Key Facts
- ✓ Wizards of the Coast will release seven sets in 2026.
- ✓ Four of the seven sets are Universes Beyond collaborations: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel Superheroes, The Hobbit, and Star Trek.
- ✓ The first set, Lorwyn Eclipsed, releases on January 23, 2026, and features the debut of the Draft Night Box.
- ✓ The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set introduces a new Turtle Team Up co-op game mode.
- ✓ 2025's Final Fantasy set brought in record-breaking numbers of players.
Quick Summary
Wizards of the Coast has officially outlined the upcoming release schedule for Magic: The Gathering throughout 2026. The calendar is set to feature seven distinct sets, maintaining a balanced mix of original in-universe content and high-profile Universes Beyond collaborations. The year kicks off on January 23, 2026, with the release of Lorwyn Eclipsed, a Universes Within set that introduces the new Draft Night Box format.
Following this, the schedule includes a mix of returning fan-favorite planes and new crossover events. The Universes Beyond lineup for the year is particularly robust, featuring four major franchises: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (March), Marvel Superheroes (June), The Hobbit (August), and Star Trek (November). In-universe sets include Secrets of Strixhaven in April and Reality Fracture in October. This announcement comes after a 2025 that saw record-breaking player numbers with the Final Fantasy set and a return to form with Avatar: The Last Airbender, while the Spider-Man set was viewed as underwhelming by some.
2026 Release Calendar Overview
The 2026 schedule is structured to release sets almost every other month, ensuring a steady stream of new cards and mechanics. The year is divided into two distinct categories: in-universe sets that expand the game's original lore, and Universes Beyond sets that bring external intellectual properties into the game. The schedule is as follows:
- January: Lorwyn Eclipsed
- March: Universes Beyond: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
- April: Secrets of Strixhaven
- June: Universes Beyond: Marvel Superheroes
- August: Universes Beyond: The Hobbit
- October: Reality Fracture
- November: Universes Beyond: Star Trek
Preorders are currently live for the first two sets of the year. Lorwyn Eclipsed marks the debut of the Draft Night Box and sees the return of Commander Decks for the first time since 2025's Edge of Eternities. Players can expect two specific Commander deck options: a five-color deck and a Jund option. Similarly, preorders are available for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set, which was revealed at Comic-Con New York.
Universes Beyond: Crossovers and Collaborations
Four of the seven sets in 2026 are Universes Beyond collaborations, representing a significant portion of the year's output. The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles set, arriving in March, will feature colorful new art of the Heroes in a Half Shell and their rogues gallery. A major highlight of this release is the debut of a Turtle Team Up co-op game mode. The set will also include a five-color Commander deck starring all four Turtles.
In June, the Marvel Superheroes set will expand on the 2025 Spider-Man release. This set will focus on comic book versions of characters such as Iron Man, Black Panther, and the Fantastic Four. It is expected to feature a Mentor/Sidekick theme and is positioned as a popular entry point for new players. The August release of The Hobbit follows the massive success of the previous Lord of the Rings collaboration. The set is described as an adventure featuring "Dwarves to befriend, Trolls to trick, Elves to outwit, and songs to sing." Finally, in November, a Star Trek set will celebrate the franchise's 60th Anniversary, incorporating elements from the original series through to Strange New Worlds.
In-Universe Sets and 2025 Retrospective
While crossovers are prominent, the year also features three in-universe sets. Secrets of Strixhaven arrives in April with an accompanying tie-in novel, returning to the magical school plane known for unique card designs. Reality Fracture, releasing in October, serves as the year's final in-universe set. It is noted to feature callbacks to 2025's Tarkir: Dragonstorm and Outlaws of Thunder Junction, and it addresses a theme players have requested for a long time.
These 2026 releases follow the performance of 2025's lineup, which included seven sets. The 2025 year was defined by the record-breaking success of Final Fantasy, which brought in record-breaking numbers of players. Avatar: The Last Airbender was viewed as a return to form following the disappointment of Spider-Man. The 2025 schedule also included Innistrad: Remastered, Aetherdrift, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, and Edge of Eternities. The ratio of Universes Beyond sets in 2026 mirrors that of 2025, suggesting this mix will remain a core strategy for the game moving forward.
