BlizzCon 2026 Opening Ceremony Details, Start Times, and What to Expect

Blizzard is preparing for its first BlizzCon event in two years, beginning with a traditional opening ceremony that leads into two days of panels and interviews. The event celebrates the past, present, and future of Blizzard franchises including Warcraft, StarCraft, Diablo, and Overwatch. Players who are not attending the show in person in Anaheim can tune into a livestream on September 12.

The opening ceremony starts at 10:30 AM PT, 1:30 PM ET, 5:30 PM GMT, 6:30 PM BST, and 7:30 PM CET. International viewers can also watch at 2:30 AM JST or 3:30 AM AEST on September 13. The broadcast will run for roughly 75 minutes and can be viewed through Blizzard's official YouTube, Twitch, and Battle.net channels.

While livestreams will cover the main announcements, the musical performances remain exclusive to in-person attendees. This year features a headline act by K-pop group Le Sserafim and a halftime show by music duo Yoasobi during the Overwatch World Cup Arena esports tournament.

Expectations for the panels point to major franchise showcases. Blizzard has teased something for StarCraft, while Diablo celebrates its 30th anniversary alongside potential previews for a Diablo 4 expansion. Overwatch panels are expected to focus on competitive updates, a new playable hero reveal trailer, and the conclusion of the Reign of Talon storyline. World of Warcraft fans are anticipating a cinematic trailer for The Last Titan expansion alongside potential reveals for a new version of WoW Classic.