Fans of Overwatch, Hearthstone, World of Warcraft, and Diablo can breathe a sigh of relief. They will be able to don their costumes and head to California as Blizzard has announced the return of BlizzCon, its famous convention, which was supposed to celebrate its 20th anniversary this year but has been postponed to 2026.
In recent years, internal turmoil and Microsoft's acquisition have rocked Blizzard, leading to multiple cancellations of the annual event. Initially canceled in 2020 due to Covid, then again in 2022 over allegations of discrimination and harassment, and finally suspended last year. While many speculated that the Xbox transition was a cost-saving measure after the record $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard King in early 2023, that was not the case.
On September 12 and 13, 2026, the Anaheim Convention Center in California will be alive with the sounds of fans. In the past, up to 40,000 attendees have participated in this festive event, celebrating their favorite franchises. The return of BlizzCon sends a strong message to its players after recent releases that were well-received by critics but not necessarily reflected in sales. This will also mark the first edition in the Xbox era, with players eager to see the future vision, new promised games like the long-awaited Warcraft 4, and how the company will integrate into the Xbox ecosystem.
