BlizzCon 2026, scheduled to begin September 12, is shaping up to be a landmark event for Blizzard Entertainment, with the developer's president Johanna Faries describing 2026 as the company's "biggest year yet." After a two-year hiatus, the convention is expected to deliver major news across Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo, and Overwatch, signaling a renewed focus on core franchises and ambitious new projects.
A Deep Dive into Warcraft's Future
For years, BlizzCon has been a primary platform for World of Warcraft expansion reveals. While the next expansion, The Last Titan, has already been announced alongside a planned trilogy, BlizzCon 2026 is expected to showcase its reveal cinematic, detail its revamped Northrend zones, new features, and potentially offer a release date. Further details on the "Midnight" patch (12.2) are also anticipated.
Beyond The Last Titan, significant attention is expected for a new iteration of WoW Classic, often referred to by the community as Classic+. The exact form this version will take remains unclear, but speculation suggests it could explore an alternate timeline focusing on familiar Azerothian regions, potentially introducing updated zones, class redesigns, and new playable content. The codename "Camelot," discovered in Blizzard's files and linked to a past Warcraft release slate leak, hints at a potential early release for this new Classic experience, possibly soon after BlizzCon. This follows the precedent set by the Season of Discovery, which was announced at BlizzCon 2023 and released shortly thereafter.
The leaked slate also suggests Blizzard may be developing a new Warcraft RTS, tentatively titled Warcraft Chronicles for 2027, and an Arthas-focused RPG spin-off for 2028. These potential projects, coupled with rumored tie-in television shows for each game, align with Faries' comments on pursuing Hollywood adaptations and VP Holly Longdale's assertion that the Warcraft IP is "underutilized."
StarCraft's Resurgence
The StarCraft franchise, largely dormant for nearly a decade since the last major StarCraft 2 DLC in 2017, appears poised for a significant comeback. Persistent reports indicate Blizzard is developing a new StarCraft shooter. The details of this project are scarce, but speculation ranges from a PvE co-op experience reminiscent of Helldivers 2, where players might contend with Zerg on a lunar facility, to a revival of the long-rumored StarCraft: Ghosts. Additionally, Blizzard is reportedly in talks with Korean game giant Nexon for a licensing deal that could lead to Nexon developing new StarCraft titles. The recent "glitching" of the StarCraft: Remastered website, revealing secret transmissions and lore snippets, further fuels anticipation for an official announcement at BlizzCon, possibly including the Nexon partnership.
Diablo's 30th Anniversary and Expansion Plans
Marking Diablo's 30th anniversary, BlizzCon 2026 is expected to host major franchise announcements. Blizzard teased a significant reveal during an earlier 30th-anniversary presentation, stating attendees would "freak out." A new Diablo 4 expansion, following the release of Lord of Hatred in April, seems highly probable, with a late 2027 launch being a plausible timeframe given Blizzard's past development cycles. This expansion could feature Diablo himself or the return of Malthael, who has been referenced in recent seasons.
Beyond Diablo 4, there are indications of continued support for Diablo 2: Resurrected, which recently received the Reign of the Warlock DLC. Given the positive reception to new content for the classic ARPG, a further expansion for Diablo 2 is a possibility. A remake of the original Diablo is also being considered, though its form remains uncertain. Meanwhile, Diablo Immortal, the mobile title, has a surprisingly large time block dedicated to it on the BlizzCon schedule, leading to fan speculation that this might be a misdirection, hinting at other, larger Diablo announcements to come.
Overwatch Continues Its Momentum
Overwatch has seen a significant revitalization this year, with Blizzard focusing on year-long storylines and an increased cadence of new heroes. Following the discontinuation of promised PvE story missions and the reduced focus on the Stadium game mode, the developer appears to be prioritizing what has proven successful: events, cosmetics, crossovers, and hero releases. This strategy is expected to continue into 2027, with BlizzCon likely to reveal new maps and heroes for upcoming seasons, potentially including the hero for Season 5 and beyond. Hero trials, similar to the Mauga reveal at BlizzCon 2023, may also occur.
The convention is also expected to set the stage for the conclusion of Overwatch's 2026 storyline, "The Reign of Talon," and offer a glimpse into the narrative direction for 2027. While Blizzard's recent track record with new game modes like Clash and Stadium has been mixed, the possibility of an increased emphasis on 6v6 gameplay, potentially with a permanent role queue, is being considered. The opening ceremony for BlizzCon 2026 is scheduled for September 12 at 10:30 AM PT / 1:30 PM ET.