The release schedule for Magic: The Gathering this year has been a hot topic among fans ever since Wizards of the Coast announced its plans back in November 2024. The main issues with Magic: The Gathering's new approach were the fact that it was going to have six main sets in 2025, as well as the fact that three of them were dedicated to Universes Beyond collabs. Now, MTG's 2026 release schedule has mostly been revealed at MagicCon Atlanta, and while most of it was predictable based on Wizards' recent comments, there is one unexpected change from the schedule of 2025 that breaks a huge promise.

For many players, the simple fact that Wizards decided to turn Magic: The Gathering's Universes Beyond releases into full-fledged Standard-legal sets added to the core game for a 50/50 split was unacceptable. This is because Wizards originally stated that mechanically unique Secret Lair drops were going to be reprinted in main sets or products further down the line, which is no longer true for all the Secret Lair cards printed in recent years. On top of that, UB products were conceived as fun, one-off Eternal releases with Commander decks, mini sets, and the like. That is no longer the case either, and now WotC is walking its 50/50 promise back, too.

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I don't like superheroes, but Magic: The Gathering's Spider-Man set has a redeeming quality some great sets didn't have

Magic: The Gathering's Spider-Man set is clearly divisive and not doing well for pre-release, but I ended up liking it more than I thought I could.

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How MTG's 2026 Release Schedule Breaks Its 50/50 Promise

Recently, WotC's lead designer on MTG, Mark Rosewater, replied to a fan's question on his blog regarding plans for UB sets in 2026, to which the reply was that it would be a 50/50 split for the foreseeable future. However, Magic: The Gathering's 2026 release schedule is already breaking that promise, and not in the best of ways. The sets planned for next year are:

Almost 60% of Magic: The Gathering's 2026 Release Schedule is Universes Beyond

Not only does this mean that 2026 will have one more Standard-legal Magic: The Gathering set than this year, which was already criticized by fans for having too many releases, but that four out of seven sets will be UB. This is not a 50/50 split, and it's not even in favor of in-multiverse content, meaning that Wizards' promise of UB in MTG's Standard format taking up to 50% of a given year's releases has been broken very shortly after it was made.

MTG's Unannounced UB Set is Already Clear

TMNT Tactical Takedown Xbox Nintendo Release

The unannounced MTG x Nickelodeon 2026 set is most likely going to be dedicated to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for several reasons. These are:

  • A movie sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem was previously planned for 2026 and then delayed to 2027, but since WotC works on UB sets in advance, the release date was likely set in stone quite some time ago.
  • Other TMNT projects are in the works, including a movie and a video game dedicated to The Last Ronin.
  • The panel dedicated to the reveal includes WotC's Crystal Frasier as a guest, who is particularly passionate and knowledgeable about TMNT.
  • MTG's Foundations Jumpstart packs included a creature card called Taeko, the Patient Avalanche, which has "turtle ninja" as its subtypes.
  • TMNT is one of the biggest Nickelodeon properties, and it would fit the size of a full MTG set.

MTG's 2026 Universes Beyond Sets Make Sense As Much As They Don't

The remaining Universes Beyond sets were to be expected, as Wizards has a multi-year deal with Marvel for new sets to justify Super Heroes in June, a teaser for MTG's The Hobbit set was posted on Twitter just a few days ago, and Star Trek is not that surprising after Edge of Eternities. In fact, MTG's Edge of Eternities mechanics are perfect for a Star Trek set, especially station and the addition of spacecraft cards. As much as these sets can make sense, the reception to the reveals has already been mixed so far, and it doesn't help UB's reputation that now nearly 60% of the game is Universes Beyond, contrary to the original 50/50 split that was already controversial.

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magic the gathering
Magic: The Gathering
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Original Release Date
August 5, 1993
Designer
Richard Garfield
Player Count
2+
Age Recommendation
13+
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