It’s official: Midnight is coming to World of Warcraft on March 2, 2026. The second expansion of the Worldsoul Saga will be available to play in early March of next year, but fans who pre-purchase the Epic Edition of the World of Warcraft expansion can start by the end of February.
The hype has been real for World of Warcraft: Midnight over the last few months. Since its official reveal at Gamescom Opening Night Live, the expansion has been hitting major milestones towards its release, powering through its alpha and beta testing periods in World of Warcraft. The expansion didn’t yet have a release date, but players knew it was coming in early 2026.
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World of Warcraft: Midnight Launches March 2, 2026
Now, World of Warcraft fans can officially mark the Midnight launch date on their calendars. March 2, 2026, is the big day, bringing four new zones, eight dungeons, 11 delves, three raids, and a level cap of 90 to the game. Players will need to purchase the Midnight expansion before then to enjoy all of this new content.
While March 2 will be the public release, fans can actually start playing as early as February. Pre-purchasing the Epic Edition of World of Warcraft: Midnight grants three days of early access to the expansion, meaning gamers should be able to jump into Quel'thalas as early as February 27. Most endgame activities probably won’t be active during this period to prevent players from getting too much of a head start on gearing, but fans can enjoy the new story and reach max level in preparation for Midnight Season 1.
Interestingly, this March 2 release date is different from either of the dates that were previously leaked. A report from Dealabs stated Midnight would be launching on February 26, while a datamined event within World of Warcraft, suspected to be the Pre-Patch, was alleged to end on March 9, suggesting a March 10 release date. The former ended up being a day before Early Access, while the latter was just over a week after the actual day.
What's Coming in World of Warcraft: Midnight?
In Patch 11.2, Xal'atath's scheme came to fruition; using the Dark Heart to absorb her former master Dimension, she has become the new All-Devouring. Now heading the aptly-named Devouring Host, Xal'atath seeks to corrupt the radiant light of the Sunwell, and through it, all of Azeroth. Heroes from the Alliance and Horde must join forces in the defense of Silvermoon City – but rising tensions amid the war between the Light and Shadow mean players may be facing some unexpected foes in this World of Warcraft expansio n.
Four new zones are coming in the update, including a revamped version of Eversong Woods and an expansion of the Zul'Aman raid into a full-fledged area, and new locations in the form of Harandar and the Voidstorm. The former is also home to the elusive Haranir, who join World of Warcraft as the next Allied Race. New endgame activities, transmog updates, UI improvements, and more can be found within the expansion, as well as nearly two dozen instances split between Delves, dungeons, and raids:
-
Delves
- The Shadow Enclave
- Collegiate Calamity
- Parhelion Plaza
- The Darkway
- Twilight Crypts
- Atal’Aman
- The Grudge Pit
- The Gulf of Memory
- Sunkiller Sanctum
- Shadowguard Point
- Torment’s Rise (Nemesis)
-
Dungeons
- Windrunner Spire
- Magister’s Terrace
- Murder Row
- Den of Nalorakk
- Maisara Caverns
- Blinding Vale
- Nexus-Point Xenas
- Voidscar Arena
-
Raids
- The Voidspire (six bosses)
- The Dreamrift (one boss)
- March on Quel’Danas (two bosses)
Ahead of the full expansion’s release, there are still two other big days players will want to keep in mind. Patch 11.2.7, which includes a prologue for Midnight and Housing early access for fans who own the next WoW expansion, arrives December 2, marking the final content update for The War Within. Then, early next year, the Pre-Patch update will arrive, featuring the first batch of Midnight content, including the Devourer Demon Hunter and other class changes, as well as the pre-expansion event. The 12.0 update doesn’t have a release date yet, but evidence suggests the World of Warcraft: Midnight Pre-Patch could arrive on January 20, the day after Legion Remix ends, and about six weeks before the expansion's launch.
- Released
- 2026
- Base Game
- World of Warcraft
- Developer(s)
- Blizzard
- Publisher(s)
- Blizzard
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
WHERE TO PLAY
Prepare to embark on an epic journey in World of Warcraft: Midnight. Explore new and reimagined zones, unlock a new race, and master thrilling new systems.
Return to the elven kingdom of Quel'Thalas as Xal’atath’s invasion of Azeroth begins, and the Voidstorm threatens to cover the world in darkness.
Explore New and Reimagined Zones - The battle between the Light and the Void spans across four zones as you discover new allies and confront ancient enemies.
New Features and Improvements - As the Void invasion descends upon Quel'Thalas, an array of new features add more depth and improvements to our evolving world.
Hunt Elusive Enemies - Sign up to pursue powerful targets across Azeroth and beyond - but beware; once on the hunt, your prey can strike you at any time.
Fight Void with Void - Instead of fel energy, Devourer Demon Hunters rip fragments of the Void straight from their enemies to unleash ranged Void abilities.
Recruit New Allies - Discover the wonder of Harandar and recruit the haranir to your cause by completing their quests.
Stand Against the Void - Battle your way through eight dungeons, then confront nine bosses across three new raids while uncovering the depth of Xal'atath's plotting, discovering her true objectives.
Get Back into the Fight - Get caught up with streamlined leveling experience through Dragonflight, fully preparing you to jump directly into Midnight.
Streamlined Customization - Save and show off your favorite looks with ease, and even set default appearances on your gear slots with updates to the Transmogrification system.
