BlizzCon 2026: Le Sserafim, Yoasobi Headline as Show Returns After 3 Years
Blizzard's convention returns to Anaheim after a three-year gap, with a 10:30 AM PDT opening ceremony, Diablo's 30th anniversary and a StarCraft teaser campaign.
- BlizzCon 2026 runs September 12-13 in Anaheim, its first edition since November 2023.
- Opening Ceremony starts 10:30 AM PDT, lasts about 75 minutes, streams free on YouTube, Twitch and Battle.net.
- K-pop act Le Sserafim headlines; Yoasobi plays BlizzCon's first esports halftime show at the Overwatch World Cup.
- Blizzard confirms Diablo's 30th anniversary as a focus, promising "extensive plans" for Sanctuary.
Blizzard’s fan convention is back on the calendar for the first time since 2023, and the doors open this weekend at the Anaheim Convention Center. BlizzCon 2026 is back at the Anaheim Convention Center after 3 years, running September 12 and 13 with a packed schedule across Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, StarCraft and Hearthstone.
Opening Ceremony Streams Live at 10:30 AM PDT, Runs 75 Minutes
Blizzard published its official BlizzCon 2026 schedule at the start of September, revealing that the event will kick off at 10:30 AM, local time (US Pacific), in the Anaheim Convention Center. It’s set to run for 75 minutes on September 12. Remote viewers are not locked out: a livestream of the BlizzCon 2026 opening ceremony is available through Blizzard’s official YouTube, Twitch, and Battle.net channels.
Blizzard President Johanna Faries will appear alongside leaders from the company’s franchises, with Blizzard promising major game announcements during the presentation. Notably, the printed schedule is a working draft, not a fixed one. Blizzard has confirmed that the published schedule is not the final version, and the company plans to update it after the Opening Ceremony, leaving room for panels or activities tied to games that have not yet been announced.
Diablo’s 30th Anniversary Headlines Confirmed Programming
Among the few things Blizzard has locked in publicly, Diablo sits near the top. The confirmed focus is Diablo, with Blizzard promising “extensive plans” for the future of Sanctuary. That lines up with the franchise’s 30th year, and Blizzard has built a dedicated developer update around it.
Warcraft is not far behind on stage time. The schedule immediately afterwards includes World of Warcraft: What’s Next, a Diablo developer update, another WoW presentation, and an Overwatch Hero Deep Dive, suggesting all three games will be major parts of the show.
Read also: BlizzCon 2026: Blizzard’s Guide Sets Show Hours, 10:30 AM Opening Ceremony
StarCraft’s Glitching Website Fuels New-Project Speculation
StarCraft has forced its way back into the conversation without a single confirmed reveal. Blizzard still has not announced a new game, but activity on the official StarCraft site and separate reports about a shooter project have given fans more reason than usual to watch closely.
The specific shape of that project remains unconfirmed by Blizzard itself, though outside reporting has zeroed in on a name. The biggest is a new StarCraft game, widely expected to be the long-rumoured open-world shooter led by Far Cry veteran Dan Hay; recent StarCraft teasers have also fuelled speculation about Sarah Kerrigan’s return. None of that is official yet, which is exactly why the Opening Ceremony carries so much weight this year.
Le Sserafim and Yoasobi Lead First-Ever Esports Halftime Show
The entertainment lineup is confirmed, even where the game reveals are not. This year’s headline act features K-pop group Le Sserafim, and international music duo Yoasobi will perform during BlizzCon’s first-ever esports halftime show in the Overwatch World Cup Arena. Fans hoping to catch the performance from home should temper expectations: the musical performance will be exclusive to BlizzCon 2026 attendees.
Competitive play fills out the rest of the weekend. BlizzCon is home to high-stakes esports competitions including the Overwatch World Cup, World of Warcraft Mythic Dungeon International, World of Warcraft Arena World Championship, Hearthstone Masters Tour World Championship, and the Blizzard Classic Cup. Blizzard has also tied viewing directly to in-game rewards. Viewership Rewards let players watch 1 hour of StarCraft content on Twitch from September 12-13 to earn a 10-Day XP Boost, with similar deals running across its other franchises.
Blizzard has promised the updated, full programme will post to BlizzCon.com once the Opening Ceremony wraps, meaning the real schedule for Sunday’s panels only locks in after Saturday’s 75 minutes on the Main Stage.
Reported from
- Blizzard Entertainment
- PC Guide
- ThePCEnthusiast
- esports.gg
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