Kirby Air Riders Global Test Ride Schedule Download Demo Times

Kirby fans are in for a treat-Nintendo is rolling out a global test ride for Kirby Air Riders, giving players a limited-time chance to speed through Dream Land’s racetracks for free before its full release.

What time is the Kirby Air Riders Global Test Ride event?

The Kirby Air Riders Global Test Ride event starts on February 7, 2026, at 10 a.m. UTC and runs through February 9, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. UTC. During this period, players worldwide can try the game for free on Nintendo Switch and race across a selection of courses in both offline and online modes. The trial offers full multiplayer functionality, giving participants a complete sense of the game’s fast-paced racing experience before its full release.

There will be two weekends of playtests, one on Nov. 8-9 and one on Nov. 15-16. The Saturday playtest days have two sessions and the Sundays have one. Note that the hours really vary here, so you’ll want to figure out what the best playtest session for your timezone is. There are definitely some sessions that suit one timezone over the other (but if you want to wake up at 3 a.m. to play Kirby Air Riders, I won’t judge you).

Global Test Ride #1

The first playtest starts on Saturday, Nov. 8, though it may end in the wee hours of Nov. 9, depending on your timezone.

12-6 a.m. PST for the west coast of North America
3-9 a.m. EST for the east coast of North America
5-11 a.m. BRT for Brazil
8 a.m. until 2 p.m. GMT for the U.K.
9 a.m. until 3 p.m. CET for western Europe
5 p.m. until 11 p.m. JST for Japan
7 p.m. until 1 a.m. AEDT for the east coast of Australia

Global Test Ride #2

This second playtest session takes place on Nov. 8 or 9, depending on your timezone.

4-10 p.m. PST on Saturday, Nov. 8 for the west coast of North America
7 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8 until 1 a.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 9 for the east coast of North America
9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8 until 3 a.m. BRT on Sunday, Nov. 9 for Brazil
12-6 a.m. GMT on Sunday, Nov. 9 for the U.K.
1-7 a.m. CET on Sunday, Nov. 9for western Europe
9 a.m.until 3 p.m. JST on Sunday, Nov. 9for Japan
11 a.m. until 5 p.m. AEDT on Sunday, Nov. 9for the east coast of Australia

Global Test Ride #3

This third playtest (and the last one for the first weekend) mainly takes place on Sunday, Nov. 9, but it starts in the early hours of Nov. 10 for some timezones.

7 a.m. until 1 p.m. PST for the west coast of North America
10 a.m. until 4 p.m. EST for the east coast of North America
12-6 p.m. BRT for Brazil
3-9 p.m. GMT for the U.K.
4-10 p.m. CET for western Europe
12-6 a.m. JSTon Monday, Nov. 10 for Japan
2-8 a.m. AEDTon Monday, Nov. 10 for the east coast of Australia

Global Test Ride #4

This test ride is the same schedule as the first one, though it’s on Saturday,Nov. 15 this time.

12-6 a.m. PST for the west coast of North America
3-9 a.m. EST for the east coast of North America
5-11 a.m. BRT for Brazil
8 a.m. until 2 p.m. GMT for the U.K.
9 a.m. until 3 p.m. CET for western Europe
5 p.m. until 11 p.m. JST for Japan
7 p.m. until 1 a.m. AEDT for the east coast of Australia

Global Test Ride #5

Again, this playtest session takes place at the same time as the later one in the previous week, though it takes place on Nov. 15-16, depending on your timezone:

4-10 p.m. PST on Saturday, Nov. 15 for the west coast of North America
7 p.m. EST on Saturday, Nov. 15 until 1 a.m. EST on Sunday, Nov. 16 for the east coast of North America
9 p.m. BRT on Saturday, Nov. 15 until 3 a.m. BRT on Sunday, Nov. 16 for Brazil
12-6 a.m. GMT on Sunday, Nov. 16 for the U.K.
1-7 a.m. CET on Sunday, Nov. 16for western Europe
9 a.m.until 3 p.m. JST on Sunday, Nov. 16for Japan
11 a.m. until 5 p.m. AEDT on Sunday, Nov. 16for the east coast of Australia

Global Test Ride #6

This final global test takes place at the same time as the fourth one, though it runs on Nov. 16-17, depending on where you are:

7 a.m. until 1 p.m. PST for the west coast of North America
10 a.m. until 4 p.m. EST for the east coast of North America
12-6 p.m. BRT for Brazil
3-9 p.m. GMT for the U.K.
4-10 p.m. CET for western Europe
12-6 a.m. JSTon Monday, Nov. 17 for Japan
2-8 a.m. AEDTon Monday, Nov. 17 for the east coast of Australia

How do I download the Global Test Ride demo on Switch 2

You download Kirby Air Riders: Global Test Ride on Switch 2 directly from the Nintendo eShop.

Step-by-step on Switch 2

From the HOME Menu, press the Home button and select the Nintendo eShop (bag icon).
In the eShop, use the search bar and type “Kirby Air Riders: Global Test Ride” (or search for Kirby Air Riders and open the Global Test Ride entry).
Select the Kirby Air Riders: Global Test Ride page, then choose “Free Download” to start downloading.
Once installed, launch the demo from your HOME Menu; you can play during the active Global Test Ride time windows, and lessons are available outside the online sessions.

Online play requirements

A Nintendo Switch Online membership is required for online modes like City Trial, but offline content (lessons and some Air Ride content) does not require NSO.

Where to find the demo in Nintendo eShop on Switch 2

On Switch 2, the Kirby Air Riders Global Test Ride is found in the same general places as other free demos in the Nintendo eShop.

Fastest way (search)

Open the eShop from the HOME Menu and choose your user profile.
Go to Search, type “Kirby Air Riders”, then select the entry labeled “Kirby Air Riders: Global Test Ride” and choose Free Download / Download Demo.

Browsing via demo filters

In eShop, open Search, scroll down to Filters / Filtered search, and enable Software with demo available.
Run the filtered search, then look through the list of demos until you see Kirby Air Riders: Global Test Ride, open its page, and select Download Demo.