For instance, Curse of Strahd was the fourth ebook launched for 5E after its trio of rulebooks. The primary 2026 ebook might be Ravenloft: The Horror Inside, which can simply occur to be the fifth ebook launched for the reason that 2024 revised guidelines, although in the event you take into account the 2 2025 Forgotten Realms books as one entity, then Ravenloft is once more the fourth ebook launched after revised guidelines.
It’s not stunning since Ravenloft has been a constantly widespread setting whatever the sport version. So for 5E, Curse of Strahd led to Curse of Strahd Revamped, which was type of a mid-range product that fell between the just-the-book launch of the unique CoS and Beadle & Grimm’s Curse of Strahd Legendary Version. The 2021 Van Richten’s Information to Ravenloft sourcebook was additionally extremely popular and a very good toolkit for working horror.
The one factor that considerably surprises me is that the brand new Ravenloft ebook is one other sourcebook as an alternative of an journey anthology. Nevertheless it contains new horror subclasses, which is pretty customary for this level after core rulebook revisions. One factor I’m wanting ahead to is the NPCs, each adversarial and allies, that Ravenloft: The Horrors Inside will embody. Like VRGtR, R:THW may also embody information on horror subgenres like cosmic as an alternative of solely specializing in gothic horror.
And like final 12 months, autumn brings a joint ebook launch, Arcana Unleashed and Arcana Unleashed: Deadfall. Because the title signifies, these two are for magic lovers with the previous being a sourcebook for prime magic and the latter being a companion journey that includes a Wizard Battle and information on the Crimson Wizards of Thay.
I’m a bit stunned we haven’t had a 5E journey targeted on the Crimson Wizards earlier than this. Cult members had been included in Hoard of the Dragon Queen, The Rise of Tiamat, Tomb of Annihilation, and Misplaced Thoughts of Phandelver however they had been supporting parts, not the primary course. A Crimson Wizard-themed journey would have been good in 2023 to capitalize on the Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Amongst Thieves motion pictures, however higher late than by no means.
One other as but unannounced ebook—they’ve to carry one thing again to generate buzz later within the 12 months—might be launched in December. The one factor we find out about it’s that it’ll anchor the “Season of Champions”. My guess is that it is going to be Darkish Solar, although I wouldn’t give that setting the advertising and marketing label “Season of Champions.” Nonetheless, it may make sense since any character that stands up for the larger good within the dystopian world of Athas might be referred to as a champion.
One other facet that matches the “all the pieces previous is new once more” theme of the 2026 highway map is the return of “seasons.” These tie collectively merchandise inside a theme and to attach them to revised organized play initiatives.
D&D organized play has gone via numerous names and iterations through the years. For those who had been taking part in D&D in 2010 it’s possible you’ll keep in mind the previous Encounters program. Wizards of the Coast is planning an up to date model of that program, which ties into the return of “seasons.”
These seasons for 2026 might be Season of Horror working from April via June, Season of Magic July via September, and Season of Champions October via the top of 2026. Additionally they assist to tie peripheral merchandise to the most important ebook releases, like map packs, which have been underutilized in 5E.
Wizards offered another data via the roadmap graphic under. Including an Occasion Finder to D&D Past is sensible with a revitalized in-store organized play program. The Partnered Content material part implies that, as earlier than, supplemental materials for the brand new Encounters program might be produced by third events, not Wizards workers.
It is perhaps stretching a bit to say the 2026 Dungeons & Dragons highway map “has one thing for everybody,” however the distinction between Ravenloft and a excessive magic sourcebook paired with a Forgotten Realms Crimson Wizards journey does supply a pleasant vary of choices. If my guess that Darkish Solar would be the finish of 12 months launch it will broaden the spectrum.
To be taught extra about Wizards of the Coast’s 2026 plans for D&D see:
