T-Pain, Simu Liu, deadmau5 and YOASOBI Join BlizzCon 2026 Lineup as Gaming Convention Returns After Three Years

BlizzCon is back. Blizzard Entertainment's fan convention returns to the Anaheim Convention Center on 12–13 September 2026, ending a three-year hiatus with a celebrity-stacked guest list and the first edition under Xbox's management.

The headline names span music, film and streaming. Singer T-Pain will appear during the Overwatch World Cup — Blizzard's flagship international esports tournament. Actor Simu Liu, known for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, will compete in the Blizzard Classic Cup StarCraft II Entertainment Match. Electronic producer deadmau5 is booked for a Diablo-focused panel. Japanese duo YOASOBI will perform at BlizzCon's first-ever esports halftime show, set inside the Overwatch World Cup Arena on 13 September. Variety

K-pop group LE SSERAFIM, whose members are KIM CHAEWON, SAKURA, HUH YUNJIN, KAZUHA and HONG EUNCHAE, will close the main stage on 13 September. The group previously performed at BlizzCon in 2023, making this a return appearance. Blizzard confirmed the booking in June. Blizzard

Gaming influencer Duke Dennis will take part in World of Warcraft activations and community events. Streamer Khleo Thomas will serve as the BlizzCon Insider, providing behind-the-scenes footage across the two-day event. Variety

BlizzCon 2026 is the first held since Microsoft completed its $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard — the parent company of Blizzard Entertainment. The deal closed in October 2023, placing Blizzard under Xbox leadership. For attendees and online viewers, that corporate shift sits behind the scenes; what they will see is the convention floor, the panels and the competitions.

Passes are officially sold out. Blizzard said remaining tickets may surface on the Tixr public resale market. The opening ceremony, panels across both days and esports competitions will be livestreamed, so those without a pass can still follow along. Variety

For a convention that last ran in 2023, the gap has been long enough that BlizzCon is effectively reintroducing itself. The celebrity guest list and the debut of an esports halftime show signal an event leaning harder into entertainment beyond its core game announcements and competitive play. Whether that formula holds will be visible soon enough — the doors open in under three weeks.