Dungeons and Dragons Fans Should Circle March 15 and May 18 on their Calendars

Tabletop fans are in for an adventurous 2026. From the rumored Warhammer 40k 11th edition, hopefully dropping in summer, to the fully backed Vaults of Vaarn Second Edition launching in October, there’s a lot to look forward to. But one major player in the tabletop space remains characteristically quiet in the final days of the year. As of now, Wizards of the Coast has kept its tabletop roadmap for 2026 under wraps. There are a few concrete signals about what major releases or revivals might define the year ahead. Still, Dungeons & Dragons has never let a meaningful anniversary pass without at least a nod, and 2026 happens to mark two milestones that horror-inclined players know well.

Dungeons & Dragons fans, hopefully, won’t have to wait long before something stirs. But in the meantime, they will want to keep two major dates in mind. March 2026 is the 10th anniversary of Curse of Strahd, one of the most influential 5e adventures ever published. Two months later, in May, Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft turns five, having reintroduced Domains of Dread to a new generation of players. Individually, these anniversaries are notable. Together, they quietly point toward Ravenloft stepping into the spotlight once more.

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What a Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft & Curse of Strahd Anniversary Could Look Like in 2026

Nothing has been announced, and speculation should remain just that. However, D&D’s publishing history reveals a few familiar patterns in anniversary years. Ravenloft, in particular, has proven to be a setting Wizards returns to when it wants to explore tone, genre, and mood outside of high fantasy heroics. So if anything happens, the celebration might as well be Ravenloft-themed. Possible anniversary initiatives could include:

• A revised or expanded Curse of Strahd. Not a full remake, since it’s still based on D&D 5e rules, but potentially:
  • Updated stat blocks aligned with the revised 2024 Player’s Handbook
  • Expanded roleplay tools for Strahd and Barovia’s NPCs
  • Optional horror-forward variants or narrative toggles
  • Some rules or nods that tie back to the recently released Astarion’s Book of Hungers, a vampire-based rulebook
• A Ravenloft anthology or domain sourcebook. Building on Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft, this could mean:
  • New Domains of Dread
  • Deeper dives into existing lords
  • Short adventures designed for drop-in gothic horror campaigns
• Digital or organized play tie-ins
  • Limited-run Adventurers League content
  • D&D Beyond features, bundles, or curated horror campaigns
  • Anniversary one-shots spotlighting Ravenloft’s most iconic themes
• Cross-media celebration
  • Actual-play spotlights or collabs
  • Creator-led horror campaigns
  • Themed merchandise or alt-cover releases

None of this is guaranteed. But Ravenloft has always thrived in moments where D&D wants to slow down, darken the tone, and interrogate what monsters (and heroes) really are.

How Players Can Celebrate Ravenloft in 2026—With or Without Official Releases

Even if Wizards of the Coast opts for a quieter year in publishing, Ravenloft is still uniquely well-suited for celebration. Especially if that celebration is player-driven. Its modular structure and emphasis on mood over canon make it easy to revisit without needing new books on the shelf. Here are a few ways tables can mark the anniversaries themselves:

Player’s Guide to Celebration

• Revisit Curse of Strahd with a twist:
  • Play it from a Dhampir’s perspective, or one of Strahd’s would-be-spouses
  • Run Barovia post-Strahd
  • Focus on NPC-led stories rather than the Darklord himself

For Dungeon Masters

• Use Van Richten’s Guide to Ravenloft as a toolkit:
  • Build custom Domains
  • Experiment with fear, stress, and corruption mechanics
• Reframe familiar monsters through the lens of other horror franchises for inspiration

Beyond the Table

• Themed one-shots for Halloween, or March and May anniversaries
• Community events, streams, or zines centered on Ravenloft
• Character-driven horror writing inspired by Domains of Dread

Ravenloft has never needed constant support to remain relevant. It endures because its themes are evergreen. Whether or not Wizards of the Coast formally marks these anniversaries, 2026 offers players a perfect excuse to return to the mists, sharpen their narrative knives, and remember why gothic horror remains one of D&D’s most powerful modes of play.

Franchise

Dungeons & Dragons

Original Release Date

1974

Designer

E. Gary Gygax, Dave Arneson