While space pirates take up much of the spotlight in 2026's first wave of Warhammer releases, a teaser for a future Iron Warriors release has us giddy.
Warhammer creator Games Workshop has unveiled its first wave of new tabletop releases for the new year. Warhammer 40,000 shifts the spotlight to the Maelstrom for some pirate-y action with the Red Corsairs and the Eldritch Raiders. Warhammer: The Horus Heresy gets a new Battle Force box for the Legio Custodes, plus a couple of new tanks for the Legiones Astartes.
Meanwhile, Warhammer Age of Sigmar sees the Ossiarch Bonereapers, Disciples of Tzeentch, and Lumineth Realm-lords all get a bunch of new kits. Even Blood Bowl will be getting a new release for the High Elves.
However, arguably the most exciting part of the reveal was a teaser for a future Warhammer 40,000 release featuring the Iron Warriors, but we'll get more into that later. Read on, as we break down all the new reveals for the first wave of Warhammer releases in 2026.
Warhammer 40,000 - Red Corsairs and Eldritch Raiders headline new Maelstrom supplement
Following up on the 500 Worlds narrative supplement first revealed at the end of 2025, the new year for Warhammer 40,000 will see another narrative supplement focused on the Maelstrom and the two most well-known factions of space pirates in the setting: the Red Corsairs warband of Chaos Space Marines and the Aeldari Eldritch Raiders.
First up are the Red Corsairs, once the proud Astral Claws Chapter of the Space Marines before turning to the service of Chaos following their failed rebellion in the Badab War. The Red Corsairs get two boxes: the first being a command squad kit for their leader, Huron Blackheart, while the other is a dedicated battleforce box for the faction.
Meanwhile, the Aeldari get a new Eldritch Raiders battleforce box featuring a new miniature for Prince Yriel and other debuting models for Kharseth the Void Dreamer, Corsair Skyreavers, Corsair Voidscarred, and the Vyper. Whether you want to start your own force of Aeldari space pirates or reinforce your Craftworlder armies, this new box is a welcome addition for the Aeldari.
Releasing alongside the new kits for the Red Corsairs and the Eldritch Raiders is a new narrative supplement for the 10th edition of Warhammer 40,000. The Maelstrom: Lair of the Tyrant features four books stored inside a decorative slipcase, full of rules and lore detailing an entirely new war zone in the heart of the Imperium, where Huron Blackheart and his Red Corsairs have launched a vicious raid into the Imperium of Mankind's underbelly.
Warhammer: The Horus Heresy - New Legio Custodes Battle Group and two new Legiones Astartes tanks
Over in Warhammer: The Horus Heresy, a shining golden host is set to enter the battlefields of the Age of Darkness. The Legio Custodes, the Emperor of Mankind's personal army of elite bodyguards, will be getting their first Battle Group box. The kit features six spear-wielding Custodian Guards, six sword and shield-wielding Custodian Sentinels, a Caladius Annihilator Grav-tank, a Contemptor Dreadnought (which can be built as a spear-wielding Achillus or a sword and shield-wielding Galatus), and a Custodes Shield Captain to lead them.
Also set to release is the Liber Custodes, which details all the lore and rules for the Legiones Custodes and their fellows among the Talons of the Emperor, the Sisters of Silence, and the Agents of the Divisio Assassinorum. And yes, you can still use the Custodes miniatures in both Warhammer: The Horus Heresy and Warhammer 40,000. The Emperor's Finest have barely changed in the 10 millennia since the Siege of Terra, after all.
As for the warring legions of Space Marines in the Age of Darkness, they get more options for armoured firepower with two new tanks: the Glaive Super-Heavy Special Weapons Tank and the Whirlwind Missile Tank. A tank-focused Journal Tactica, titled Mailed Fist, will also be released for more detailed lore and rules for the armoured assault elements of the Legiones Astartes.
Warhammer Age of Sigmar - New kits for Ossiarch Bonereapers, Disciples of Tzeentch, and Lumineth Realm-lords
Over in the Mortal Realms, three Warhammer Age of Sigmar factions are getting new a bunch of new boxes: the Ossiarch Bonereapers, the Disciples of Tzeentch, and the Lumineth Realm-lords. Each of those factions get new miniatures and a Battletome as well as Battleforce, Spearhead, and Regiments of Renown boxes.
Nagash is readying to exact a new Bone-tithe on the Mortal Realms with more undead warriors joining the Ossiarch Bonereapers. They get the new Liege-Kavalos on War Chariot, Liege Mortek, Mortek Triaxes, and Mortis Reapers.
The Battleforce: Null Myriad Phalanx box features Arkhan the Black leading a force of Morghast Archai and Morket Guard while the Spearhead: Kavalos Vanguard box includes Kavalos Deathriders and Teratic Cohort, led by a Liege-Kavalos. Meanwhile, the Ossiarch Bonereapers get a Regiment of Renown in the Heralds of the Bone-tithe (the only constants in life are death and taxes, after all).
Thousand Sons fans be warned, the new Disciples of Tzeentch release wave features a whole lot of Tzaangors. The forces of the Changer of Ways get a new leader miniature in the Fatemaster, as well as a new terrain piece in the Argent Shards.
Then there's the Battleforce: Warpflame Cavalcade box, which sets the battlefield ablaze with a force of Tzeentchian daemons led by a Lord of Change. But if the Chaos God of Change's weird bird-goat hybrid minions are more to your taste, then the Spearhead: Tzaangor Warflock is for you (you sick freak). But if you want more warp-tainted magical power, the new Seekers of Silver Regiment of Renown delivers on that front.
The forces of Tzeentch aren't the only magical powerhouses in the Mortal Realms, of course, and the Lumineth Realm-lords stand ready to oppose Chaos with their own wave of new kits. Leading the charge is the new Vanari Lord Regent, who can be built in two styles (our vote will have to go to the variant carrying two banners, hell yeah).
The Battleforce: Iliathan Warhost box combines the Lumineth's martial might and magical prowess, featuring Vanari Bladelords, Vanari Auralan Sentinels, Vanari Auralan Wardens, a Vanari Starshard Ballista, and Ydrilan Warblades–all led by the Eclipsian Warsages Ellania and Ellathor. Meanwhile, the Spearhead: Hurakan Vanguard box features Vanari Auralan Wardens, Hurakan Windchargers, and a Hurakan Spirit of the Wind led by a Hurakan Windmage. If you need a big boost in magical might, consider the Sigil of Convocation Regiment of Renown.
The return of Iron Warriors and Perturabo(?) teased
Games Workshop saved the best reveal for last in this year's first preview show, as they teased the upcoming return of the Iron Warriors Chaos Space Marine Legion to the forefront of Warhammer 40,000 in a new supplement titled ‘Eye of Terror'. The teaser showcased some of the things that made the Iron Warriors one of the most popular traitor legions, including their bare metal with yellow-and-black hazard stripes paint job and usage of daemon-fueled machinery.
While the reveal showcased some glimpses of what looked like new Iron Warriors miniatures, many fans of the faction were quick to hype up the possibility of the Iron Warriors Primarch, Perturabo, finally getting a Warhammer 40,000 miniature. We can only speculate for now, as Games Workshop said the Eye of Terror supplement is “due out in a few months”.
