World of Warcraft: Forever launches with three raids unlocking together on December 9, 2026 — Barrow Deeps (10-player), Hyjal Summit (20-player), and a returning Onyxia’s Lair (40-player). A further raid wave is planned for later in 2027.
For the full announcement roundup, see our WoW Classic Plus / Forever hub.
The December 9 Raid Wave
None of these unlock at Forever’s actual November 4 launch — all three arrive together five weeks later, on December 9. Don’t expect endgame raiding on day one.
What Comes After
Blizzard’s roadmap points to further raid content in 2027, including one additional new raid, two more dungeons, a PvP season refresh, and a “revamped” version of an existing iconic raid — though which specific raid gets the revamp hasn’t been named yet. Reporting on the exact season varies between spring and summer 2027, so treat the timing as approximate until Blizzard confirms it more precisely.
Tips & Tricks
Don’t plan a raid roster around a single size. With 10, 20, and 40-player options launching simultaneously, groups of very different sizes all have a home on December 9.
Treat the November 4 to December 9 gap as a leveling and gearing window. There’s real time built in before raid content actually opens.
Watch for the “revamped iconic raid” announcement. Blizzard hasn’t said which existing raid gets reworked for the 2027 wave — this is worth checking back on as more gets confirmed.
Related Reading
- WoW Classic Plus / Forever Announcement Roundup — the full reveal and headline facts
- New Zones Guide — including Mount Hyjal, where Hyjal Summit and Barrow Deeps are set
- New Dungeons Guide — the nine dungeons launching alongside these raids