WoW Forever Release Date, Beta & Launch Schedule

What is the WoW Forever release date?

World of Warcraft: Forever launches globally on November 4, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. Pacific. Blizzard says standard access is included with an active World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time.

For a broader explanation of the product, read What Is WoW Forever?. If you are deciding what to study before launch, the new zones overview and systems hub are the best starting points.

When does the beta start and end?

Blizzard’s published beta window is:

• Starts: September 17, 2026 PST/PDT period as published by Blizzard;
• Ends: October 21, 2026 PST;
• Access: included with the Skyborne Epic Pack and Warcraft Forever Collection, subject to Blizzard’s account rules.

The wiki will begin adding hands-on values such as talents, racials, dungeon mechanics, loot and quest details only after those can be checked against the beta build.

When is Early Name Reservation?

Early Name Reservation is scheduled for October 27 through November 3, 2026. Blizzard says qualifying upgrade owners can create and customize up to three characters during this period, with names reserved on a first-come, first-served basis.

The reservation window does not mean full gameplay is live. The full launch remains November 4.

When do the new raids unlock?

Blizzard’s roadmap says the new raids unlock on December 9, 2026. The first announced raid wave includes Barrow Deeps and Hyjal Summit.

That separation between launch and raid unlock gives players time to level, explore the world, run the nine new dungeons and prepare characters before organized raid progression begins.

Do you need to buy WoW Forever separately?

No separate base-game purchase is required for normal launch access beyond an active World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time. Blizzard sells optional Forever upgrade packs that add benefits such as Skyborne access, cosmetics, beta access on qualifying editions and Early Name Reservation.

The distinction matters: subscription access is the core requirement; the upgrade packs are optional extras.