This year, the DnD release schedule is split into three 'seasons'. Each comes with a significant amount of hype and some shiny accessory products, but the gist is this: in 2026, we're getting four new D&D books.
Several offer updates for DnD classes and DnD races, so players will be well-fed by new build options. There's also plenty of setting and adventure goodies for the GMs, too.
Here's the full DnD release schedule 2026:
Ravenloft: The Horrors Within
Release date: Tuesday, June 16, 2026
First off the blocks is Ravenloft: The Horrors Within - a "Gameplay Expansion" (a.k.a. rulebook) that returns us to the Domains of Dread, featuring everyone's favorite romantically challenged immortal maniac, Count Strahd von Zarovich. Oh, and also Cthulhu is here!
Several horror-themed subclasses appear alongside revised 'lineage' species options and a heap of tempting yet terrifying Dark Power feats. Many of these feel familiar to longtime 5e players, but the remastered rules feel significantly more streamlined. Plus, the all-new Hollow Warden Ranger is seriously exciting.
Beyond player-facing options, we get stat blocks for a heap of Darklords, plus a whistlestop tour of the most famous dread demiplanes - including the Lovecraftian Innsmouth. There's some great campaign fodder here, though the stripped-back lore feels less rich than when we last saw it in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft.
Find out why we gave the book a 7/10 in our full Ravenloft: The Horrors Within review.
Arcana Unleashed
Release date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Releasing in September, Arcana Unleashed is all about new magic options. That means a heap more subclasses, spells, magical feats, and unique items for your party inventory. It also means new guidance on working for magical patrons and factions, plus a little bit of adventure content to boot.
Personally, I'd call this the best 5.5e book so far. The ideas are original and exciting. The new character options are generally strong, with a few really interesting standouts. Not every concept Wizards introduces flies flawlessly, but there's far more good than bad.
Read our full 9/10 Arcana Unleashed review here.
Arcana Unleashed Deadfall
Release date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Arcana Unleashed Deadfall is a companion adventure for the previous book on the release schedule. Starting at level 11, this high-stakes espionage campaign takes you all the way to level 20. The goal? Infiltrate the Red Wizards of Thay in order to stop the necromantic machinations of one Szass Tam.
It's a solid concept, but Wizards sadly doesn't deliver. The narrative is shallow, the gameplay gets repetitive, and the high challenge level will either delight your masochistic party or drive them away altogether.
Learn more in my Arcana Unleashed: Deadfall review.
D&D: World of Warcraft
Release date: Tuesday, November 17, 2026
Our mystery winter product is, in fact, the start of D&D's new Universes Beyond line. D&D: World of Warcraft takes us to the famed world of Azeroth. We're getting a treasure trove of rules here, with 13 WoW-specific classes, nine subclasses, and 40 specializations.
Wizards has also promised 16 new species, 60+ spells, and 25+ magic items. This might be one of the most ambitious D&D books of the year, but will the crossover be any good? Only time will tell.
D&D Beyond Partnered Content
We're only getting a handful of official D&D books this year, but D&DBeyond remains a busy marketplace. That's thanks to the horde of partnered content coming to the platform. Here's a rundown of all the new, third-party books, and when they become available:
- Exploring Eberron - January 27
- The Pugilist Class - February 3
- Faster, Purple Worm! Everybody Dies, Vol 1 - February 24
- Heliana's Guide to Monster Hunting: Part 2 - Early March
- The Griffon's Saddlebag: Book One - Late March
- Dr Dhrolin's Dictionary of Dinosaurs - April
- Tom Cartos Sticker Packs - April
- Northlands Worldbook - May
- Northlands Sagas - May
- Steinhardt's Guide to the Eldritch Hunt Player Pack - June
- Valda's Spire of Secrets: Player Pack 2 - July
- Vampire: The Masquerade - Bound by Blood - July
- Legends of Greyhawk: Saviors of Safeton - July
- Frontiers of Eberron: Quickstone - August
- The Field Guide to Floral Dragons - August
- Legends of Greyhawk: Dreams of the Chained God - August
- Legends of Greyhawk: The Tear-Stained Idol - September
- The Magus Class - September 29
- Legends of Greyhawk: Heralds of the Old One - October
- Obojima: Tales from Yatamon - October 27
- Legends of Greyhawk: The Ruins of Castle Greyhawk - November
- Legends of Greyhawk: Beasts of Johrase - December
- Warlord Player Pack - December 1
- Herbarium - December 15
Untitled Greyhawk book
Wizards of the Coast has confirmed that one more official D&D book is in the works. We just don't know what it's called or when it's coming out.
What we do know is it's being developed by Luke Gygax, son of D&D's original creator. Luke's original character, Melf the Elf, is now a key part of D&D canon, and it looks like he'll be our starring guide for this Greyhawk tour. Art has been shared of Melf on the cover of this as-yet-untitled book, but that's as much detail as we're getting right now.
2025 DnD release schedule
While we're waiting for more info on 2026's upcoming releases, read on for a full rundown and reminders of everything that came out last year!
2025 Monster Manual
Release date: February 18, 2025
Arriving in February 2025, the new Monster Manual was the third and final title in the 'One D&D' revamp, kickstarting the first full year of a new edition of Dungeons and Dragons. It introduced at least 80 new monsters and made tweaks to each existing creature, making it one of the chunkiest bestiaries we've ever seen.
The power levels have been upped slightly to match the improved abilities of player-characters, and the book is packed with stunning art that shows these monsters in their natural habitats.
Dragon Delves - July 8, 2025
After the core rulebooks released, Wizards of the Coast launched Dragon Delves. This features ten short adventures that share a common theme - encountering (though not necessarily fighting) dragons in dungeons. There are also be three campaign suggestions that help link these one-offs to create a larger game that spans levels one to 12.
Wizards makes a good point that not enough players have actually fought a dragon in a dungeon in their D&D games. Gorgeous art and a handful of truly standout adventures make this book worth investigating, but thin writing is one of its biggest flaws.
Read more in our Dragon Delves review.
Heroes of the Borderlands Starter Set - September 16, 2025
The Heroes of the Borderlands Starter Set returns to D&D's iconic Keep in the Borderlands, as seen in older adventures. Wizards offered new character creation tools and DMing advice to make this product extra beginner-friendly. Creating an approachable starter set was apparently a major goal, as this starter set came with a huge number of board-game-style handouts to make it as easy as possible to learn the rules.
Stranger Things: Welcome to the Hellfire Club - October 7, 2025
Less than a month after releasing a new starter set, Wizards of the Coast decided to release a second one. This one was themed, however, around the Stranger Things series and its beloved heavy metal Dungeon Master, Eddie. Welcome to the Hellfire Club includes a quick-start guide to playing D&D, plus four Stranger Things inspired adventures where you'll face familiar creatures from the show.
Forgotten Realms Player's Guide - November 11, 2025
The Forgotten Realms Player's Guide is one of two tabletop sourcebooks focused on D&D's primary setting. This was the first deep-dive into the Realms that we had since the early 5e book Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide.
When the Forgotten Realms guides were announced, Wizards told us to expect plenty of new character options in the player-focused book. That meant all-new subclasses, feats, spells, and more. A playtest document released in January 2025 revealed which subclasses the book would include:
- College of the Moon Bard
- Knowledge Domain Cleric
- Purple Dragon Knight Fighter
- Oath of the Noble Genies Paladin
- Winter Walker Ranger
- Scion of the Three Rogue
- Spellfire Sorcerer
- Bladesinger Wizard
Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn - November 11, 2025
Following the player guide was the DM-focused Forgotten Realms: Adventures in Faerûn. It waspacked with more than 50 premade adventures, divided into setting-based lore chapters covering favorite regions like Icewind Dale, Calimshan, and Baldur's Gate.
That's not all - there were 39 new monsters, seven extremely potent new Wondrous magic items, and brand new 'Epic Destinies' which build on the framework of the DnD backgrounds.
Lorwyn: First Light - November 18, 2025
First announced in February 2025, Lorwyn: First Light was a digital-only supplement that celebrates a 2025 MTG set. The world's extensive lore was distilled into a small book that relocates Lorwyn-Shadowmoor (the plane's full name) to the Feywild as a domain of delight.
Wizards of the Coast offered a handful of new tools to play with here. That includes two new backgrounds, two feats, two species, and two magic items. DMs also got eight monsters and two example adventures to play with.
Eberron: Forge of the Artificer - December 9, 2025
Announced in 2025, Eberron: Forge of the Artificer brought us back to one of D&D's most beloved settings. This book went over ground not previously covered in Eberron: Rising from the Last War, offering new options for Bastions, extra 2024 backgrounds, expanded airship rules, and a brand-new version of the Artificer class.
This was mainly a rules reference and setting book, but there were a handful of interesting example adventures. These were short and simple, similar to the style of those found in the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide.
That's all for now! Though, if you'd like to keep talking about Dungeons and Dragons, join us for a chat in the Wargamer Discord.