GW moved the World Championships of Warhammer to Spain for 2026; here’s what changes, why it matters, and what it may mean for its end-of-year previews.
The World Championships of Warhammer (WCW) is officially packing its bags and heading to Spain. After three years in Atlanta, the biggest GW ran competitive Warhammer event on the planet is moving to Barcelona, Spain, and yes, that is a big deal for anyone who follows Warhammer 40k, Age of Sigmar, Kill Team, or Underworlds.
Games Workshop is calling it the biggest World Championships they’ve ever hosted, with more qualifiers invited than ever before, a larger venue, and a proper “nation vs. nation” vibe that makes the whole thing feel like the Warhammer Olympics, but with more dice and fewer drug tests.
Here’s what we know, what it likely means for its year-end previews, rules drops, and how to get yourself ready if you plan on chasing glory, spectating, or just soaking up the hobby in a world-class city.
World Championships of Warhammer: 2026 Location and Dates
This year’s World Championships of Warhammer will run December 3rd -6th at the Fira de Barcelona, right in the heart of the city.
That venue is bigger than what they have used in the past, which is GW-speak for “we want more tables, more players, and more hype.” The event is also positioned as the most international WCW yet, with qualification spots earned through official events all around the world.
Last year’s numbers give you a sense of scale:
- Seven hundred twenty-nine players
- Forty-eight countries represented
- A nation vs. nation leaderboard alongside individual championships
That is not a casual weekend RTT. That is a global hobby summit with trophies.
What Games Are at the 2026 World Championships of Warhammer?
If you play any of the big GW competitive systems, WCW is the ultimate final boss. This year includes:
If you’re searching for the “best Warhammer players in the world,” this is where they all collide.
Why Move the World Championships of Warhammer From Atlanta to Spain?
GW was pretty candid about it: Atlanta has been a great host, but they want WCW to be truly international, and that means rotating locations.
Barcelona also checks some pretty practical boxes:
- Big travel hub
- Strong tourist infrastructure
- The venue is reportedly about a twenty-minute train ride from the airport
- Team Spain tied for first place last year, so the storyline writes itself
Translation: Barcelona is an easy sell for players flying in, and it is a fun destination even if you are not the one sweating bullets over a top table.
Tournament Packet Language Question: English Still Rules the Roost
One practical note that players will care about immediately: the tournament packet is still in English, even with the move to Spain.
Obviously, this makes sense from a logistics decision to accommodate as many international competitors as possible, and it keeps competitive Warhammer consistent across regions.
The Sneaky Big Detail: WCW Usually Means Previews, But December Is Crowded
When it comes to major Warhammer events, you know the unspoken rule: big events often come with previews. Sometimes it is models, sometimes it is rules teasers, sometimes it is a full live reveal that detonates your wallet.
Here’s the wrinkle: WCW is the first weekend of December, which usually overlaps with the Warhammer Advent Calendar season.
The potential preview conflict
Currently, Games Workshop’s Warhammer December is already packed with:
- Advent Calendar content
- Teasers
- Rules drops
- Small reveals that stack into bigger announcements
So, GW’s WCW preview now has a scheduling puzzle. Too many announcements at once can cannibalize attention.
What might happen instead?
Based on the timing, there are a few realistic plays GW could make:
- Keep a smaller live preview at WCW, then save the heavier rules drops for the Advent Calendar after the event wraps.
- Shift a bigger live preview to the Grand Narrative timing (more on that below), then let WCW focus on “pure competition” and international hype.
- Split the difference, with a WCW reveal focused on one system and Advent focused on the rest.
If you are the kind of hobbyist who plans purchases around previews, the best move is to expect the major reveals to be spread out across late November and December, rather than a single mega-dump.
GW’s Grand Narrative Is Not Moving
While WCW heads to Barcelona, GW confirmed the Grand Narrative is returning to Atlanta and Warhammer World in 2026, and it is going “bigger and better.”
This matters for one big reason: GW now has multiple “anchor” events to attach previews and rules moments to.
So, if you are trying to predict where the big end-of-year Warhammer preview lands, don’t just stare at WCW. Watch this new Grand Narrative window too, because it is a natural place for a live reveal that doesn’t have to compete with the Advent Calendar churn.
The Bottom Line: WCW in Barcelona Will Bring More International Attention
Barcelona as the 2026 home for the World Championships of Warhammer is a legit upgrade in terms of international accessibility and “this feels like a world event” energy.
The only real mystery is how GW handles previews and rules reveals with WCW landing right in the middle of Advent Calendar season.
See all the Big Tournaments For 2026 here
