TL;DR

The Festival Playlist is FH6’s main reward pass — earn points each week to unlock free cars and items.
You must earn your first Wristband before the Festival Playlist becomes available to you.
Series 1 “Welcome to Japan” runs May 21 to June 18, 2026 with 10 Japanese cars as rewards.
Earn 60 PTS in Series 1 to unlock the rare 2008 Mazda Furai — the headline reward.
Earn 120 PTS across Series 1 for the 2010 Nissan 370Z series reward.
Series History Rewards are new in FH6 — exclusive cars based on lifetime Playlist Points, reducing FOMO.
VIP Membership gives a permanent 2x credit boost, weekly Super Wheelspin, 3 Forza Edition cars, and the Tokyo City House.
Car Pass delivers 30 cars across 30 weeks — one free car added to your garage every week.
Weekly reward cars rotate — miss a week and you miss that car (except Series History Rewards).

Table of Contents

What Is the Forza Horizon 6 Reward Pass?

Forza Horizon 6 does not use a traditional battle pass like many live-service games. Instead, its reward system is built around the Festival Playlist — a rotating set of weekly events and challenges that pay out free cars, clothing, credits, and cosmetics. Think of it as the game’s ongoing content engine, refreshed every week.

Alongside the Festival Playlist, FH6 has several other reward systems layered on top: the VIP Membership, the Car Pass, the Welcome Pack, the Time Attack Car Pack, and the brand-new Series History Rewards. Each works differently. Understanding all of them helps you plan what to prioritise from your very first session.

This guide explains every reward system in Forza Horizon 6, how each one works, what you get, and what to unlock first.

If you are still finding your feet in the game, our Forza Horizon 6 Beginner’s Guide walks through the full progression system from Tourist to Legend, including how to earn your first Wristband quickly.

How to Unlock the Festival Playlist

The Festival Playlist is not available from the moment you start the game. You first need to earn your Yellow Wristband — the first of seven Festival Wristbands — before the Playlist tab becomes active.

To get the Yellow Wristband, complete the Horizon Qualifiers and the Horizon Invitational. This takes a few hours of normal play through the opening campaign. Once done, the Festival Playlist unlocks and you can start earning points from that week’s events immediately.

Only C Class cars are usable at events until you earn this first Wristband. Each Wristband after that unlocks higher car class events. There are 7 Wristbands in total — the Gold Wristband is the final one and unlocks Legend Island and its exclusive events. For the full journey, see our Forza Horizon 6 Legend Island Guide.

How the Festival Playlist Works in Forza Horizon 6

The Festival Playlist is the backbone of FH6’s ongoing content and reward system. Here is the full structure explained clearly.

Series and Seasons

Each Festival Playlist runs for four weeks — one full in-game seasonal cycle covering Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring in order. Each four-week block is called a Series. Series 1 is “Welcome to Japan” running from May 21 to June 18, 2026. Series 2, called “Horizon Decades,” begins June 18.

Each in-game season lasts exactly one real-world week. When the season changes, new challenges replace the old ones and new weekly reward cars become available. If you miss a week, you miss that week’s specific cars — they do not carry forward to the next season.

How Playlist Points Work

Everything you complete in the Festival Playlist earns Playlist Points (PTS). Races, championships, PR stunts, photo challenges, and new FH6 challenge types all award points on completion. You accumulate points both within each individual season and across the full four-week series total.

There are two point thresholds per season:

20 PTS — unlocks the first seasonal reward car
40 PTS — unlocks the second seasonal reward car

And two series-wide thresholds covering all four weeks combined:

60 PTS — unlocks the headline series reward car
120 PTS — unlocks the full series reward car

You do not need to max every event. Spread your effort across four weeks at whatever pace suits you. Just make sure you check in each week before the season resets.

Event Types in the Playlist

Each week’s Playlist includes a mix of activities: races, championships, PR stunts, photo challenges, and collectible tasks. FH6 introduces new challenge types not seen in previous Horizon games, giving more variety in how you earn points. Participation counts toward your total — winning at a higher level earns more points per event, but simply completing challenges still moves you forward.

Series 1 — Welcome to Japan: Full Reward Car List

Series 1 is themed entirely around Japanese car culture. Every reward car comes from a Japanese manufacturer. There are 10 cars to earn in total — two available across the full series run, and eight rotating in weekly.

Series-Wide Rewards (Available All Four Weeks)

2008 Mazda Furai — Earn 60 PTS during the Welcome to Japan series. The Furai is the headline reward. It is a legendary rotary-powered concept car — visually stunning, historically significant, and one that no longer exists in the real world after being destroyed during filming. It is one of the most desirable cars in FH6.
2010 Nissan 370Z — Earn 120 total Series Points across the full four-week run.

Summer Season Rewards (Week 1)

1999 Toyota Altezza RS200 Z Edition — Earn 20 PTS during Summer
2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX MR — Earn 40 PTS during Summer

Autumn Season Rewards (Week 2)

1997 Nissan Skyline GT-R V-Spec — Earn 20 PTS during Autumn
1991 Honda CR-X SiR — Earn 40 PTS during Autumn

Winter Season Rewards (Week 3)

2019 Subaru STI S209 — Earn 20 PTS during Winter
2016 Toyota Land Cruiser Arctic Trucks — Earn 40 PTS during Winter

Spring Season Rewards (Week 4)

1996 Toyota Starlet Glanza V — Earn 20 PTS during Spring
1974 Toyota Corolla SR5 — Earn 40 PTS during Spring

Missing a season means missing that season’s cars permanently — unless they return in a future series or become available through Series History Rewards or the Auction House. Do not skip weeks if you want to complete your collection.

Cherry Blossom Badge — Series 1 Exclusive

Completing each type of Festival Playlist activity in Series 1 earns you a special Cherry Blossom Badge for your in-game profile. It is a cosmetic reward but exclusive to Series 1. Make sure you try every activity type — not just races — before June 18.

Series History Rewards — The New Anti-FOMO System

One of the most important changes in FH6’s reward system is the introduction of Series History Rewards. This is brand new to the Horizon series and directly addresses the biggest criticism of previous Festival Playlists — the FOMO.

Series History Rewards are exclusive cars unlocked based on your total lifetime Playlist Points across all series combined. As you keep participating week after week and series after series, your lifetime points grow — and when you hit certain milestones, exclusive cars unlock regardless of when you played or which specific events you participated in.

This means that even if you miss a series entirely, your long-term consistency is still rewarded. Players who show up every week across multiple series will hit History Reward thresholds naturally. It is the game’s way of rewarding sustained engagement rather than forcing you to be present for every single limited window.

The full list of Series History threshold cars and their point requirements has not been fully detailed at launch. The best strategy is simple: keep earning Playlist Points every week. The History Rewards will arrive over time as your total climbs.

Series 2 — Horizon Decades: What Is Coming Next

Series 2 “Horizon Decades” begins June 18, 2026. It introduces a new temporary Car Meet, 10 Series Reward Cars, and the debut of The Trial — a cooperative multiplayer event where a team of players races against Drivatar AI opponents.

Playground Games deliberately kept The Trial out of Series 1 to avoid pressuring players to rush through earning the Gold Wristband. From Series 2 onward, The Trial is available exclusively to Horizon Legends. If you want access from day one of Series 2, work toward the Gold Wristband before June 18.

Four new Car Pass vehicles also drop with Series 2 for Car Pass holders, continuing the weekly delivery schedule.

VIP Membership — Full Benefits Explained

VIP Membership is a permanent, one-time purchase included with the Premium Edition and Premium Upgrade. It can also be bought separately. Here is everything it includes:

2x Credit boost on all race rewards — permanently. Every race payout is doubled, forever. This stacks on top of difficulty bonuses you are already earning. It is the single most valuable credit multiplier available in the game.
Weekly bonus Super Wheelspin. One free Super Wheelspin every week, permanently. Super Wheelspins give three spins at once and can pay out high-value cars, large credit prizes, and exclusive cosmetics.
3 VIP-exclusive Forza Edition cars — including the 1999 Dodge Viper GTS ACR Forza Edition. Forza Edition cars have special Car Mastery trees with credit and XP bonus perks not available on standard versions.
Tokyo City House — gifted for free. All players can buy this property with in-game credits, but VIP members receive it immediately at no cost. It includes a customizable garage and counts toward your Discover Japan Stamp progress.
Crown Flair, Hero Pose Emote, and Yōkoso Car Horn — exclusive vanity items that distinguish VIP players in Car Meets and open-world sessions.

The 2x credit multiplier is the headline benefit. It stacks on top of difficulty bonuses, Hakusan Mountain Lodge bonuses, and any other credit boosts you have active. If you are planning to farm credits seriously, VIP transforms every method available. Read our Forza Horizon 6 Credits Farming Guide to see exactly how much the 2x boost adds across different methods.

Car Pass — 30 Cars Over 30 Weeks

The Car Pass is FH6’s paid weekly car delivery system. It delivers 30 new cars across 30 weeks — one free addition to your garage each week starting May 19, 2026. Car Pass is included with the Deluxe and Premium Editions and the Premium Upgrade. It can also be purchased separately.

Every Car Pass vehicle is added directly to your garage at zero credit cost. You do not pay in-game credits for them — they simply appear each week. Over 30 weeks, this saves you potentially millions of credits compared to buying the same vehicles from the Autoshow or Auction House.

Confirmed Series 1 Car Pass Vehicles

1990 Nissan #12 Skyline GT-R (BNR32 Gr. A) JTC — Available May 19. A legendary race-spec Skyline with 29 JTCC championship victories, powered by an inline 6-cylinder 2.5-litre engine and equipped with ATTESA E-TS AWD and Super HICAS four-wheel steering.
Three additional Car Pass vehicles are delivered in Weeks 2, 3, and 4 of Series 1 — full details to be revealed weekly.

Four more Car Pass cars arrive with Series 2 from June 18. The full 30-car list beyond the first four vehicles has not been revealed at launch.

Cars you receive through the Car Pass that you do not want or already have duplicates of can be listed on the Auction House for credits. Rare Car Pass vehicles often sell for significant amounts — especially after their initial delivery window passes and supply drops.

Welcome Pack — Five Pre-Tuned Cars and a Free Voucher

The Welcome Pack is included with the Premium Edition and Premium Upgrade, and available separately. It contains:

5 special pre-tuned cars ready to race immediately — no upgrade investment needed to be competitive with them from day one.
An Autoshow Car Voucher — redeemable for any car available from the Autoshow. This excludes Festival Playlist-exclusive cars, Forza Edition cars, and DLC cars, but covers the full standard Autoshow catalogue.
3 clothing tickets — redeemable for any Common or Rare clothing items from the wardrobe.

The Autoshow Car Voucher is the most valuable item in the Welcome Pack. Do not waste it on a cheap car you could buy later with farmed credits. Check Autoshow prices before redeeming and pick the most expensive car that actually fits your playstyle and intended event types. Our Best Starter Cars guide and Best Cars in Every Class guide are both worth reading before you redeem.

Time Attack Car Pack — Eight Circuit-Ready Cars

The Time Attack Car Pack is included with the Premium Edition and Premium Upgrade. It delivers 8 legendary cars specifically tuned for FH6’s Time Attack Circuits around Japan. Each car is race-ready immediately — no upgrades or tuning required to be competitive in Time Attack events.

Time Attack is a standalone mode in FH6 where you set the best lap time possible on dedicated circuits. The pack gives you a strong head start in these events without needing to build and tune your own car from scratch.

Italian Passion Car Pack — Coming Post-Launch

The Italian Passion Car Pack is included with the Premium Edition and Premium Upgrade but is not available at launch. It arrives post-release and adds 4 Italian cars to your garage. Specific vehicles have not been confirmed at time of writing.

If you purchase the Premium Edition expecting this pack on day one, be aware it is a post-launch addition. It will appear automatically in your rewards collection once Playground Games releases it.

Premium Expansions — Two Full Content Drops Included

The Premium Edition and Premium Upgrade include two upcoming game expansions. Each expansion will introduce a new location, new vehicles, and new gameplay content. Full details have not been announced at launch.

Historically, Horizon expansions have introduced entirely new playable maps, dozens of exclusive cars, and unique event types distinct from the main campaign. If you plan to stay with FH6 long-term, these expansions represent the biggest single value addition in the Premium Edition beyond the Car Pass and VIP Membership.

Loyalty Rewards — Free Cars for Returning Players

Completely separate from the Festival Playlist, Forza Horizon 6 gives returning Forza players up to six free cars for having save data from previous Forza titles on the same Xbox Gamertag. Every loyalty car is the cover vehicle from its respective game.

Confirmed loyalty reward cars include the 2021 Mercedes-AMG ONE (for Forza Horizon 5 players), the 2016 Lamborghini Centenario LP 770-4, the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray (for Forza Motorsport 2023 players), and the original 2013 Dodge SRT Viper GTS. These are elite, high-value vehicles worth millions of credits that arrive in your garage before you have even properly started the campaign.

For the full list and exact claim steps, see our Legacy Cars and Loyalty Rewards Guide.

The Three Progression Systems That Connect to Rewards

FH6’s reward systems sit on top of three distinct progression tracks. Understanding how they connect helps you use your time efficiently.

Wristbands — Festival Campaign Path

There are 7 Festival Wristbands. Each new Wristband opens events with higher car class restrictions. Road, Dirt, and Cross Country races, Time Attack Circuits, Drag Meets, PR Stunts, and Bonus Boards all earn Horizon Festival Points toward your next Wristband. The Gold Wristband unlocks Legend Island and its exclusive events — including the longest Goliath race in the series. See our Goliath Race Guide for everything on that event.

Stamps — Discover Japan Exploration Path

Stamps come from the Discover Japan track in your Collection Journal. Everything you find in Japan earns Stamp progress — customising cars, photographing murals, smashing mascots, finding landmarks, completing Street Races and Touge Battles, doing food deliveries, and more. There are 7 Stamps total. Collecting them unlocks Barn Find Rumours and new properties across Japan. Smashing all 200 mascots alone earns 1,000,000 CR plus significant Stamp progress — see our Japan Map Guide for full regional breakdowns.

Horizon Play — Multiplayer Path

Horizon Play covers multiplayer modes including The Eliminator, Hide and Seek, Touge Showdown, Spec Racing, Horizon Racing, and Horizon Drift. Playing any Horizon Play mode earns XP and Badges. Critically, each Horizon Play level earned up to Level 25 grants Horizon Festival Points toward your next Wristband. This means multiplayer-focused players can still advance campaign progression without being forced into offline racing events.

What to Unlock First — Priority Order for New Players

1. Earn your first Wristband as fast as possible. Nothing in the Festival Playlist reward system is accessible until you have it. Make this your opening goal.
2. Claim your Loyalty Rewards immediately. Free high-value cars that cost nothing and need no effort beyond linking your Gamertag. Claim them before anything else. See our Legacy Cars Guide.
3. Claim the Crunchyroll Car Voucher if you are eligible. A free car in two minutes. See our Crunchyroll Car Voucher Guide.
4. Start the Festival Playlist immediately after unlocking it. Every week has a hard deadline. The Summer season of Series 1 only runs for one week. Miss it and you miss the Toyota Altezza and Lancer Evo IX MR permanently.
5. Target 60 PTS across Series 1 for the Mazda Furai. This is the rarest and most desirable car in Series 1. Sixty points across four weeks is achievable without heavy grinding — just participate each week.
6. Use your Welcome Pack Autoshow Car Voucher wisely. Check prices first. Pick the most expensive car that fits your playstyle — not the first thing that looks exciting. Read our Best Cars in Every Class guide before redeeming.
7. Buy the Hakusan Mountain Lodge early for a permanent 10% credit bonus on all earnings. The sooner you buy it, the sooner it compounds across every farming session. See our Credits Farming Guide for why this matters.
8. Keep earning Playlist Points every series to build your lifetime total for Series History Rewards. These are long-term unlocks that reward sustained play — they will come naturally over time if you stay consistent.

Festival Playlist Tips — How to Maximise Points Each Week

Log in at the start of each week. New events go live when the season changes. You have exactly seven days to complete what is available before it resets.
You do not need to complete everything. Targeting 20 PTS per season gets you the first car. Targeting 40 PTS gets both. Prioritise efficiently rather than burning through every single challenge.
Never skip Photo Challenges. They take two minutes and award Playlist Points. Most players ignore them while chasing race events. That is free points being left on the table every week.
Prioritise championships over single races. A 3-race championship pays significantly more PTS per time invested than three separate single events.
Use the right car for each event type. Running the wrong class into a Playlist event costs you the win and lowers your points payout. For dirt and cross-country Playlist events, see our Best Off-Road and Dirt Cars guide. For touge events, check our Best Cars for Touge Battles guide.
Complete every challenge type in Series 1 for the Cherry Blossom Badge. It is only earnable during Series 1 and cannot be obtained after June 18.
Sell surplus reward cars on the Auction House. Duplicate or unwanted Playlist cars can be listed for credits — especially after their series ends and supply drops in the Auction House. See our Credits Farming Guide for the full Auction House strategy.

What Happens When Series 1 Ends?

When Series 1 ends on June 18, Series 2 begins and Series 1’s weekly reward cars are no longer directly earnable through the Playlist. However, there are still ways to access them:

Playground Games may cycle older Playlist cars back into future series rotations — this has been common in previous Horizon games.
Series 1 cars will appear on the Auction House as players list their earned vehicles. Rare cars like the Mazda Furai will carry premium prices.
Series History Rewards provide a long-term path to some exclusive vehicles based on total lifetime points, without requiring participation in any specific time window.

Going forward the structure is straightforward: a new four-week series arrives every month with its own theme, reward cars, and Car Pass additions. Show up each week, earn your points, and the free cars keep coming. The players who stay consistent build the strongest garages over time — and the new Series History Rewards system means that consistency is now rewarded even when you miss individual weeks.

Where to Get Forza Horizon 6

Forza Horizon 6 is available now on Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and PlayStation 5. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can play at no extra cost.

Before installing on PC, check our Forza Horizon 6 PC Requirements Guide to confirm your system is ready.

Forza Horizon 6 Reward Pass Guide — How It Works & What to Unlock First

What Is the Forza Horizon 6 Reward Pass?

How to Unlock the Festival Playlist