Hearthstone Esports Kicks Off in 2026 with the Winter Playoffs

After two months of fierce competition, the Hearthstone Esports season kicks off in 2026 with the Winter Playoffs! On Sunday, March 15, nearly 200 of the best players from Asia-Pacific, EMEA, and the Americas will battle for their spot in the Winter Championship. You can watch all the action live, so read on for everything you need to know about this jam-packed day of competitive Hearthstone.

What you need to know

All times Pacific.

• Date: Sunday, March 15
  • Broadcast begins at 12:00 a.m.
• Format: 4-deck, Best-of-5 Conquest with one ban
  • Friday & Saturday (Not Broadcast): Swiss for all three regions
  • Sunday (Broadcast): Top 8 for all three regions
• Qualification: Top 4 players from each region will qualify for the Winter Championship in April.
• Players: Each region's competitors consist of:
  • The top 50 Competitive Point earners from the Winter Competitive Season (January - February)
  • The top 4 players from each Open Qualifier during the Winter Competitive Season
  • The winner of each Winter Blitz Weekend tournament

Want to compete yourself? The Spring Qualification Period (March - April) is happening right now. Climb the ladder or join our competitive Discord server for full details on upcoming Open Qualifier tournaments. Maybe we'll see you in the next Playoffs!

• Drops: Earn a CATACLYSM Pack by watching on Twitch for one hour.
• Co-Streamers: Interested in co-streaming the Winter Playoffs with your audience? Apply here. Selected streamers will be able to co-stream the tournament on their channel.
• Casters: Edelweiss, Lorinda, PocketTrain, Raven, and Sottle
• Streams:
  • Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/playhearthstone
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/Hearthstone

Keep up with the latest Hearthstone Esports news on our social media, and join the competitive Discord server to connect with players, share strategies, and learn how you can become a competitor yourself.

We'll see you in the Tavern!