The WoW Forever beta runs from September 17 to October 23, 2026. It opened on Thursday the 17th, right after Blizzard's live Q&A, and closes on Friday, October 23 at 10:00 a.m. PDT (19:00 in peninsular Spain). Blizzard extended it by two days. Since October 1 the level cap is 30 (it opened at 20). The client is on build 1.60.1.70450 (October 16). Then come name reservations (October 27) and launch (November 4).
There are two ways in: buy an edition that includes it, or opt in for free and wait. Here's what's confirmed, what the press reports and what's still unknown.
Beta dates: September 17 to October 23
The beta starts on September 17, 2026 (Pacific time) and runs for just over a month. On October 20 Blizzard announced the closing date: Friday, October 23 at 10:00 a.m. PDT, 19:00 in peninsular Spain (Europe is still on summer time). In the team's words: "We plan to close the WoW Forever Beta … forever at 10:00 a.m. PDT on Friday, October 23." The pre-purchase said the 21st and the roadmap the 22nd; Blizzard extended it to the 23rd. Wowhead suggests there may be one more build before it closes, but Blizzard hasn't confirmed that. After that come name reservation (October 27; you can start thinking about yours with the name generator) and launch (November 4); the full calendar is in the roadmap, explained.
On Tuesday, October 21 there was a stress test on the launch servers, the "WoW: Forever - Stress Test" option in the Battle.net launcher, open to any WoW account (no subscription, beta key or invitation). It started at 19:00 CEST in Europe and 2:00 p.m. PDT in the Americas and Oceania, lasted a few hours (until 03:00 CEST), and the beta went offline while it ran (it was first announced for the 19th). Everything that comes next is in The beta ends: what happens after the close.
Who gets guaranteed access
According to Blizzard's announcement and pre-purchase page, the beta is included in two of the three packs:
| Pack | Beta | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Skyborne Heroic Pack | No | 29.99 according to Wowhead |
| Skyborne Epic Pack | Yes, guaranteed | $59.99 according to Blizzard Watch |
| Warcraft Forever Collection | Yes, guaranteed | $79.99 according to Blizzard Watch |
| Physical Collector's Edition (Gear Store) | Yes, with an emailed code | Not stated in the announcement |
The official page doesn't show prices in its text, which is why we credit each outlet. One warning: Wowhead's opt-in article suggests "the Skyborne Pack" is enough to get in. Blizzard's shop is more precise and it's the one that counts: the Heroic Pack doesn't include the beta. What else each edition includes is in the FAQ.
You don't need to buy beta access to play Forever: the full game is included with a WoW subscription from November 4.
How to opt in for the beta through Battle.net
The free route is the opt-in. It guarantees nothing: Blizzard picks who gets invited, and Blizzard Watch notes invites usually go out in waves. The steps, according to Wowhead and Blizzard Watch:
- Go to the official WoW Forever page.
- Sign in with the Battle.net account that has World of Warcraft.
- Press the Beta Opt-In button and, on the next page, Request Beta Access.
- Wait. If you're selected, you'll find out by email or straight in the Battle.net app.
Icy Veins adds how to check: in the Battle.net app, under games, look for Forever Beta in the version dropdown (the outlet places it under the World of Warcraft Classic entry). If it's there, you can install it.
Two common-sense tips: opt in with the account you actually play on, and be wary of any site or message promising beta keys in exchange for your details. According to Blizzard Support, a digital purchase and the opt-in both flag your Battle.net account automatically, with no code. The one exception is the physical Collector's Edition: its access comes as a code emailed to the address used for the Gear Store order. We cover it in where the beta code arrives and how to install the beta.
Level cap: 30 since October 1
The beta opened with a level 20 cap and Blizzard raised it to 30 on October 1, 2026, with build 1.60.1.70170. According to what it told Wowhead, it stays at 30 until the beta ends. Along with the increase, Blizzard cut the bonus experience from dungeon quests by 50%, because people were leveling too fast.
Don't expect level 60 or raids: that part is held back for launch and for December 9. In the Wowhead interview, the team also said everyone will start at level 1 at launch, so don't count on keeping anything you do in the beta.
What's in the beta right now (level 30)
With the level 30 update, Blizzard's notes and the beta client make it clear what you can do:
- The revamped starting zones, with new quests and NPCs: starting zones page. The new lighting shows in Elwynn Forest, Mulgore, Darkshore or The Barrens.
- The Skyborne, with their starting zone, Zephras Isle (1-12), playable since day one.
- Three new dungeons: The Hall of Thanes (13-18), Ruins of Lordaeron (15-20) and, since October 1, the Excavation Site (26-31) and, since October 8, the City of Dalaran (28-33).
- The Classic dungeons up to 30, with Razorfen Downs (25+) and Uldaman (30+) newly open: all of them in the dungeon ladder.
- The reworked classes up to their first 21 talent points: plan your tree in the talent calculator and your gear in the level 30 BiS.
- The six new race and class combinations, such as the Undead paladin or the Orc mage.
Where to level, with the new quests that give gear, is in the 1-20 leveling guide.
The beta builds
Blizzard updates the beta client every few days. These are the versions it has had so far, with the client date:
| Build | Date | What it brought |
|---|---|---|
| 1.60.1.69893 | September 16 | The version the opening was prepared with |
| 1.60.1.69913 | September 18 | The one from the first days of beta |
| 1.60.1.69977 | September 22-23 | Fixes for Mac and controllers |
| 1.60.1.70009 | September 24 | The first big batch of class changes |
| 1.60.1.70058 | September 29 | Server and interface fixes |
| 1.60.1.70124 | September 30 | Server and interface fixes |
| 1.60.1.70170 | October 1 | Level 30 cap, the Excavation Site and another batch of class changes |
| 1.60.1.70205 | October 3 | Fixes |
| 1.60.1.70235 | October 5 | Fixes |
| 1.60.1.70245 | October 6 | Fixes |
| 1.60.1.70291 | October 8 | The City of Dalaran and another batch of class changes |
| 1.60.1.70338 | October 10 | Fixes |
| 1.60.1.70374 | October 13 | Fixes |
What changes in each one, talent by talent and item by item, is in the patch notes, and the big batches, explained, in the articles for September 24, October 1 and October 8.
NDA and streaming
Blizzard hasn't published any non-disclosure agreement for this beta, and since day one it has been streamed and recorded daily on Twitch and YouTube. What shows up there keeps landing in our videos and clips.
The September 17 Q&A
The beta opened right after the WoW team's live Q&A. What they said, from GDKP to the 10- and 20-player raids per phase, is in what Blizzard said.
What we still don't know
- Whether there will be one more build before the closing (Wowhead suggests it; Blizzard hasn't said so).
- Whether there will be another level increase before the beta closes: Blizzard said it would stay at 30.
- Whether there will be more stress tests before launch.
- How many opt-in slots are handed out and in how many waves.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the WoW Forever beta last?
Just over a month: from September 17 to October 23, 2026 (Friday the 23rd at 19:00 in Spain; Blizzard extended it by two days). It opened capped at 20 and has been at 30 since October 1.
When does the WoW Forever beta start?
It started on Thursday, September 17, 2026, right after Blizzard's live Q&A.
When does the WoW Forever beta end?
On Friday, October 23, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. PDT (19:00 in peninsular Spain). The pre-purchase said the 21st and the roadmap the 22nd; Blizzard extended it to the 23rd (announcement of October 20).
Is the WoW Forever beta free?
Opting in is free, but it doesn't guarantee access. Guaranteed entry comes with the Skyborne Epic Pack or the Warcraft Forever Collection.
Are there WoW Forever beta keys?
In one case only. With the digital packs and the opt-in, access goes straight to your Battle.net account, with no code. The physical Collector's Edition does come with a code, which Blizzard emails to the address used on the Gear Store: details in the beta code guide. Beyond that, be wary of anyone selling or giving away "keys" in exchange for your details.
Does the Skyborne Heroic Pack include beta access?
No. According to Blizzard's pre-purchase page, the beta is only included in the Skyborne Epic Pack and the Warcraft Forever Collection.
What level does the beta go up to?
Up to 30. It opened capped at 20 and Blizzard raised it to 30 on October 1. It stays there until the end.
When does the WoW Forever beta go to level 30?
It already has. On October 1, 2026 Blizzard opened level 30 with build 1.60.1.70170, together with the Excavation Site (26-31) and access to Razorfen Downs and Uldaman.
Do beta characters carry over to launch?
Don't count on it. The team has said everyone starts at level 1 at launch, and no carryover has been announced. The only thing Blizzard has put in writing is that the beta closes on October 23.
What was the October 21 stress test?
A load test on the launch servers on Tuesday, October 21: it started at 19:00 CEST in Europe and 2:00 p.m. PDT in the Americas, lasted a few hours and was open to any WoW account, no subscription or beta key needed. Every character was deleted when it ended. More in The beta ends: what happens after the close.
Can I play the Skyborne in the beta?
Yes. Their starting zone, Zephras Isle (1-12), has been playable in the beta since day one.
Can I stream the WoW Forever beta?
Blizzard hasn't published any non-disclosure agreement, and the beta is streamed daily on Twitch and YouTube.
