BlizzCon 2026: Everything announced as Blizzard reveals StarCraft, Diablo 5
The BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony is one of the biggest moments in the gaming calendar. Blizzard Entertainment is a notoriously secretive organization, one which works quietly and capably until it's ready to reveal its…
The BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony is one of the biggest moments in the gaming calendar. Blizzard Entertainment is a notoriously secretive organization, one which works quietly and capably until it's ready to reveal its work to the world. That's why an event like BlizzCon is always so exciting. It's a rare opportunity for key development teams within Blizzard – working across the Diablo, Overwatch, StarCraft, and Warcraft franchises – to give the community a little glimpse into what's next.
BlizzCon 2026 starts September 12, with dedicated panels dedicated to each of its major universes held all weekend. But it all begins with the BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony, which runs for 75 minutes. It's been two years since the last time this event was held so we're expecting big announcements, particularly given the wider backdrop – Blizzard has suffered wide staff reductions this year as part of the Xbox Reset, and the Opening Ceremony should be a show of confidence for the future.
GamesRadar+ is on the ground in Anaheim, California, to bring you the latest news and reveals from BlizzCon 2026. It all begins with the Opening Ceremony later today, which we'll be covering for you live. From there we'll keep this page running with breaking updates across the weekend, our first impressions of new announcements, and more. We'd also love to hear your impressions, so be sure to become a free member of the GamesRadar+ Community and leave your comments below.
So stick with GamesRadar+ for everything announced from BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony.
BlizzCon 2026: Biggest Announcements
- StarCraft: Blizzard announced that a new StarCraft game is in development, but it isn't another RTS. StarCraft is an open-world shooter that's due to release in 2030.
- Diablo 5: Blizzard still has stories it wants to tell in Diablo 4, but the studio is already looking towards the future. See Sanctuary fall when Diablo 5 launches in 2029.
- New Diablo 4 Class: There's a new season of content coming to D4 next month, celebrating the franchise's 30th anniversary, and the Amazon class is coming in 2027.
- New Overwatch Class: The Overwatch revival continues this year as the hero shooter introduces a new hero, a new map, and big overhauls to some legacy characters.
- Netflix partnership: Diablo is getting an animated Netflix series in the future, but that isn't all: Blizzard has also teased some Overwatch and Warcraft adaptations.
- World of Warcraft: The Last Titan release date: The final expansion in the Worldsoul saga is coming in 2027, the "culmination of over two decades" of MMO storytelling.
- World of Warcraft: Forever announced: WoW Classic Plus is technically real, as Blizzard reveals a brand new World of Warcraft experience that's honestly so bold it's baffling.
Watch BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony Again
You can stay up to date with the latest announcements from BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony by tuning into the official livestream. The BlizzCon 2026 start time is 10:30 AM PDT / 01:30 PM EDT / 06:30 PM BST, and you can stream the Opening Ceremony for free through Blizzard's official YouTube channel. Alternatively, you can catch the stream on Twitch or find it embedded above.
BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony: Live Updates
September 12, 2026 – 11:31 AMThe countdown to BlizzCon 2026 starts now
September 12, 2026 – 11:45 AMWhat to expect from BlizzCon 2026
Blizzard deciding to bring BlizzCon back for 2026 is a big deal. The in-person event has been inactive for the last two years, and comes at a time where the publisher is working through the impact of redundancies across all of its development teams following the Xbox Reset implemented in July.
The reason BlizzCon matters is that it's the one moment of the calendar year where all of the Blizzard universes collide – where a typically secretive company is willing to open up its doors and give players a peek into the future of Diablo, Hearthstone, Overwatch, StarCraft, and Warcraft.
When I attended BlizzCon in 2023, Blizzard unveiled The Worldsoul Saga – an unprecedented three-expansion run for World of Warcraft. Diablo 4: Vessel of Hatred was revealed, as were new heroes for Overwatch and the Cataclysm expansion for WoW Classic. Like I said, BlizzCon goes hard.
I'm expecting big things from BlizzCon this weekend. The Opening Ceremony will almost certainly bring word from Blizzard president Johanna Faries and Xbox CEO Asha Sharma, offer major reveals for Diablo 4 and World of Warcraft, and perhaps the 10 year wait for new StarCraft will finally end.
September 12, 2026 – 11:59 AMBlizzCon 2026: Have your say
September 12, 2026 – 12:13 PMDiablo 4: BlizzCon 2026 predictions
September 12, 2026 – 12:29 PMBlizzCon 2026: WoW Predictions
WoW Expansion List by Release DateBurning Crusade
2007
Wrath of the Lich King
2008
Cataclysm
2010
Mists of Pandaria
2012
Warlords of Draenor
2014
Legion
2016
Battle for Azeroth
2018
Shadowlands
2020
Dragonflight
2022
The War Within
2024
Midnight
2026
The Last Titan
TBC
I suspect that Blizzard vice president Holly Longdale will use the Opening Ceremony stage to detail the topline improvements coming to the Midnight era (expect this to be community-focused, rather than heavy on content – that's what the deep-dive panels across the weekend are far) before The Last Titan is given a firm (2028) date and overview.
Blizzard legend Chris Metzen helped announce the Worldsoul Saga back in 2023, but we've seen very little of Warcraft's executive creative director since. I'd love to see him out on stage again today.
Wildcard Prediction: Blizzard announces World of Warcraft is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X in 2027.
September 12, 2026 – 12:40 PMBlizzCon 2026: WoW Classic predictions
September 12, 2026 – 1:01 PMBlizzCon 2026: Overwatch predictions
September 12, 2026 – 1:13 PMBlizzCon 2026: StarCraft Predictions
September 12, 2026 – 1:26 PMBlizzCon 2026: 5 Minute Warning
BlizzCon 2026 is about to begin, which means the performance art piece that's been running on the Blizzard YouTube channel for the last hour has just one more song to play. I hope you've enjoyed following our predictions in the pre-show, and don't forget to let me know what your favorite announcements from BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony are!
September 12, 2026 – 1:34 PMBlizzCon 2026 is live
September 12, 2026 – 1:42 PMHeroes of the Storm leads the way
September 12, 2026 – 1:46 PMBlizzard partners with Netflix
September 12, 2026 – 1:50 PM"We are here to make StarCraft, and it's about damn time!"
September 12, 2026 – 1:53 PMStarCraft is coming in 2030
- The game is called StarCraft
- StarCraft is an open-world shooter
- You're a grunt soldier fighting against the returning swarm
- The StarCraft release date is set for 2030
- No gameplay was shown, but the reveal cinematic is a delight.
Watch the StarCraft reveal trailer
September 12, 2026 – 2:01 PMOverwatch
- The next Overwatch Hero is called Doctrine
- Doctrine is a vampire, Overwatch-style
- Doctrine is a support Hero
- "Rush through battle shrouded in darkness, while his drone heals allies"
- Their special ability is Infuse, which transforms your next ability
- Doctrine is launching next month with Season 5
Overwatch Season 5 sounds massive
There's more coming to Overwatch Season 5 next month than a new vampire hero.
Blizzard just confirmed that some massive changes are inbound. There's a new map, unvaulted battle pass content, Dokiwatch is coming back, and there's some major hero reworks – "two of the most requested" says Blizzard.
Roadhog is seeing his abilities given a major overhaul to make them less annoying to play against (Blizzard's words, not mine) and the biggie: Sombra is turning into a Support character!
And if that weren't enough: Another hero will be inbound in Season 6, as well as a whole host of new heroes and systems further in the future which Blizzard is yet to detail. Very exciting.
September 12, 2026 – 2:15 PMBlizzard celebrates 30 years of Diablo
- New Diablo 4 season, Season of Hell Legacy, launched September 15 –
- The season is led by a returning Deckard Cain.
- You'll face off against all three Prime Evils to earn special rewards
- It's a big 30th anniversary celebration
Diablo 4 is coming to Switch 2
September 12, 2026 – 2:21 PMA new Diablo 4 class is coming in 2027
September 12, 2026 – 2:24 PMDiablo 5 Announced!
September 12, 2026 – 2:30 PMNew Hearthstone expansion announced
- Go into Azeroth's past to fight the old gods
- Merge two cards to created "busted combos"
- Updated Journal is coming, connecting larger narrative beats
- 2v2 Hearthstone is coming as a mode
- Launches October 20
In addition, the Monk class is also coming to Hearthstone in March 2027. There's a lot going on in Hearthstone's tavern, it's quite impressive.
September 12, 2026 – 2:40 PMWorld of Warcraft: Midnight next update is titled 'Eclipse'
September 12, 2026 – 2:46 PMWorld of Warcraft: The Last Titan expansion releases 2027
September 12, 2026 – 2:51 PMWorld of Warcraft 3 is getting a new campaign
- New campaign: Forsaken Kingdom
- Details the The fall of Lordaeron
- Over 30 hours of gameplay
- New graphics mode added
- New neutral hero – Forsaken Paladin
- World editor improvements
- 24-unit selection
World of Warcraft: Forever revealed – out this year
- New announcement: World of Warcraft: Forever
- World of Warcraft: Forever launches November 4, 2026
- Beta starts this Thursday, September 17
- "A new beginning that never ends", says Holly Longdale, VP of Blizzard
- Forever lives alongside the Vanilla and Classic game, isn't replacing either game
- Designed to capture the feel and vibes of what WoW captured when it was introduced over two decades ago
World of Warcraft: Forever gameplay details
- Will feature original zones, but expanded
- Will introduce new zones: Mount Hyjal, Riverglades, and Zephras Isle
- Forever brings new dungeons, raids (10 & 20 player), skills, talents, races, and class combinations.
- Skybourne is a brand new playable race
- Over 1000 new quests; new items, professions, reputations, graphics, and world visuals
- You'll stay at level 60 indefinitely
- Story is set within Year One of Vanilla
- WoW Forever will find new ways to progress without needing to push the level cap, Blizz wants to keep players together.
That's a wrap on BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony!
September 12, 2026 – 3:15 PMWorld of Warcraft: Forever gameplay trailer
September 12, 2026 – 4:55 PMGet caught up
Looking for more information on StarCraft? You'll need to wait a little longer for us to bring you more information directly from the creative team, but while you wait here's everything we know so far about the new StarCraft game.