More 40k Chaos rumors for 2026 say new bundle boxes, primarch models, codex books, and even a Defiler are on the way, along with a Chaos Space Marines refresh for 11th edition.
It’s looking like the Year of Chaos might live up to its name (just not in 2025.) Between whispers of new kits, refreshed models, and some suspicious product page disappearances, Chaos Space Marines could be about to get one of their biggest updates in years.
Chaos looks set to get a refresh in 2026, and if any of these rumors are even half right, 40k is about to get very interesting.
GW Teases New Iron Warriors and Eye of Terror Book
Updated February 17th, 2026, by Rob Baer with the latest news and rumors.
- Chaos looks primed for a 2026 refresh: bundle boxes, campaign tie-ins, and a possible CSM range shake-up as tenth edition winds down.
- Eye of Terror energy is real: talk of end-of-edition campaign-style boxes (Maelstrom-style) that lean vehicles over infantry, possibly dragging AdMech + Knights into the chaos.
- Iron Warriors are back in the rumor seat: Defiler rumors, upgrade sprues, Mutilators confirmed, and “big machine” teaser parts that feel like more than just bits.
- Perturabo is the long bet: could be 40k, could be Horus Heresy, but the near-term win is actual Iron Warriors support and likely box releases tied to the narrative push.
- Eleventh edition breadcrumbs: Chaos Bikes are rumored to return in 11th, and Dark Mechanicum talk is back as the “new faction” swing.
GW’s New Year’s preview feels less like a “here’s a preview tease” and more like a straight-up roadmap for Iron Warriors players.
But with the bigger Maelstrom leaks and GW confirming an Eye of Terror book, there may also be a series of boxes as well, like the recent Maelstrom releases, to close out the tenth edition.
That would also mirror the boarding patrol box wave that dropped at the end of the 9th edition, so there is a precedent that we will see this again soon.
Iron Warriors showing up alongside these releases feels extremely on brand. New Chaos rumors keep pointing in that direction with the confirmed Mutilators, a refreshed Defiler kit with multiple head options, the new Iron Warriors upgrade kit, and even whispers of an Iron Warriors Combat Patrol (which again could be an Eye of Terror box as well).
This makes sense as campaign boxes are exactly where GW loves to sneak that kind of rollout in.
On the contents side, the rumor is that these boxes could also tag in Adeptus Mechanicus and Knights, framed around Chaos making a move while the Imperium is stretched thin. The spiciest detail is the format: supposedly vehicle-leaning sets, not big infantry dumps, with two to three vehicles per box
Which, honestly, fits an end-of-edition run perfectly. Less “starter set,” more “here’s your punchy campaign package, now go make the table shake.”
“Eye of Terror” Knights Battalion Rumors
That said, the Imperial Knights battalion rumor is exactly the kind of thing GW would toss into an end-campaign stretch. Knights are pricey, battalion boxes are built to tempt you, and even a “basic” bundle becomes a big deal if it knocks the cost down.
Contents are unclear, but the classic guess is a Questoris and a couple of Armigers. There’s also been talk about a mid-sized Knight chassis between Armiger and Questoris, which feels more like an eleventh edition headline than a late tenth edition surprise, but hey, stranger things have happened.
New Knight Incoming?
The most recent rumors mention a“new” Imperial Knight, and the spicy part is the size bracket. The whisper is that it lands right in the awkward middle ground, smaller than a full Questoris but beefier than an Armiger, basically that sweet spot where it can look mean without needing its own ZIP code on the table.
The talk for this new model is “Heresy-era” styling (almost like how the recent AdMech releases had a 30k vibe), so think more old-school plate and proportions rather than the super-modern silhouette. Loadout-wise, it sounds like it is packing bolter-style guns for steady ranged pressure, plus a proper melee weapon with multiple build options.
There’s also a chance with GW revealing new AdMech and promising more, this could be for Adeptus Mechanicus, or possibly even Dark Mech, hard to say.
Chicken Walker & Spider Tank: Adeptus Mechanicus Battalion Box Rumors
An Adeptus Mechanicus battalion rumor is wonderfully straightforward: fewer models, bigger kits, lots of plastic per sprue, and a box that screams “value” if you were going to buy any of this anyway. The alleged contents are a Skorpius Disintegrator, an Ironstrider Ballistarius (the beloved chicken walker), and an Onager Dunecrawler.
If that’s real, it’s a very GW battalion move. One centerpiece vehicle, one fast gun platform, one iconic crawler, and suddenly your pile of shame has a new cybernetic roommate.
Grotmas Reignites Iron Warriors 40k Rumors
It all kicked off back in December’s Grotmas Chaos short story for day 15 sparked fresh Iron Warriors 40k speculation, with fans tying its prophecy straight to long-running rumors. The big talking points line up cleanly: a new Defiler kit, new Mutilators, and expanded Chaos Space Marines support that finally gives Iron Warriors some real spotlight in 40k.
The Prophecy and the Eye of Terror Connection
The prophecy text name-checks imagery that screams Iron Warriors. Cadia, the Eye of Terror, cursed iron, furnaces, and endless geometry all map cleanly onto Medrengard and siege warfare themes.
Lore hounds made the Perturabo connection fast, since he is the only Primarch who could always see the Eye of Terror, no matter where he stood in the galaxy.
Latest Chaos Refresh Rumors: Primarchs, Box Sets, and Codexes On The Way
Chaos is apparently lining up a full-on refresh with new kits, revamped Legion boxes, and even some long-forgotten units crawling back into the spotlight. If these drops really do land before 11th Edition, the big question becomes: how will they fold into the upcoming Maelstrom and Eye of Terror Books?
No one knows yet, but it would make a lot of sense for GW to roll out shiny new toys right before a major narrative push. For now, here are the latest 40k Chaos rumors for each Legion.
New Primarch Perturabo Model Talk: 40k Return, or a Hobby Telephone Game?
A Primarch showing up in 40k is always possible, but timing is everything. The more grounded option is classic rumor drift: someone hears “new Perturabo” and assumes it is 40k, when it could just as easily be Horus Heresy getting a fresh sculpt.
Either way, treat Perturabo as the long bet. The near-term win is Iron Warriors getting real support, and hopefully real kits that match the industrial siege vibe this teaser is putting on blast.
Rumored Iron Warriors Combat Patrol or Battalion
The whispered loadout is pretty clean and very playable:
- Warpsmith
- Ten Legionaries
- Five Havocs
- Five Chaos Terminators
- Iron Warriors upgrade sprue
If that list lands, it is a legit starter chunk for Iron Warriors in 40k. You are getting a Warpsmith who actually belongs next to daemon engines, Legionaries to do the scoring and trading, Havocs for the “siege guns solve problems” plan, and Terminators to wade onto an objective and dare someone to move them.
The only snag is the headline factor. If the big “new thing” is mainly shoulder pads and bits, a lot of IV Legion players will shrug, grab the value, and keep waiting for the real main event.
That is why the latest preview’s teaser claws and big-machine parts matter. Those do not feel like window dressing.
Chaos “Warband” Combat Patrol?
On the Chaos side, the Combat Patrol rumor pipeline is pointing hard at warband-themed boxes, with Night Lords getting the loudest chatter right now. The alleged lineup is a Chaos Lord with a jump pack, five Chosen, a full ten Legionnaires, and a Rhino. The jump pack Lord makes perfect sense for the whole “drop in, terror tactics, and leave nothing but bad decisions behind” Night Lords vibe, but the Rhino is the weird curveball.
If this box is supposed to scream “strike from the skies,” tossing in more airborne toys feels like the obvious play, not a brick of tracks. Still, if the rumor is real, the Rhino at least gives you a practical delivery system for the Legionnaires while the jump boss and Chosen do the scary work.
More Themed Chaos Combat Patrols/ Battalions On the Way
The Chaos box rumor hypetrain is still rolling, with talk that even more warband-themed sets could be in the works. Names getting tossed around include Red Corsairs, Alpha Legion, and even Word Bearers, but there is no real timetable attached, just the classic “weeks or months” fog.
If it is legit, these new releases point to GW leaning harder into Chaos, with multiple-themed box drops instead of one-and-done releases.
New 40k New Defiler is Here (Confirmed)
Converted Defiler by Rob Baer
The real eye-opener is that the “big iron reveal” is not Perturabo after all (but it still could be, just not yet). Instead, it’s a redesigned Defiler stomping back onto the table. Now that the dust has settled, those Chaos Defiler rumors basically nailed it. Pretty much every detail people were passing around ended up being spot on.
This is a proper multi-build monster. You can go full gun-beast with loadouts like lascannons and a chunky chest cannon, or crank it the other direction into a melee-forward nightmare that leans hard into claws and up-close brutality.
The best part is the Legion flavor. The kit packs optional heads and themed details for warbands like the Thousand Sons, Death Guard, World Eaters, and Emperor’s Children, so your Defiler can look like it actually belongs in your army right out of the box.
This is shaping up to be the Chaos centerpiece kit people have been waiting for.
New 40k Chaos Rumors: Battleforces (Confirmed)
Well, these rumors turned out to be true, and there are four new Battleforces on the way for World Eaters, Thousand Sons, Death Guard, and Emperor’s Children. You can see the full breakdowns in our review article here.
Mutilators (Confirmed)
The new Mutilators rumors also turned out to be true, and now they are getting a redesigned plastic multi-part kit unit with that big-foot teaser hinting at the new, larger, meaner models.
New Red Corsairs (Also Now Confirmed)
The pirates of the 41st Millennium were mentioned again in the latest Chaos rumors, with a refresh that includes a new Huron model, a command squad, and a hunter-style unit. This was more or less all confirmed by GW at this point.
Khorne: Red Plastic Apocalypse
A World Eaters and Daemons combo box is supposedly on the way, stuffed with juggernauts, bloodletters, executioners, and enough chain weapons to make Angron proud. This lines up with talk about a Khorne Kill Team picking a fight with the Grey Knights, complete with new models on both sides.
Alpha Legion: Sneaky Boys Get Some Love
Rumor has it that Solomon Akurra is getting a brand-new sculpt, hinting that the Alpha Legion might be the next warband to get spotlight time. If Night Lords got their moment, it is only fair that the galaxy’s biggest gaslighters get theirs.
Chaos Rumors: Bikes and the Next 40k Edition
Another long-standing Chaos rumor making a comeback is that the CSM Bikes are getting redesigned, though reportedly not until the next edition of Warhammer 40k. With 11th Edition shaping up for 2026, that timeline lines up with GW’s usual approach: let the starter set breathe, then roll out fresh kits to maintain buzz.
New Chaos Bikes would also complete a long-overdue update cycle, bringing them up to the same visual standard as newer kits like the Chosen and Possessed.
Chaos Rumors Say Dark Mechanicum Is Finally Happening?
LI Dark Mechanicum
These Chaos rumors are huge and say to look for a whole new 40k faction drop. Not a one-off, not a detachment, a full-blown new army, Dark Mechanicum. These heretek-cyber-ghouls have been teased for years, especially with Vashtorr creeping into the lore and the Legions Imperialis release teasing models.
If the rumors hold, this release could be on the scale of the Leagues of Votann, meaning you’re looking at a solid launch box, multiple units, and enough lore to fill a codex. Start clearing shelf space and maybe your bank account.
Final Thoughts: New 40k Chaos Rumors For 2026
Between a vanishing Legionaries kit, Huron Blakheart hype, Eye of Terror and Iron Warriors whispers, it’s hard not to feel like these 40k Chaos rumors are on to something big. Whether it’s a new plastic wave, campaign tie-ins, or a full faction spotlight, the writing’s on the wall, and it’s painted in blood and brass.
If you’ve been thinking about starting a Chaos Space Marines army or expanding an existing one, it might be time to wait just a bit longer. The Long War may finally be getting some long-overdue reinforcements.
🔗 Related Reads:
- 40k Release Schedule Roadmap
- Space Marine Rumors Roundup
- Latest Xenos Rumors for 40k
- Christmas Battleforces
- New Combat Patrol Boxes
- Best Warhammer 40k Army List Builders
