Blizzard is behind some of today's biggest game franchises, from Warcraft to Overwatch. Its fans could fill an entire event with BlizzCon.
Since 2020, every gaming event has had trouble getting off the ground, and it looks like Blizzard will delay it by a year and skip 2025.
BlizzCon Announced for 2026
As per the official announcement, BlizzCon will officially return in 2026—specifically on September 12–13, 2026 at Anaheim Convention Center. Check this out:
In a statement on BlizzCon.com, the event organizers wrote:
“We aim to meaningfully elevate this iconic celebration and create an unforgettable experience for all who take part in it. We are building this event just like we build our games: with a deep commitment to our players, with respect for your connections to our universes, and as a celebration of the strength of the bonds formed through shared adventure.”
Blizzard also promises to bring back many of the hallmarks of previous events, such as in-depth panels for specific games, the Darkmoon Faire, and hands-on gameplay. Fans can also expect to see some competitions and an official opening ceremony.
BlizzCon Through the Years
BlizzCon launched in 2005 and has maintained its yearly events, save for some cancellations in 2006 and 2012.
Like every other big event in 2020, BlizzCon was canceled around that time. Depending on the status of the pandemic, Blizzard had tried to make an online event possible with BlizzConline. However, they had to cancel in 2022 when a huge sexual harassment and discrimination scandal emerged about the company’s culture.
Before 2026, the last in-person BlizzCon took place in Anaheim in 2023.
Legends Gather Together
It’s not clear what Blizzard has in store for BlizzCon next year, but they still have a lot of very lucrative IP in franchises like Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch.
Interestingly enough, Overwatch 2 has been getting much attention recently since the release of NetEase Games’ Marvel Rivals, which some have dubbed the ‘Overwatch Killer.’ Then again, the devs have been working extra hard this year, just trying to play catch-up. Besides new incoming characters, there have been significant gameplay changes that fans have been waiting for since Overwatch 2 was announced.
There is still no update on that PvE, but maybe Blizzard will be ready to showcase something in a year or so. After all, that concept was in development even way before OW2 was launched.
After a few years of seriously bad press, Blizzard needs a serious image glow-up, and maybe BlizzCon 2026 can be the perfect avenue for that. Though it could be a stretch to expect a new IP to be announced, there's a lot of room for more expansions and DLC being cooked up by the developers for existing games.
While some big reveals are expected at the event, hopefully, Blizzard has a few reveals planned for 2025 to keep fans always looking forward to something.
BlizzCon launches next year on Sept. 12–13, 2026.