Blizzard’s iconic BlizzCon event is making a triumphant return, but it won’t be until 2026, the studio has announced. It’s been two years since the last BlizzCon, so no doubt Blizzard’s most loyal fans are chomping at the bit to have just a taste of what’s to come. Especially after a two-year hiatus. BlizzCon has been a staple in the gaming industry since 2005, one year after Blizzard launched World of Warcraft.
And almost every year since then, Blizzard has held the event at the Anaheim Convention Center. Blizzard has canceled BlizzCon six times since it began, with 2006 being the first year. It continued to hold the event every year thereafter until 2012 and then once again until 2020, when the pandemic hit.
Since the cancellation of the 2020 BlizzCon, Blizzard held a digital version of the event in early 2021, then canceled the event in 2022, returned in 2023 with an in-person event, and then canceled the event again in 2024. We now have official confirmation that there won’t be a show this year, either.
Blizzard has announced BlizzCon 2026 will take place on September 12 and September 13
For those hoping to make it to next year’s event, it’ll be taking place on September 12 and September 13. That means it’s on the weekend, so it should be a lot easier for more people to attend the event. Some past BlizzCon events have started on a Friday, which no doubt made it more difficult for some people to go.
Blizzard hasn’t announced times yet, so it’s still unclear when the event actually begins. That being said, there’s a lot of mystery about the event at this stage. And fans who plan to go are probably less concerned with the start times than what the event will include. It’s possible Blizzard will talk more about the next World of Warcraft expansion.
The most recent expansion, The War Within, only launched in August of 2024, but by the time BlizzCon comes around again, it’ll have been more than two years since its release. That seems like perfect timing for a new expansion tease. It’s also possible that we may hear more about what’s next for Diablo IV. Really, though, anything and everything is just speculation at this point.
Blizzard is light on details for the event thus far
This early into the announcement, it’s not surprising that Blizzard isn’t opening up about what the event will entail. Attendees can obviously expect the usual activities, though. While Blizzard doesn’t give out specifics, it does state that BlizzCon 2026 will include “staples like the opening ceremony.” Blizzard also confirms other activities, such as the Darkmoon Faire, in-depth panels, friendly competition, hands-on gameplay, and more.
Blizzard says it also aims to “meaningfully elevate this iconic celebration and create an unforgettable experience for all who take part in it.” Either way, it seems like fans have a lot to look forward to.