Blizzard Announces the Return of BlizzCon in 2026
Image courtesy of Blizzard Entertainment.
After several years, Blizzard Entertainment’s signature event, BlizzCon, is set to make its return.
The World of Warcraft and Overwatch developer has announced that the convention will skip 2025, but will be back for two days on September 12 and 13, 2026 at the Anaheim Convention Center. This will mark the first BlizzCon since 2023, and following Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion.
Previous BlizzCons have been known for unveiling upcoming projects or updates to new titles. For instance, the 2018 event featured announcements for Diablo Immortal, and Warcraft III: Reforged; the next year showcased announcements for Overwatch 2 and Diablo IV.
In 2022 and 2024, Blizzard canceled the event: the first cancellation was due to the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by recent lawsuits against several high-ranking employees at Blizzard and its parent company over allegations of misconduct. The cancellation for 2024 came after “careful consideration,” and the developer chose to reveal its new projects at various industry events such as Gamescom instead.
“Over the past nearly 20 years since its initiation, BlizzCon has inspired us to innovate, push the limits of creativity, and create extraordinary moments,” stated Blizzard. “We aim to significantly enhance this iconic celebration and design an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. This event is being crafted just like how we develop our games: with a deep dedication to our players, honoring your connections to our worlds, and celebrating the strength of relationships formed through shared adventures.”
What to Expect at the Convention
BlizzCon has been established since 2005 and has helped define what a developer-specific showcase can be. Without it, events like the Nintendo Direct or Sony State of Play may never have come to fruition.
Recently, Xbox has followed suit with its own developer-focused showcases and Developer Direct events. The first showcase took place in 2023, which featured the reveal (and same-day release) of Hi-Fi Rush, along with an in-depth look at Starfield. It also recently included new previews for South of Midnight and Doom: The Dark Ages, as well as announcements for Ninja Gaiden 4 and Ninja Gaiden 2: Dark.
More information regarding the upcoming BlizzCon will be disclosed prior to the event on September 12 and 13, 2026.
About the Author
Contributing Editor, GameDeveloper.com
Hailing from Kansas City, MO, Justin Carter has contributed articles to various publications including IGN, Polygon, and SyFy Wire. In addition to Game Developer, his work can also be found on io9 at Gizmodo. Don’t ask him how much gum he’s had, as the answer will be more than he’s ready to confess.