Animal Crossing's September Bug Off Is Today: Prizes, Event Hours, Tips, And More

Another Bug Off is happening in Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The bug-catching event returns for players in the Northern Hemisphere today, September 26, giving you another chance to net some bug-themed furniture, clothing, trophies, and other exclusive rewards.

Like the Fishing Tourney, the Bug Off is a long-running tradition in the Animal Crossing series, but it works a bit differently in New Horizons than in past games. To help get you up to speed, we've broken down everything you need to know about the Bug Off, how to participate, and what prizes you can earn below.

How Does The Bug Off Work?

The Bug Off is a recurring event hosted by Flick, one of the many NPCs who will regularly visit your island. The Bug Off takes place on different dates depending on if your game is set to the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, but it always falls on the third Saturday of the summer months:

Northern Hemisphere

• June
• July
• August
• September

Southern Hemisphere

• November
• December
• January
• February

The Bug Off runs from 9 AM to 6 PM your time. Unlike during his regular visits, Flick will be camped out in your town's plaza throughout the entire event, so you won't need to track him down. Simply speak to Flick to enter the competition and he'll give you three minutes to catch as many bugs as you can. Once time elapses, return to him to tally up your points and sell your haul. You can enter the Bug Off as many times as you'd like until the event ends at 6 PM, but each entry will cost 500 bells.

What Rewards Do You Get For Doing The Bug Off?

Based on how many bugs you catch during a round, Flick will award you points. Each bug you net is worth one point, and you'll receive an added two-point bonus if you can catch at least three before time runs out.

The points you earn during the Bug Off can be redeemed for exclusive prizes. Flick will give you a special piece of bug-themed clothing or furniture for every 10 points you amass. You can't choose which item to spend your points on, as they'll be given out at random, but you'll get one of each before Flick starts handing out duplicates. You can see the full list of prizes below:

Bug Off Prizes

• Artisanal Bug Cage
• Bug Aloha Shirt
• Bug Cage
• Bug Wand
• Butterfly Backpack
• Butterfly Wall
• Ladybug Rug
• Ladybug Umbrella
• Spider Doorplate
• Termite Mound
• Toy Centipede
• Toy Cockroach

In addition to those prizes, you'll also receive a special bug trophy if you hit certain point milestones before the Bug Off ends. Flick will tell you when you've reached these milestones, so you don't need to save up points or keep track of them. Your points will also carry over to the next Bug Off, so you won't be starting from scratch each time. We've listed all the bug trophies and how many points you need to accumulate to win them below:

Bug Trophies

• Bronze bug trophy (mailed to your house after amassing 100 points)
• Silver bug trophy (mailed to your house after amassing 200 points)
• Gold bug trophy (mailed to your house after amassing 300 points)

Bug Off Tips

Much like the Fishing Tourney, although you can participate in the Bug Off solo, your best bet is to team up with a friend or two for the event. The number of bugs each player catches will be added together at the end of the round, making it much easier to amass points and earn prizes.

Another thing to keep in mind while you hunt bugs is where they commonly spawn. You'll frequently see butterflies, stinkbugs, and other insects around flowers, so keep checking any flower beds you may have around the island. Since we're in the midst of summer, you'll also want to check tree stumps and palm trees, as that's where you'll commonly find beetles. Be sure to check out our bugs guide for more details on what bugs are available now and how you can catch them.

K.K. Slider's Rescheduled Concert

Since the Bug Off always takes place on a Saturday, K.K. Slider won't hold his regular weekly concert that day, but you'll still have a chance to catch him live. Following the recent 1.3.0 update, the wandering musician typically stops by your island on Sunday during weeks that an event is taking place Saturday, so the next time you'll be able to watch him perform is Sunday, September 27.