Blizzard Entertainment is bringing back its flagship fan convention this weekend, with the BlizzCon 2026 opening ceremony set to kick off on September 12 at 10:30 AM PT. The event marks the first BlizzCon in two years, and the studio appears ready to deliver a packed showcase spanning its biggest franchises. Fans unable to attend in person at Anaheim can tune in via Blizzard’s official YouTube, Twitch, and Battle.net channels, with the ceremony expected to run approximately 75 minutes.
The biggest anticipated reveal is a long-rumored StarCraft shooter, reportedly led by former Far Cry director Dan Hay. According to Eurogamer, the project is believed to be a cooperative shooter in the vein of Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2, though questions remain about whether publisher Nexon is involved and whether the game will extend beyond co-op into broader multiplayer territory. Blizzard has already been dropping StarCraft teases ahead of the show, further fueling speculation.
World of Warcraft is also expected to command significant stage time. A new retail expansion reveal — widely predicted to be titled The Last Titan — seems all but certain, as BlizzCon has historically served as the launchpad for major WoW announcements. On top of that, the rumored “Classic Plus” initiative could finally be confirmed, a project that would take the original version of the game in an entirely new evolutionary direction with fresh content updates, similar to what Blizzard did earlier this year by introducing a new Warlock class to Diablo 2.
Diablo fans have reason to pay close attention as well. This year marks the franchise’s 30th anniversary, making it a prime occasion for Blizzard to celebrate the series’ legacy and potentially unveil the next Diablo 4 expansion. The most recent expansion, Lord of Hatred, launched in April, putting the timing right for a follow-up announcement. There is also strong speculation that a Nintendo Switch 2 version of Diablo 4 could be confirmed or even shadow-dropped during the ceremony.
Overwatch rounds out the expected lineup, with Blizzard likely to showcase the next playable hero and provide details on how the current Reign of Talon storyline will wrap up. The game’s competitive scene is also expected to receive attention, and the convention itself will host an Overwatch World Cup Arena. On the entertainment side, K-pop group Le Sserafim will headline the BlizzCon musical performance — available only to in-person attendees — while Yoasobi will perform during the event’s first-ever esports halftime show.
The convention arrives against a complicated backdrop for Blizzard and its parent company Microsoft, which implemented sweeping layoffs earlier this year. While Blizzard itself appears to have weathered the cuts relatively well, the studio’s workforce recently made headlines with a historic union contract vote securing protections against layoffs and generative AI. Whether any of that tension surfaces at the event remains to be seen, but on stage at least, Blizzard seems poised to put the focus squarely on its games.