Last updated: September 14, 2026. BlizzCon 2026 took place on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, at the Anaheim Convention Center in California. For its major return, Blizzard used the event to reveal the future of its main franchises with several major announcements: Diablo V, a new open-world StarCraft, World of Warcraft: Forever, and new content for Diablo IV, Warcraft III, Overwatch, Hearthstone and even Heroes of the Storm.
This page is our main feature dedicated to BlizzCon 2026. You will find the dates, practical information, major announcements, release schedule and links to our detailed recaps of each day.
BlizzCon 2026: all the announcements day by day
To avoid mixing the announcements from the opening ceremony with details revealed during Sunday's panels, our BlizzCon 2026 coverage is divided into several complementary features.
Saturday, September 12: Diablo V, StarCraft and WoW Forever
The first day contained the biggest revelations of the show. Blizzard officially announced Diablo V, presented its new STARCRAFT project, unveiled World of Warcraft: Forever and announced several new features for Diablo IV, Overwatch, Hearthstone and Warcraft III. Saturday's panels then provided details on Diablo V's first classes, WoW Forever's zones, dungeons and raids, as well as the new Forsaken Kingdom campaign.
→ Find all of BlizzCon 2026's announcements from Saturday, September 12.
Sunday, September 13: WoW Forever and Diablo IV in detail
The second day primarily expanded on the previous day's announcements. Blizzard detailed the systems in WoW Forever, including Camping, Legacy, professions and its architecture without traditional realms, along with Season of Hell's Legacy, Waking Nightmares, Rebirth, Mythic crafting and the Amazon in Diablo IV.
The esports finals and closing events also occupied the convention's final hours.
→ Find all of BlizzCon 2026's announcements from Sunday, September 13.
BlizzCon 2026: dates, location and practical information
BlizzCon 2026 took place on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.
The show was open to the public from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. PDT on both days, or from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m. in metropolitan France.
The opening ceremony began on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in Anaheim, or 7:30 p.m. in Paris.
The event included developer presentations, demos, esports competitions, community meetups, shops, cosplay and various activities dedicated to Blizzard's universes.
BlizzCon took place during a particularly busy period for video game events. You can also check out our complete guide to Tokyo Game Show 2026.
Blizzard gathered practical information in its official BlizzCon 2026 guide.
How can you watch BlizzCon 2026 online?
Blizzard streamed a selection of BlizzCon 2026's main events for free.
Viewers could watch:
- the opening ceremony;
- the major presentations dedicated to the different franchises;
- several esports competitions;
- shows broadcast from the different stages.
The broadcasts were available through Blizzard's official channels on YouTube, Twitch and Battle.net.
The concerts and some activities held in Anaheim were reserved for attendees on site and were not all streamed.
Several games also offered viewing rewards, with different conditions depending on the platform and broadcast.
What are the main BlizzCon 2026 announcements?
Three projects dominate this edition in terms of importance and timing: Diablo V, the new STARCRAFT and World of Warcraft: Forever.
Diablo V and StarCraft establish Blizzard's long-term strategy, with releases planned for 2029 and 2030 respectively. WoW Forever, by contrast, is a much nearer-term project, with a beta beginning in September 2026 and a launch planned for November.
Alongside these three major announcements, Blizzard is also continuing to support its current games with Diablo IV, WoW Midnight, Overwatch, Hearthstone, Warcraft III and Heroes of the Storm.
Diablo V: spring 2029, first classes and Heir of Westmarch
Diablo V is officially in development, and Blizzard is targeting a spring 2029 release.
The new episode will take place in a Sanctuary where Diablo has won. The heroes of the past have failed, and the Lord of Terror now rules from Westmarch, transformed into an infernal outpost.
The Diablo V: Forging the Next Era panel went far beyond the simple announcement made during the opening ceremony. Players will embody the Heir of Westmarch, accompanied by a growing caravan of survivors during a journey through a Sanctuary reshaped by Diablo.
Demon Hunter, Monk and Plague Knight
Blizzard revealed the first three classes:
- Demon Hunter, retaining the mobile identity and dual crossbows associated with the class;
- Monk, focused on martial combat and sacred powers;
- Plague Knight, a new class that uses disease and pestilence as weapons.
Additional classes will be presented later in development.
Itemization inspired in part by Diablo II
Blizzard wants to give items more identity. The studio discussed the return of equipment sets, runes and runewords, a deep crafting system and several ideas inspired by Diablo II. Some of these mechanics are still in development and may change before release.
Blizzard plans to begin publishing more Diablo V updates starting in 2027.
Read also: our Saturday, September 12 recap looks in detail at the Diablo V panel.
Official sources: Diablo V announcement and Diablo V: Forging the Next Era.
StarCraft returns as an open-world shooter
Blizzard also officially announced StarCraft's return with a project very different from the series' historical entries.
The game presented under the name STARCRAFT is an open-world shooter set in the Koprulu sector. It is currently scheduled for spring 2030.
This is therefore not the announcement of a real-time strategy StarCraft III.
The platforms, the world's exact structure, co-op and the business model still need to be clarified.
Read also: find all the announcement details in our article covering BlizzCon's first day.
World of Warcraft: Forever: Blizzard reimagines original Azeroth
World of Warcraft: Forever is a new permanent experience designed to coexist with modern World of Warcraft and WoW Classic. Blizzard stresses that it is neither a simple season nor a new version of Classic.
The project revisits Azeroth's original continents and offers progression from level 1 to level 60 with more than 1,000 new quests and nine new dungeons.
The highlighted regions include Hyjal, Shen'dralas, Riverglades and Zephras Isle, the starting point for the new playable Skyborne race.
Two raids have been announced: Hyjal Summit, designed for twenty players, and Barrow Deeps, designed for ten players. The first new raids are scheduled to open on December 9, 2026.
Forever retains several principles inherited from original WoW: no flying mounts, no level scaling and a greater emphasis on exploration, preparation and cooperation.
At the same time, Blizzard is adding systems such as Camping, Legacy progression, a “realmless” infrastructure, Classic or modern graphics options and official controller support.
Basic access to Forever will be included with a World of Warcraft subscription or game time. Optional packs will nevertheless offer various bonuses and additional access.
Beta from September 17 to October 21
The beta begins on September 17, 2026, and is scheduled to end on October 21. Access is included in the Skyborne Epic Pack and the Warcraft Forever Collection, among other offers.
An early name reservation period is planned from October 27 to November 3, 2026, for players who purchased an eligible upgrade edition. WoW Forever's worldwide launch is set for November 4, 2026.
For a detailed look at the systems: read our Sunday, September 13 recap, which includes the WoW Forever Deep Dive.
Official sources: WoW Forever – What's Next and beta, name reservation and editions.
Diablo IV: Hell's Legacy, Amazon and Nintendo Switch 2
Despite the announcement of Diablo V, Blizzard continues to actively develop Diablo IV.
Season of Hell's Legacy begins on September 15, 2026, celebrating Diablo's 30th anniversary by bringing back several iconic figures and locations from the franchise.
The season notably brings back Deckard Cain, along with echoes of Mephisto, Baal and Diablo.
The Amazon will then join Diablo IV during the first half of 2027. Blizzard presented four major directions for the class: Champion, Skirmisher, Ranger and Commander.
Diablo IV is also coming to Nintendo Switch 2 with the Age of Hatred Collection on September 15.
Finally, Blizzard and Netflix are developing an animated series set in the Diablo universe. No broadcast date has been announced yet.
Read also: the first Diablo announcements are detailed in our Saturday recap, while Hell's Legacy's systems and the Amazon are explored in our Sunday article.
Source: official Diablo BlizzCon 2026 recap.
Warcraft III and WoW Midnight continue to evolve
Warcraft III: Reforged – Forsaken Kingdom
Forsaken Kingdom adds a new campaign to Warcraft III: Reforged, focusing on Sylvanas and the Forsaken in the ruins of Lordaeron. The content includes a four-mission prologue and a main campaign with a semi-open single-player RPG structure.
The content also establishes a narrative link with World of Warcraft: Forever. The new Forsaken Paladin is joining the Tavern as a multiplayer hero.
Blizzard is accompanying the campaign with a Definitive Edition update that reworks more than 600 units, as well as environments, lighting and several visual effects.
World of Warcraft: Midnight prepares Eclipse and Talebound
Modern WoW is continuing along its own path at the same time.
Eclipse, update 12.2, is intended to be Midnight's final major chapter, while Talebound will offer a new action-RPG-focused PvE experience.
Finally, The Last Titan, the final installment in the Worldsoul Saga, is expected to be revealed in greater detail at the beginning of 2027.
Overwatch: Doctrine, Grímsvötn and hero reworks
Overwatch Season 5 has been announced for October 6, 2026.
It will introduce Doctrine, hero 54, a Support hero with a vampiric aesthetic, as well as the new Escort map Watchpoint: Grímsvötn.
Sombra is also moving from the Damage role to Support, while Roadhog will receive a major rework as well.
The season is set to conclude the The Reign of Talon story arc.
Source: official Overwatch announcements from BlizzCon 2026.
Hearthstone: the Old Gods return and Monk arrives in 2027
The new expansion Reign of the Black Empire has been announced for October 20, 2026.
It explores an ancient era of Azeroth dominated by the Old Gods and introduces the Assemble keyword.
Before that, Battlegrounds will welcome the Aberrations, a new type of minion, on September 22.
In the longer term, the Monk will become a new playable class in Hearthstone in March 2027.
Source: official Hearthstone recap.
Heroes of the Storm: Xal'atath joins the Nexus
Blizzard had a surprise for Heroes of the Storm players with the announcement of Xal'atath as a new hero.
She is arriving on the public test realm on September 14, 2026, before being deployed to live servers on September 28.
This announcement marks the return of new content for Heroes of the Storm, but it does not constitute an official announcement of a complete revival for the game.
You can also read our archive article dedicated to Heroes of the Storm.
How did BlizzCon 2026 end?
The final day ended with closing remarks from Johanna Faries, Blizzard's president, after two days of panels, competitions and community events.
The end of the show did not add another revelation on the scale of Diablo V or StarCraft. Instead, it mainly served to conclude the weekend, look back at the announcements and thank the community.
In esports, South Korea won the Overwatch World Cup, Team Liquid won the Mythic Dungeon International, Gators Back won the Arena World Championship, OTGxhho won the Hearthstone World Championship and Team Tasteless won the Blizzard Classic Cup. These results are collected in Blizzard's official BlizzCon closing recap.
At 6 p.m. PDT, LE SSERAFIM performed the closing concert. Blizzard had specified that the concert was a location-exclusive experience for attendees and was not part of the public broadcast.
Details from Day 2, the WoW Forever and Diablo IV deep dives and the competitions are collected in our article covering Sunday, September 13.
Schedule of the main releases announced at BlizzCon 2026
The show's announcements range from content available immediately to projects planned for 2030.
| Date or period | Game or content | Event |
|---|---|---|
| September 12, 2026 | Warcraft III: Reforged | Forsaken Kingdom |
| September 14, 2026 | Heroes of the Storm | Xal'atath on the PTR |
| September 15, 2026 | Diablo IV | Season of Hell's Legacy |
| September 15, 2026 | Diablo IV | Age of Hatred Collection on Nintendo Switch 2 |
| September 17, 2026 | World of Warcraft: Forever | Beta begins, subject to access conditions |
| September 22, 2026 | Hearthstone Battlegrounds | Aberrations arrive |
| September 28, 2026 | Heroes of the Storm | Xal'atath on live servers |
| October 6, 2026 | Overwatch | Season 5, Doctrine and reworks |
| October 2026 | World of Warcraft | First PTR preview of Talebound |
| October 20, 2026 | Hearthstone | Reign of the Black Empire |
| October 21, 2026 | World of Warcraft: Forever | Beta scheduled to end |
| October 27 – November 3, 2026 | World of Warcraft: Forever | Early name reservation, depending on purchased edition |
| November 4, 2026 | World of Warcraft: Forever | Worldwide launch |
| December 9, 2026 | World of Warcraft: Forever | First new raids open |
| March 2027 | Hearthstone | Monk class |
| First half of 2027 | Diablo IV | Amazon arrives |
| Spring 2029 | Diablo V | Announced release window |
| Spring 2030 | STARCRAFT | Release window for the open-world shooter |
The more distant windows, particularly Diablo V and StarCraft, may naturally change during development.
Game.fr analysis: what BlizzCon 2026 reveals about Blizzard's strategy
BlizzCon 2026 outlines a strategy operating across several time frames.
First, Blizzard must continue supporting its active games with regular new content: Diablo IV, Overwatch, Hearthstone and World of Warcraft all have milestones planned over the coming weeks or months.
In the medium term, World of Warcraft: Forever is a particularly important project. Blizzard presents it neither as a season nor as a new version of Classic, but as a permanent experience intended to evolve over time.
The studio is also drawing heavily on its heritage. Forsaken Kingdom extends Warcraft III, WoW Forever revisits the original Azeroth and Hell's Legacy makes use of Diablo's 30-year history.
But this strategy is not based solely on nostalgia.
StarCraft radically changes genre by becoming an open-world shooter, WoW Forever reworks several historic systems and Diablo V begins its story in a Sanctuary where Diablo has already won.
Finally, Diablo V's 2029 and STARCRAFT's 2030 release windows show that Blizzard is now choosing to communicate much earlier about some major projects.
Game.fr analysis: the main challenge will be turning these ambitious announcements into experiences different enough to ensure that the constant return of the same franchises does not rely solely on name recognition. The coming years will make it possible to judge this strategy by the games themselves rather than by their announcements.
Our complete BlizzCon 2026 coverage
BlizzCon 2026 FAQ
When did BlizzCon 2026 take place?
BlizzCon 2026 took place on Saturday, September 12 and Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the Anaheim Convention Center in California.
What are the three biggest BlizzCon 2026 announcements?
The three main announcements are Diablo V, planned for spring 2029; the new STARCRAFT, an open-world shooter expected in spring 2030; and World of Warcraft: Forever, whose launch is announced for November 2026.
Was Diablo V really announced?
Yes. Blizzard officially announced the development of Diablo V during BlizzCon 2026. The currently announced release window is spring 2029. Blizzard has already revealed three initial classes: Demon Hunter, Monk and Plague Knight.
Is the new StarCraft StarCraft III?
No. Blizzard is presenting the project under the name STARCRAFT. It is an open-world shooter set in the Koprulu sector, not the announcement of a real-time strategy StarCraft III.
When will World of Warcraft: Forever be released?
World of Warcraft: Forever is scheduled to launch worldwide on November 4, 2026. Its beta begins on September 17, with different access conditions depending on the offer.
Does WoW Forever replace WoW Classic?
No. Blizzard presents Forever as a new permanent experience that will coexist with modern World of Warcraft and WoW Classic. The studio specifies that it is neither a season nor simply a new version of Classic.
Do you have to buy WoW Forever separately?
Basic access to World of Warcraft: Forever will be included with a World of Warcraft subscription or game time. Blizzard is nevertheless offering optional packs containing various bonuses and additional access.
When will the Amazon arrive in Diablo IV?
The Amazon is scheduled to join Diablo IV during the first half of 2027. Blizzard presented four main gameplay directions: Champion, Skirmisher, Ranger and Commander.
Was there a major announcement during the BlizzCon 2026 closing ceremony?
No. Johanna Faries' closing remarks mainly served to conclude the weekend and thank the community. This edition's major revelations had already been made during the opening ceremony and the various panels.
Can BlizzCon be watched for free?
Yes. Blizzard streamed the opening ceremony, several major presentations and various competitions for free through its official YouTube, Twitch and Battle.net channels. Some concerts and events were nevertheless reserved for attendees in Anaheim.
Sources and methodology: this feature is based primarily on announcements, panel recaps and official schedules published by Blizzard Entertainment during BlizzCon 2026. Detailed information specific to Saturday and Sunday has intentionally been distributed across our daily articles so that this page can remain a summary feature. Sections identified as “Game.fr analysis” reflect our editorial interpretation of the announcements.
Main official sources: Official BlizzCon 2026 guide · Opening Ceremony Recap · Diablo V · Diablo V – Forging the Next Era · Diablo at BlizzCon 2026 · World of Warcraft: Forever · WoW Forever – What's Next · WoW Forever – beta and editions · WoW Forever – Deep Dive · Diablo IV – What's Next · Warcraft III – Deep Dive · Overwatch · Hearthstone.
