Blizzard Announces Hearthstone 2026 Esports Roadmap
Blizzard Entertainment has revealed the complete 2026 Hearthstone esports roadmap, promising more tournaments, bigger prize pools, innovative qualification paths, and a thrilling live finale at BlizzCon.
Three Back to Back Competitive Seasons
The year kicks off with three intense competitive seasons running from January to June: Winter (January/February), Spring (March/April), and Summer (May/June). Each season features regional Playoffs and a Masters Tour Championship, where players battle for glory via ladder rankings or open qualifiers.
Playoffs Blitz Weekend: New Qualification
A fresh addition, the Playoffs Blitz Weekend, caps each season. This event packs multiple single elimination open qualifiers with smaller player caps, letting winners snag direct playoff spots.
Expanded Masters Tour Championships
The Masters Tour Championship circuit grows from two events in 2025 to three in 2026, including a debut Winter Championship in April. Each boasts a $50,000 prize pool, with top performers advancing to Worlds.
Qualification ramps up from top four from each region’s playoffs (up from two), plus regional and global Competitive Point leaders.
Top three from each Championship (via a bronze match) secure World Championship berths.
Competitive Points Breakdown
Rack up Competitive Points in open qualifiers to climb seasonal ladders:
- 1st: 7 points
- 2nd-5th: 6 points
- 6th-10th: 5 points
- 11th-25th: 4 points
- 26th-50th: 3 points
- 51st-75th: 2 points
- 76th-100th: 1 point
Hearthstone World Championship at BlizzCon
The crowning event, 2026 Masters Tour World Championship live at BlizzCon Anaheim, September 13. 16 players compete for a massive $500,000 prize pool:
- 9 slots: Top 3 from each Masters Tour
- 4 slots: China’s competitive system
- 3 slots: Top global Competitive Point earners
Bigger Prize Pools and Broadcasts
An extra $50,000 boosts the overall pool, building on 2025’s Spring/Summer Championships ($50k each) and Year-End Finals ($500k). All Playoffs and Championships get official broadcasts on Twitch/YouTube.
Since: October 29, 2025
