Blizzard > BlizzConMay 17, 2023 1:00 pm CT

BlizzCon 2023 returns to the Anaheim Convention Center this November

BlizzCon will be running from November 3 – 4, 2023 at the Anaheim Convention Center. This is the first in-person BlizzCon we’ve seen since 2019 — though online events have filled the gap — and there’s a lot of hype about having another big in-person event. (Heck, we were just talking about it on the podcast this week.)

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment (Official Post)

Our players are at the heart of what makes BlizzCon great–a place where games are the common ground for connection and friendship. Whether you’re coming to hang out with friends you only ever get to see online, celebrating epic moments in the games we love, exploring what’s on offer in the convention center halls, or eager to learn what’s next for our universes, BlizzCon is being created for you. It’s the community that has always made this event so special, and we can’t wait to see you all again.

But while we have the dates, still don’t have many details about this BlizzCon. When Blizzard canceled its last BlizzConline in 2022, they said they wanted to rethink what BlizzCon was:

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment (Official Post)

…we would also like to take the time to reimagine what a BlizzCon event of the future could look like. The first BlizzCon was held 16 years ago, and so much has changed in the time since—most notably, the multiple ways in which players and communities can come together and feel like they are a part of something bigger. Whatever the event looks like in the future, we also need to ensure that it feels as safe, welcoming, and inclusive as possible. We’re committed to continual communication with our players, and we see BlizzCon playing a big role in that going forward. We’re excited about what we’ll do with the event when we revisit it in the future.

When Blizzard announced ticket sales, they said the event aims to be a “giant playground” for the community:

Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment (Official Post)

This year, the goal is to make BlizzCon® feel more experiential than ever before. It will be a one-of-a-kind immersive experience, bringing attendees into the universes of Warcraft®, Diablo®, and Overwatch® with massive installations, art, and thematic spaces where friends can connect. Whether you’re kicking back in Azeroth, exploring the mysteries of a dark cathedral of Sanctuary, playing alongside the heroes of Overwatch®, or tuning in from home, we want you to feel you are entering universes alongside your friends as you celebrate and experience what we’re building next, and hear from developers all across Blizzard about their vision for our games, their craft, and more.

This is the first time we are building BlizzCon this way, and our vision is that building a giant playground for our communities will allow everyone to create memories, share stories, and celebrate what unites us.

That description is still rather conceptual, and it still doesn’t include details about safety and security. Blizzard promised it would ensure a “safe, welcoming, and inclusive” environment for future BlizzCons — and Blizzard itself has been part of the problem in the past, with BlizzCon specifically coming up in sexual harassment allegations against the company. This BlizzCon intends to have a much fancier setup but we don’t know how Blizzard intends to follow through on those other promises.

How to get BlizzCon 2023 tickets

Tickets for BlizzCon will be on sale through AXS on Saturday, July 8 at 10am PDT and Saturday, July 22 at 10am PDT. Prices are up this year, with General Admission tickets going for $299 and Portal Pass tickets going for an eye-watering $799. There’s no word on whether there will be a charity dinner with its own ticketing this year.

Tickets always sell out fast, and probably will even at this higher price point. If you want to attend in person, be sure you’re ready to buy exactly as tickets go on sale: we have

The only good news on price is that you won’t have to buy a Virtual Ticket if you want to watch the event at home: BlizzCon 2023 will be livestreamed for free. However, there will still be some type of Virtual Ticket for purchase which will include digital goodies and early access to merch sales.

You can book hotel rooms now — BlizzCon has a block of hotels that you can book — but be sure your reservations are refundable, just in case you can’t get tickets. I’d recommend holding off on booking airfare — which usually isn’t refundable — until you’re sure you can get in the doors.

Originally published May 17, 2023; updated June 29, 2023.

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