BlizzCon 2026 Returns with Free Stream and StarCraft Hopes

BlizzCon 2026 opens at the Anaheim Convention Center this weekend after a three-year hiatus. The entire event will be streamed for free on Blizzard's official YouTube and Twitch channels.

For attendees, doors to Hall D for the Opening Ceremony open at 9 a.m. PT on Saturday, with seating on a first-come, first-served basis. The ceremony itself begins at 10:30 a.m. PT. The Grand Plaza, attendee staging areas, and security checkpoints open at 6 a.m. PT on both Saturday and Sunday. A redesigned walkthrough BlizzCon Merch Store and free on-site WiFi via the "Anaheim Free WiFi" network are available for those on the ground.

How to Watch BlizzCon 2026

Blizzard confirmed free streaming for the event, which was first revealed late last year. Viewers tuning in through participating streams can earn viewership rewards, though eligibility varies by game and platform. Games offering these drops include World of Warcraft. The full schedule will be posted on BlizzCon.com after the Opening Ceremony concludes.

A preliminary show floor map is already live on the event website, though Blizzard has kept several areas secret until the show begins. The complete map will unlock when the event starts on Saturday morning.

Speculation on Potential Announcements

The major question surrounding the event is whether Blizzard will unveil new games. Inven Global writer Hongman "Nowl"Yoon has laid out a case for a reveal related to the StarCraft franchise, a series Blizzard has been quiet about for years."Lord of Hatred" expansion launched in April, Inven Global reported a second major expansion akin to "Vessel of Hatred" is considered unlikely so soon. Yoon argued a more plausible reveal could be another new character class for Diablo II: Resurrected, following the "Reign of the Demonologist"DLC released on February 12, 2026. Such an addition would be a smaller-scale update that could still excite the crowd."Overwatch's Questwatch adventure" segment led by Matt Mercer. Detailed programming information will be available on BlizzCon.com after the Opening Ceremony wraps up. The event continues through Sunday, with the free livestream covering all major moments for remote viewers.