Wizards of the Coast has announced significant changes to Magic: The Gathering’s booster boxes starting in 2026, discontinuing a program that has run for 17 years. The year 2025 has been monumental for the card game, featuring major set releases and highly anticipated crossovers. The collaboration with Final Fantasy sparked immense popularity, becoming a fast-selling set, while the Avatar: The Last Airbender expansion is also a hit with fans.

The game will reintroduce one of its most beloved planes, Lorwyn, starting with a set titled Lorwyn Eclipsed, slated for release on January 23, 2026. Although specific details about individual cards in this set are not yet available, Wizards has teased the return of the last five remaining “Shock Lands” in another effort to engage players. However, the iconic Buy-a-Box promotion will see its final appearance with this release.

In its announcement, Wizards revealed that the discontinuation of the Buy-a-Box promotion will mean that players will no longer receive exclusive promotional cards when purchasing full booster boxes of new sets, ending a tradition that began with the launch of Magic 2010 in July 2009. The company did not provide clarity on the reasons behind this significant decision nor did it mention any immediate replacement for the program.

The Buy-a-Box promotion has evolved notably since its inception, fluctuating between alternate art versions and entirely new cards as incentives, which has caused controversy over the years, particularly with past promos emerging as meta-defining strategies.

What’s Next for Magic: The Gathering in 2026? Although no replacement for the Buy-a-Box program has been confirmed, Wizards hinted at potential new promotional structures and support for events in local stores. As fans anticipate future sets returning to favorite influences like Lorwyn and Strixhaven, 2026 promises plenty of exciting developments, including collaborations with franchises like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Marvel, and Star Trek.