The Elder Scrolls Online Reveals Seasons and 2026 Roadmap
Season Zero: Dawn and Dusk Launches on April 2
ZeniMax Online Studios has officially revealed a major transformation coming to The Elder Scrolls Online with the introduction of a brand new seasonal structure. This new approach offers players fresh adventures and rewards through themed seasons, each lasting three months. The first season, Season Zero: Dawn and Dusk, will launch simultaneously on all platforms on April 2, 2026.
All new seasonal content, including new zones, dungeons, storylines, systems, classes, or skill lines, will be free for all players who own the base game. This change removes previous barriers to accessing new content and ensures that every ESO player can experience new features across Tamriel at the same time without additional costs.
Players can also watch the official livestream announcement detailing the new seasonal system through ESO’s official channels.
What Is Included in a Season
While the scope and specifics may vary with each new season, players can expect a wide range of new content, rewards, adventures, and gameplay options. Seasonal updates may include new areas, story chapters, classes, skill lines, gameplay systems, and quality-of-life improvements, all provided at no additional cost to ESO players.
Tamriel Tomes will introduce a new battle pass style experience each season, featuring both free rewards and optional paid upgrades for players who want additional benefits. ESO will also launch a new in-game reward shop known as the Gold Coast Bazaar, expanding customization and progression options.
Season Zero: Dawn and Dusk
Season Zero: Dawn and Dusk marks the very first season in ESO history and will run from April 2 to July 8, 2026. It will also be the first time ESO launches new content simultaneously on both PC and console platforms.
This season introduces a brand new event zone called the Night Market, located within the Oblivion realm of Fargrave. The Night Market will be accessible for seven weeks and allows players to pledge allegiance to one of three factions, engaging in challenging PvE content.
The Night Market features new storylines, quests, and a new player home that can be obtained during the event. While this Event Zone is time-limited, it will return in future seasons, allowing players to experience the content again and align with different factions for alternate gameplay paths.
Player Experience Improvements
Season Zero, alongside Update 49 launching on March 9, introduces the first wave of major quality-of-life improvements developed by a newly formed internal team dedicated to addressing long-standing player feedback.
Key improvements include free skill respec options directly from the user interface, faster Riding Skill progression, a significant increase to player housing decoration limits by at least 50 percent, and various other usability and performance enhancements designed to improve the overall ESO experience.
Combat and Class Improvements
Update 49 and Season Zero continue ESO’s ongoing refinement of core combat systems. This season includes meaningful changes to the Dragonknight class, featuring visual upgrades to multiple abilities and improvements to its core skill lines.
Visual updates are also being applied to the Two-Handed Weapon skill line, with a major Werewolf visual overhaul planned later in the season. This includes the highly requested female Werewolf model, delivering a more polished and immersive transformation experience.
Expanded PvP and PvE Content
Toward the end of Season Zero, ESO will introduce long-requested gameplay additions, particularly for veteran players. A new difficulty scaling system for open-world content will allow players to revisit familiar areas with greater challenge and better rewards.
Additionally, the Vengeance PvP Progression System will give PvP players new ways to rank up, grow stronger, and earn exclusive rewards or even unique passive abilities tied to PvP progression.
Future Seasons in 2026
Season Zero serves as the foundation for future ESO seasons and upcoming features planned throughout 2026. Content currently planned includes new Thieves Guild continuation quests, the return of Sheogorath, a new endgame Trial, solo-focused dungeons, and a brand new large-scale sea-based event.
Please note that all roadmap details remain subject to change as development continues.
For more information about today’s announcements and upcoming ESO seasons, players are encouraged to follow The Elder Scrolls Online through its official channels.
