Release date · Beta · Launch time
WoW Forever Release Date and Beta
World of Warcraft: Forever launches on November 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PST. The beta begins onSeptember 17, 2026. Here is every confirmed date, how to get into the beta and what is still not announced.
Last updated · Facts from Blizzard and major WoW sites, listed below · WoW Forever FAQ
Key dates
Beta
September 17, 2026
Start hour: not announced yet. Runs until October 21 or 22 (sources differ).
Launch
November 4, 2026 · 3:00 p.m. PST
Your time:
Launch time in your time zone
| Time zone | Launch | UTC offset |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Time (Los Angeles) | November 4, 2026 · 15:00 | GMT-8 |
| Eastern Time (New York) | November 4, 2026 · 18:00 | GMT-5 |
| UK (London) | November 4, 2026 · 23:00 | GMT+0 |
| Central Europe (Berlin, Paris) | November 5, 2026 · 00:00 | GMT+1 |
| Eastern Australia (Sydney) | November 5, 2026 · 10:00 | GMT+11 |
Converted from Blizzard's 3:00 p.m. PST. Daylight saving has ended in the US and Europe by November 4; Sydney is on summer time (AEDT).
Full timeline
- September 12, 2026WoW Forever announced at BlizzCon 2026
- September 17, 2026Beta beginsStart hour not announced yet
- October 20, 2026Invite-A-Friend Launch Codes start arriving by emailUpgrade buyers only
- October 21 or 22, 2026Beta endsSources differ, see below
- October 27 – November 3, 2026Early Name Reservation and character creationAny upgrade pack
- November 4, 2026Global launch at 3:00 p.m. PST
- November 4 – 11, 2026Invite-A-Friend launch week
- December 9, 2026Raids unlock: Barrow Deeps (10), Hyjal Summit (20), Onyxia's Lair (40)
- Not announced yetHardcore realms
Beta end date: Blizzard Watch and GameSpot report October 21; Icy Veins and Warcraft Tavern list October 22 from the official roadmap. We will update this page when Blizzard confirms it.
How to get into the WoW Forever beta
There are two ways in. Opting in is free but not guaranteed; the two higher upgrade packs guarantee access.
Free: opt in for a chance
- Open the official WoW Forever page and choose Beta Opt-in in the top right.
- Select Request Beta Access and sign in with the Battle.net account that has your World of Warcraft license.
- Wait for an invite. Testers are added in waves, so you may get in at the start, later on, or not at all.
- Check your email for a welcome message, or look for the Forever beta in the Battle.net launcher.
Guaranteed: pre-purchase an upgrade
- Buy the Skyborne Epic Pack or the Warcraft Forever Collection on the Battle.net Shop.
- Watch for the beta access email Blizzard sends after the purchase.
- In the Battle.net launcher, open World of Warcraft, pick World of Warcraft: Forever in the Game Version dropdown and install it. The date under Install shows September 17, 2026 when beta access is on your account.
The $29.99 Skyborne Heroic Pack does not include beta access.
What's in the beta
- Level cap 30. Reported to start at level 20 and rise to 30 after a couple of weeks.
- No raid testing. Content above level 30 stays locked until launch.
- Nothing carries over. Beta characters do not transfer to live realms.
- Zones and races in the beta: not announced yet. Blizzard Watch notes it is unclear whether the Skyborne race is playable for testers without an upgrade.
What WoW Forever adds at launch
- More than 1,000 new quests across the level 1–60 journey, with new and reimagined regions such as Hyjal, Shen'dralas, Riverglades and Zephras Isle.
- The Skyborne, a new elven race: Horde Skyborne can be Shamans, Alliance Skyborne can be Mages, and both can be Warriors, Hunters, Rogues and Druids.
- New race and class options such as Dwarf Shaman and Forsaken Paladin, plus new abilities and talent changes.
- New dungeons, 10- and 20-player raids, and the Darkspear Islands battleground.
- Legacy progression for leveling and alts, and Camping with shared campfire buffs.
- No flying mounts and no level scaling, an optional HD/SD graphics choice and official gamepad support.
Editions and prices
WoW Forever itself is included with a World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time; there is no box price. Upgrades are optional. Prices below are the US and UK prices reported by GameSpot and Wowhead; other regional prices are on the Battle.net Shop.
| Edition | Price | Beta | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| No upgrade | Subscription or Game Time | Opt-in chance only | Full access to WoW Forever from November 4. No Skyborne race. |
| Skyborne Heroic Pack | $29.99 | No guaranteed access | Skyborne race and Zephras Isle starting zone, Early Name Reservation, Cerulean Prideclaw mount, cosmetics, housing decor for modern WoW, 1 Invite-A-Friend code. |
| Skyborne Epic Pack | $59.99 / £51.99 | Guaranteed, whole beta | Everything in Heroic, 30 days of Game Time from November 4, more cosmetics, tabards and pets, 3 Invite-A-Friend codes in total. |
| Warcraft Forever Collection | $79.99 / £69.99 | Guaranteed, whole beta | Limited time. Everything in Epic plus Warcraft III: Reforged, the Forsaken Kingdom campaign and two housing figurines. |
Prepare for launch
- Talent calculatorPlan your first build for every class before the servers open.
- Leveling guidesSolo, dungeon and group builds with the talent order level by level.
- Best leveling combosDuos and groups ranked by the community.
- Legacy system guideHow Legacy progression rewards leveling and alts.
- Class guidesPvE and PvP builds for tanks, healers and damage dealers.
- WoW Forever newsBeta waves, patch notes and blue posts as they land.
- Beta changes trackerEvery verified beta and datamine change, by date and build.
- WoW Forever FAQPrice, beta, realms, Hardcore and system requirements, answered with sources.
WoW Forever release date FAQ
When is the WoW Forever release date?
World of Warcraft: Forever launches globally on November 4, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. PST. That is 6:00 p.m. EST and 23:00 UTC, so in Europe and Australia it is already November 5.
What time does WoW Forever launch?
Blizzard lists 3:00 p.m. PST on November 4, 2026. The time zone table on this page converts it to Eastern, UK, Central European and Australian time, and the page shows it in your own time zone.
When does the WoW Forever beta start and end?
The beta begins on September 17, 2026. Blizzard has not announced the hour it opens. It runs until late October: Blizzard Watch and GameSpot give October 21, while Icy Veins and Warcraft Tavern list October 22 from the official roadmap.
How do I get into the WoW Forever beta?
Opt in with your Battle.net account on the official WoW Forever page for a chance at an invite, or pre-purchase the Skyborne Epic Pack or the Warcraft Forever Collection for guaranteed access for the whole beta. The Skyborne Heroic Pack does not include beta access.
Is opting in to the beta a guaranteed invite?
No. Opt-in gives a chance at an invite, and Blizzard adds testers in waves, so you might get in at the start, part way through or not at all. Look for a welcome email or for the Forever beta in the Battle.net launcher.
What is the level cap in the WoW Forever beta?
Level 30. Warcraft Tavern and GameSpot report the cap starts at level 20 and is raised to 30 after a couple of weeks. Content above level 30, including raids, is not in the beta.
Do I need to buy WoW Forever?
No. Access is included with a World of Warcraft subscription or Game Time. The upgrade packs are optional, but you need one of them to play the new Skyborne race and to reserve names early.
Does beta progress carry over to launch?
No. Icy Veins' beta guide confirms nothing from the beta carries over to live realms, so every character starts fresh on November 4.
When can I reserve my character name?
Early Name Reservation runs from October 27 to November 3, 2026, for players who bought any upgrade pack. GameSpot reports you can create up to three characters, and names are first come, first served.
Sources
- Blizzard News (official): World of Warcraft: Forever What's Next Panel Recap
- Blizzard News (official): Pre-Purchase World of Warcraft: Forever Upgrades
- Blizzard (official): World of Warcraft: Forever (beta opt-in)
- Blizzard (official): World of Warcraft: Forever on the Battle.net Shop
- Blizzard Watch: How to join the World of Warcraft: Forever beta
- GameSpot: The WoW Forever Beta Starts This Week, Here's How To Get Access
- Icy Veins: Warcraft Forever Releases November 4, Beta Starts September 17
- Icy Veins: WoW Forever Beta Start Date and How to Get Access
- Warcraft Tavern: Beta Information, Phases, & Level Caps
- Wowhead: Skyborne Race Costs $29.99 to Unlock for Warcraft Forever
Spotted a change or a mistake? Tell us. This is a fan site; dates can change, so check the official page before you plan around them.