WoW Classic in 2026 marks a pivotal shift in Blizzard’s approach to seasonal content and progression. With Mists of Pandaria entering its final chapters and The Burning Crusade Classic Anniversary launching on a compressed schedule, the year is structured to unite the Classic player base ahead of a major reveal—likely the long-anticipated “Classic Plus.”
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- A full timeline of the 2026 WoW Classic roadmap, including confirmed and estimated dates
- Phase-by-phase breakdowns for the TBC Classic Anniversary and Mists of Pandaria finales
- Major ruleset and economy changes for Anniversary realms, including GDKP bans and boosting restrictions
- The state of Wrath Classic and why it’s missing from the calendar
- What we know about Classic Plus—and what Blizzard surveys reveal about its direction
2026 Roadmap At-a-Glance
| Date | Event | Notes |
| Jan 13, 2026 | TBC Pre-Patch | Level 58 boosts, Jewelcrafting |
| Feb 5, 2026 | TBC Launch | Outland, Level 70 cap |
| Feb 17, 2026 | Arena Season 1 | PvP gear available |
| Feb 19, 2026 | Tier 4 Raids | Karazhan, Gruul, Magtheridon |
| Mar 9, 2026 (est.) | MoP Phase 4 | Scenarios, PvP, no raid |
| Apr 16, 2026 (est.) | TBC Phase 2 | SSC, Tempest Keep |
| May 25, 2026 (est.) | MoP Phase 5 | Siege of Orgrimmar, Timeless Isle |
| Jul–Aug 2026 | TBC Phase 3 | BT, Mount Hyjal |
| Sep 12–13, 2026 | BlizzCon | Classic Plus reveal expected |
| Sep–Oct 2026 | TBC Phase 3.5 | Zul’Aman |
| Oct–Nov 2026 | TBC Phase 4 | Sunwell Plateau raid |
The release schedule for 2026 moves at a rapid pace, transitioning from existing expansion content to fresh anniversary realms.
- January 13, 2026: TBC Anniversary Pre-patch (Level 58 boosts and Jewelcrafting enabled).
- February 5, 2026: TBC Anniversary Launch (3:00 PM PST; Outland access and level 70 cap).
- February 17, 2026: TBC Anniversary Arena Season 1 begins.
- February 19, 2026: TBC Anniversary Tier 4 Raids unlock (Karazhan, Gruul’s Lair, Magtheridon’s Lair).
- March 9, 2026 (Estimated): MoP Classic Phase 4 (Escalation).
- April 16, 2026 (Estimated): TBC Anniversary Phase 2 (Tier 5 raids).
- May 25, 2026 (Estimated): MoP Classic Phase 5 (Siege of Orgrimmar).
- July–August 2026 (Estimated): TBC Anniversary Phase 3 (Tier 6 raids).
- September 12–13, 2026: BlizzCon 2026 (Expected Classic Plus reveal).
- September–October 2026 (Estimated): TBC Anniversary Phase 3.5 (Zul’Aman catch-up).
- October–November 2026 (Estimated): TBC Anniversary Phase 4 (Sunwell Plateau).
MoP Classic Phase 4 & 5: Final Raid, Timeless Isle, and Legendary Cloak Wrap-Up
Pandaria Classic is entering its final stages, focusing on the civil war within the Horde and the final legendary power spikes. With no mention of Warlords of Draenor on the horizon, these updates represent the conclusion of the expansion’s progression cycle.
Phase 4: Escalation (Early March 2026)
This phase serves as a narrative bridge and is primarily focused on world events and PvP. Notably, Phase 4 includes no new raid tier.
- New Scenarios: Four scenarios—Battle on the High Seas, Blood in the Snow, Dark Heart of Pandaria, and Secrets of Ragefire—will be introduced in both Normal and Heroic modes.
- Battlefield: Barrens: A world-event battleground focusing on the Horde vs. Alliance conflict leading to the siege.
- PvP Additions: The introduction of the Deepwind Gorge battleground and the Tiger’s Peak arena.
- Legendary Cloak: This phase allows for further progression in the questline to ensure readiness for the finale.
Phase 5: Siege of Orgrimmar (Late May 2026)
The Siege of Orgrimmar raid serves as the narrative conclusion to the expansion. Alongside the raid, the Timeless Isle becomes the primary hub for endgame exploration. This is the final phase for the completion of the Legendary Cloak.
Character Transition Projections
With no Warlords of Draenor phase announced, the long-term fate of MoP Classic characters remains uncertain. Theoretical projections suggest these characters may eventually be merged into modern “Retail” servers to preserve progress, or potentially move into a permanent “MoP Era” realm. A merge into Retail during a natural break in the modern game’s Worldsoul Saga would allow for character preservation without disrupting current expansion narratives. July 2026 is viewed as a likely pivot point for these transitions.
TBC Anniversary Phases Explained: Timeline, Raid Unlocks, and Catch-Up Content
The TBC Anniversary edition is a condensed experience, compressing what was originally a multi-year expansion into a single-year sprint. This cadence allows players to experience the entirety of Outland in a high-intensity environment.
The Split-Launch Strategy
To prevent a chaotic leveling rush and stabilize the economy, the launch is staggered:
- Leveling Phase (Feb 5): Outland zone opens for leveling, professions, and flying mount access.
- Raid Phase (Feb 19): Tier 4 raids unlock two weeks later, allowing players to reach level 70 and secure early reputations without missing lockouts.
Raid Tuning and PvP Accessibility
For these Anniversary servers, all raids are confirmed to use their post-nerf (easier) tuning. This ensures that the accelerated pace remains accessible to the broader community. Furthermore, Arena gear requirements for Season 1 have been lowered, and same-faction battleground queues are active to minimize wait times.
Phase Highlights
| Phase | Content Highlights | Notes |
| Phase 2 | Tier 5: SSC, Tempest Keep; Ogri’la and Skyguard daily quests | Mid-April 2026 |
| Phase 3 | Tier 6: Black Temple, Mount Hyjal; Netherwing mounts | Summer 2026 |
| Phase 3.5 | Zul’Aman (10-player) | Catch-up raid |
| Phase 4 | Sunwell Plateau, Isle of Quel’Danas | Final tier |
Gold Rules, GDKP Ban, and Boosting Policy for TBC Anniversary Realms
Blizzard is enforcing strict environmental controls on Anniversary realms to ensure an “organic” economy. These rules are currently focused on the NA and EU regions.
- GDKP Ban: Gold Dragon Kill Points (GDKP) loot-selling runs are strictly prohibited. This policy aims to preserve guild-based social structures and combat gold-buying incentives.
- Boosting Restrictions: Organized, cross-server boosting communities are banned. These “non-traditional services” are prohibited to prevent the commodification of the leveling process.
- Permitted Services: Individual players or guilds may still offer summons, portals, and dungeon carries for gold, provided all advertising is restricted to the dedicated “Services” chat channel.
Titan Reforged Servers Explained (And Why They’re China-Only)
The “Titan Reforged” servers are confirmed as a China-exclusive Classic experiment. This mode features heavily accelerated progression and merged raids from Classic, TBC, and Wrath—all scaled to level 80 for a unified seasonal experience. All former 10-player raids are upscaled into a single 25-player difficulty with modernized loot. There is currently no plan to export the Titan Reforged model to Western audiences.
Where Is Wrath Classic? Why Blizzard’s 2026 Roadmap Skips WotLK
The 2026 roadmap is conspicuously silent regarding Wrath of the Lich King (WotLK). This omission suggests that Blizzard may be avoiding the progression fatigue associated with traditional expansion cycles. If WotLK returns, it may arrive as a static “Era” realm with all content unlocked from day one—or be delayed until after Classic Plus is fully underway, likely sometime after 2026.
Classic Plus in 2026? Blizzard Surveys and Community Hype Explained
The 2026 roadmap appears meticulously designed to clear the calendar for a major announcement at BlizzCon in September. The strategic timing of MoP’s conclusion and TBC’s rapid progression suggests a total reconsolidation of the player base.
Survey Data and Evolution
Throughout 2025, official surveys probed interest in “Classic Plus” features, such as horizontal progression (opening previously inaccessible zones on the original Azeroth map), class/talent reworks, and hybrid modern features like transmog.
These official efforts are mirrored by immense community-driven activity. Unofficial community polls—some gathering tens of thousands of votes—have further shaped the conversation around potential Classic Plus features. This indicates a high level of player-driven demand for a version of Classic that evolves beyond simple re-releases.
TL;DR: What to Expect from WoW Classic in 2026
The 2026 WoW roadmap is defined by momentum. By wrapping up Mists of Pandaria by summer and sprinting through TBC Anniversary by late autumn, Blizzard is positioning the community for a unified pivot at BlizzCon. The lore and the schedule suggest that the future of Classic will pivot away from legacy expansion re-releases toward a modernized, community-shaped evolution of Azeroth.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 WoW Classic roadmap?
The 2026 roadmap outlines a fast-paced progression plan across TBC Anniversary and Mists of Pandaria Classic. It marks a major transition point for the franchise, likely ending legacy re-releases and pivoting toward Classic Plus.
Is The Burning Crusade coming back in 2026?
Yes—Blizzard is re-releasing TBC as a high-speed “Anniversary Edition.” It launches February 5, 2026, and will include all major raid tiers, streamlined leveling, and updated tuning across a single year.
When does MoP Classic end?
Mists of Pandaria Classic will conclude with Phase 5, including the Siege of Orgrimmar raid and Timeless Isle. This phase is expected to go live in late May 2026, signaling the end of the expansion’s progression cycle.
What is Classic Plus and when will it release?
Classic Plus is Blizzard’s likely next evolution of Classic WoW—featuring original Azeroth content, new progression systems, and class redesigns. It’s expected to be revealed at BlizzCon 2026 and launch sometime after.
Is there a new level cap in TBC Anniversary?
Yes—players will once again progress to level 70 as they adventure through Outland. This includes all leveling zones, heroic dungeons, and professions tuned for TBC-era content.
Will attunement chains return in TBC Anniversary?
Yes, attunement chains are returning—though they’ll be streamlined to match the accelerated server pacing. Key questlines for raids like Karazhan and Tempest Keep will still require completion.
Are Blood Elves and Silvermoon City part of the 2026 content?
Absolutely. Blood Elves will be available from the pre-patch on January 13, 2026, and Silvermoon City serves as their starting capital within the TBC Anniversary experience.
Is there a new profession in WoW Classic 2026?
Yes—Jewelcrafting is introduced with the pre-patch. This profession plays a key role in endgame gear optimization, especially for PvP and raiding in the TBC meta.
What is changing with professions in TBC Anniversary?
Professions are receiving a variety of quality-of-life changes. Crafting materials are being adjusted for pacing, and endgame professions like Engineering and Alchemy are being rebalanced for raid utility.
Will there be faster leveling in 2026 Classic?
Yes—Blizzard is reducing XP requirements and enabling same-faction battlegrounds to accelerate leveling. This is designed to keep up with the compressed one-year expansion cycle.
What content is coming in each TBC Anniversary phase?
Phases include Tier 4 (Karazhan, Gruul, Magtheridon), Tier 5 (SSC, Tempest Keep), Tier 6 (Black Temple, Hyjal), and Phase 4 (Sunwell). Zul’Aman lands mid-year as a Phase 3.5 catch-up raid.
What is the Shattered Sun Offensive in 2026?
The Shattered Sun Offensive returns in TBC Phase 4 as the reputation hub tied to the Isle of Quel’Danas and the Sunwell raid. Expect daily quests, progressive unlocks, and powerful rewards.
Will there be any new content types in Classic?
Yes—new content types include instanced scenarios, battlegrounds like Deepwind Gorge, and world events such as Battlefield: Barrens. These bring variety beyond traditional raids and dungeons.
How does instant mail and economic reform affect Classic gameplay?
Instant mail helps speed up player logistics, while GDKP bans and boosting restrictions create a more social, less commercial environment—particularly on NA and EU realms.
Why is Wrath Classic missing from the 2026 roadmap?
Blizzard hasn’t announced WotLK Classic plans for 2026. It may be shelved until after Classic Plus launches or released later as a static Era realm with full content unlocked.
