2026 → 2027
From the first steps in beta to the next chapters of Azeroth. Explore Blizzard’s announced dates and planned content windows.
The same release windows, named for your hemisphere.
Showing Blizzard’s original Northern Hemisphere seasons unless a local hemisphere can be identified. You can choose either hemisphere above. Calendar dates remain as announced by Blizzard; check local release times for time-zone differences.
Select a content card to open its guide. Scroll sideways to see later milestones on smaller screens.
The top bands show seasons; the milestones below show dates where announced. Equal spacing is not a calendar scale, and a season does not establish an exact release day.
All dates describe announced plans. Future raid, dungeon, and zone names remain open unless listed here.
Autumn 2026
A first chance to explore Forever before everyone starts fresh at launch.
The roadmap ends beta on 22 October; Blizzard’s purchase terms say 21 October (PST). The closing date remains unresolved. Opening dates also vary by region.
Blizzard’s beta announcementAutumn 2026
Early character creation and name reservation run from 27 October to 3 November (PST). Any Forever upgrade qualifies, with up to three characters on a first-come basis.
Name reservation does not grant early access to the full game. Exact opening and closing hours have not been established.
Blizzard’s reservation termsAutumn 2026
The full leveling journey opens, with new regions, quests, and dungeons alongside the Classic world.
This is Blizzard’s US announcement date. The global launch falls on 5 November in some regions; see the home page for local timing. Opening raids follow in December.
Blizzard’s launch announcementWinter 2026–27
Three opening raids give level-60 groups new stories and a familiar dragon to face.
The date is announced; an exact raid unlock hour has not been established.
Blizzard’s raid scheduleWinter 2026–27
Hardcore is expected in Blizzard’s winter window, after the main game launch. It appears beside the December raids in the roadmap’s winter band.
Winter spans 2026–27 in the original Northern Hemisphere roadmap. A developer interview points to 2027; no exact launch date is announced. This same window is summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
View the roadmap with HardcoreSpring 2027
The first seasonal content window brings more group adventures, new places to quest, and another PvP season.
No exact date or content names have been announced. This roadmap lists two new class/race combinations; an earlier reproduction instead lists a legendary questline. Those differing lists should not be combined as confirmed additions.
View the supplied roadmapSummer 2027
A familiar raid returns in a new form alongside another raid, more world content, and further system updates.
Exact dates and content names remain unannounced. Blizzard has not identified the revamped iconic raid as Molten Core.
Blizzard roadmap, via Blizzard WatchFuture update · no release window
The developers have discussed its eventual return. A release window has not been announced, and the roadmap’s revamped iconic raid remains unnamed.
Developer interview in The Sun