Firework Flare Gun quest calls for a different approach. This pistol-style weapon drops as ground loot. When fired, it launches a spectacular firework that briefly marks all nearby opponents. To clear the quest fast, a player should aim it over a crowded hotspot — think Tilted Towers or a busy endgame circle — and let the flare fly. A single well-placed shot can reveal several enemies at once, ticking the quest off the list in seconds.
All 9th Birthday Rewards and How to Unlock Them
Epic keeps the reward structure simple. Players don’t have to finish every single quest to grab the exclusive cosmetics. Instead, the prizes unlock at completion milestones:
-
Birthday Bud Spray — complete 1 birthday quest
-
Cake Clobberer Pickaxe — complete 3 birthday quests
-
Sprinkly Space Cake Back Bling — complete 5 birthday quests
This means a player can skip the toughest quest — perhaps the medallion hunt or the flare gun challenge — and still walk away with all three cosmetics just by polishing off the simpler tasks. Given the October 1 deadline, that’s a welcome safety net. For Battle Pass XP grinds, though, every quest helps.
The back bling in particular has turned heads this year. Its galactically sweet design makes it a standout addition to any locker combo. The pickaxe, with its cake-inspired smashing style, also brings a playful touch to eliminations.
With only days left on the clock, anyone still missing these items should jump into a match right away. A few chest openings, a slice of cake, and a quick emote on the bus will get you most of the way there. The island is celebrating, and the loot is only here for a moment. Don’t let the 9th birthday party end without your share of the cake.