The AdeptiCon 2026 previews could be GW’s first Warhammer 40k 11th Edition teaser that starts the official hype train. Here’s why all signs are pointing to them now.
AdeptiCon 2026 is lining up like one of those suspiciously perfect GW coincidences. A big Warhammer Preview show, a packed hall, and a date that screams “press the red button” energy. If 40k 11th Edition is anywhere near the summer launch we expect, March 25th is the kind of moment Games Workshop loves for that first public tease.
So, should you expect to see Warhammer 40k 11th Edition teased at AdeptiCon? Maybe not the full launch box, but a nice little hint and cinematic to what’s coming next.
Could Adepticon 2026 Previews Be the First Real 11th Edition Tease?
If the rumor mill is even halfway on the money, the timing lines up in a way that feels very GW. There’s a reveal event in March, and the 11th edition launch box is being whispered about as an early summer thing.
Put those two together, and you get the obvious question: Is March when GW starts dropping the first “something big is coming” hints?
They’ve already shown they’re willing to use AdeptiCon as a launchpad for a new edition reveal. Age of Sigmar 4th edition grabbed the spotlight there in 2024, and it set a pretty loud precedent.
So it wouldn’t be shocking if 40k got the same treatment. Especially now that we don’t really have that late-May Warhammer Fest setup to lean on, AdeptiCon is the biggest, cleanest stage for a “one more thing…” moment.
That said, GW can always do GW things. They could sit on 11th edition until deeper into spring and do a bigger, more controlled reveal closer to release. But with the AoS playbook already on the table, it’s not wild to imagine an AdeptiCon announcement, followed by a nice, long teaser runway, and with the edition finally dropping in the summer of 2026.
The Warhammer Preview Show Is the Real Main Event
The AdeptiCon Warhammer Preview show is always a giant event. Historically, this is where GW likes to drop the crowd-pleasers, including the kind of “one more thing” reveal that lights up the internet before the seats even cool down.
AdeptiCon has consistently framed Wednesday night previews as a core part of the convention experience, and this year is no different. If an 11th Edition tease happens anywhere in March, this is the cleanest spot.
This is not a brand-new idea pulled out of thin air. AdeptiCon has already been used as a launchpad for edition-level momentum, most notably with Age of Sigmar’s recent edition push getting the spotlight there.
Once GW proves a stage works for a massive announcement, they tend to reuse the playbook.
The Calendar Squeeze: Why March Feels Like the Pivot Point
What the new 11th Edition Starter Set may look like.
Here’s where the timing gets interesting. With Maelstrom (Huron and Corsairs of both flavors) most likely coming in late February (we’re already to Feb 14th releases with the Chaos Battleforces) and the Eye of Terror and Iron Warriors landing in late March (most likely), we’re almost to summer already in terms of previews when you consider 11th.
By late winter, the release calendar is usually stacked. If a summer launch box is actually the plan, GW has to start shifting attention somewhere around spring. Otherwise, the marketing runway gets too short, and GW does not like short runways.
That is why March is such a popular prediction point post-COVID: tease the edition at AdeptiCon, then spend the next couple of months rolling out reveals and previews, as they did with Age of Sigmar.
What an 11th Edition Tease Would Probably Look Like
The Leviathan launch box
If AdeptiCon Previews are the first tease, the reveal is more likely to be broad, flashy, and designed to start conversations like the 10th Edition Cinematic.
A theme, not a spreadsheet
Expect narrative direction, visual identity, and a big “what is the next era of 40k” hook. GW loves to drop a great animation to go along with the new box to build hype.
A launch box tease
Generally, when they first show the box, they give us the armies included, what to expect, and plenty of teasers on the new minis. Let’s hope they keep the trend of a very beginner-friendly box, and this time the rumors point towards Orks vs Blood Angels.
The Flip Side: GW Could Still Keep 11th Edition on Ice
Even with all the timing logic, GW can always choose the controlled approach: keep AdeptiCon focused on imminent releases, then do a dedicated 11th Edition reveal later in spring, closer to the launch window, probably in May.
It’s always possible. Maybe we get Perturabo instead, and that’s not a bad consolation prize. But if the goal is maximum hype with a long teaser runway, AdeptiCon is sitting right there.
Bottom Line: Watch The Adepticon 2026 Previews Like a Hawk
AdeptiCon 2026 kicks off on March 25th in Milwaukee. If there’s going to be an early “something big is coming” moment for Warhammer 40k 11th Edition, this is the kind of stage GW loves.
And if nothing happens? Cool. That is still useful intel, because it tells you the edition reveal is being held for a later, more controlled drop.
See the Current 40k New Release Roadmap
