BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony: times, streams, and the key reveal

BlizzCon’s opening show is the convention’s central news window before its games split into dedicated panels, and this year it has already delivered a concrete Warcraft milestone: World of Warcraft: Forever launches November 4, 2026, with its beta beginning September 17.

The Opening Ceremony takes place in Hall D at the Anaheim Convention Center on Saturday, September 12, running from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. PDT. That is 1:30 p.m. EDT, 6:30 p.m. BST, 7:30 p.m. CET, 2:30 a.m. JST on September 13, and 3:30 a.m. AEST on September 13. It is free to watch through Blizzard’s official YouTube and Twitch channels, while Battle.net listings provide another route for viewers tracking watch-and-earn opportunities.

For Anaheim attendees, doors open at 9:00 a.m. PDT. Hall D seating is first-come, first-served; anyone shut out can use stages and viewing areas around the convention. The event itself runs September 12-13, with programming spread across six stages and livestream coverage scheduled through Sunday at 7:00 p.m. PDT.

The ceremony remains the broadest place to follow Blizzard’s immediate plans across Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and StarCraft. But it is not the whole schedule: deeper sessions include an Overwatch developer livestream, Diablo IV: What’s Next, and additional World of Warcraft programming. StarCraft’s scheduled presence is concentrated in the Blizzard Classic Cup, featuring StarCraft II and StarCraft: Remastered, rather than a dedicated announcement panel.

Esports is the other major reason to stay tuned after the keynote. The Overwatch World Cup, World of Warcraft Arena World Championship, Mythic Dungeon International, Hearthstone Masters Tour World Championship, and Blizzard Classic Cup share a combined prize pool of more than $1.2 million. Sunday also brings the emerald-green March of the Murlocs, with 4,000 community members expected to take part.

The verdict: watch the ceremony for the headline announcements, then switch to the franchise panel or tournament that matches the game you actually play.