RuneFest 2026 took place on 3–4 October at Birmingham’s NEC as part of RuneScape’s 25th-anniversary celebration. The programme covered RuneScape, Old School RuneScape and RuneScape: Dragonwilds. Its biggest reported reveal was work on a new RuneScape MMORPG referred to as RS4; Jagex’s RuneScape Reignited initiative, meanwhile, is described as a refreshed starting experience built around existing and recent updates.
What happened at RuneFest 2026?
Jagex held RuneFest in Hall 5 of the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham on 3–4 October 2026. The official event FAQ describes the anniversary gathering as welcoming 6,000 players, while Jagex’s announcement ahead of the event set its capacity at 6,000 fans. Those are organizer-published figures, not an independently audited final attendance count. RuneFest FAQ · Jagex’s January announcement
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
The event marked 25 years of RuneScape. Jagex CEO Jon Bellamy described the milestone this way: “It’s incredible to think a quarter century has passed since RuneScape’s beginnings as a Java-based browser game. Today we’re speaking to the largest and most active RuneScape community in our history, and this milestone is as much theirs as it is ours.” The claim about the community’s size and activity is Bellamy’s characterization, not an independently verified player-count comparison. 25 Years of RuneScape
The official FAQ also advertised two stages, developer panels and creator Q&As, roadmap summits, the Golden Gnome awards, merchandise stalls and expanded entertainment. Activities included eight skill-chip challenges and a ninth collectible chip for completers, plus a questing feature with quest points and leaderboards. RuneFest FAQ
#1 Best Overall
- Grab your capes and party hats, because we’re going to Gielinor!
- Inspired by the record-breaking online universe that’s captured the imagination of millions worldwide, RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg is the official cooperative board game for 1-5 players.
What was on the RuneFest 2026 programme?
The published schedule promised a RuneScape summit featuring “new adventures and surprises” and a first look at what lay ahead in 2027. It also listed an Old School RuneScape summit and RuneScape: Dragonwilds’ first summit at RuneFest, with a look at content plans beyond that game’s 1.0 release. The schedule describes the advertised programme; it is not a complete record of announcements delivered during the event. RuneFest schedule
What is RuneScape 4?
A same-day post in the RuneScape community says Jagex closed its RuneFest livestream by revealing that a new RuneScape MMORPG, referred to there as “RS4,” is in development. The post links to an official RuneScape page, but the specific reveal is not independently confirmed by the accessible official pages cited here. Same-day community recap
Rank #2
- Immerse yourself in a thrilling tabletop adventure filled with strategy, storytelling, and dynamic character interactions designed to challenge every decision.
- Experience high replayability through immersive roleplay, unpredictable encounters, and evolving tactical choices that keep every session intense and fresh.
- Master your destiny with customizable heroes, intricate quests, and deep world-building that fuel creative expression and competitive gameplay.
- Perfect for RPG enthusiasts seeking complex mechanics, cooperative missions, and richly detailed scenarios that spark imagination and rivalry.
- Premium components, atmospheric artwork, and narrative depth make this board game a must-have centerpiece for any tabletop gaming collection.
That leaves the basic description—reported work on a new RuneScape MMORPG—as the limit of what can be stated confidently from the available material. It does not establish the project’s final name, platforms, release timing, story, gameplay design, engine, monetization or technical relationship to the existing RuneScape game. The summit’s broad promise of new adventures is not evidence for those specifics.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →What is RuneScape Reignited?
Jagex describes RuneScape Reignited as a starting experience that brings major updates together so players can experience them from the beginning. It is a curated way into accumulated changes and recent releases—not, based on Jagex’s description, a separately established standalone game. RuneScape Reignited
Rank #3
- CATCH THE CHAMELEON: A bluffing board game where players must race to catch the chameleon before It's too late
- ONE SECRET WORD: In this board game for adults and family everyone knows the secret word - except for the player with the chameleon card
- DON'T GET CAUGHT: Use hidden codes, carefully chosen words, and a bit of finger-pointing to track down the guilty player... Before the imposter blends in and escapes!
- EASY TO LEARN, QUICK TO PLAY: Like all good family board games, it takes 2 minutes to learn and only 15 minutes to play. Recommended for 3-8 players and ages 12+
- MULTI-AWARD WINNING: "Best Party Game" At UK games expo. "Seal of excellence" From dice tower games. A perfect board game for adults and teenagers
The initiative sits alongside broader foundation work that Jagex says includes combat modernisation, overhauled key features, and rebuilt UI and systems shaped by player feedback. Jagex names Player Avatar and Construction among the major updates for 2026. The page does not give a specific launch date or say that Reignited is the same project as RS4.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How are Reignited and RS4 different?
| Topic | What is established | What remains unestablished here |
|---|---|---|
| RuneScape Reignited | Jagex describes it as a starting experience bringing major updates together, supported by combat, feature, UI and system improvements. | A specific launch date or a description of it as a separate standalone game. |
| RS4 | A same-day community recap reports that a new RuneScape MMORPG is in development and calls it RS4. | Official wording and project details such as name, timing, platforms and design. |
These are different descriptions with different levels of confirmation: Reignited has an accessible official explanation, while the RS4 reveal is reported by a community post. Nothing in the cited material establishes that they are the same project.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Deep in the dangerous wasteland to the north east — the place they call the Wilderness — lies the lair of the King Black Dragon. A fearsome, three-headed beast infamous for dealing burning, freezing, electrifying, poisonous death to unfortunate adventurers. But lucky for you, Bob the Cat is here to lend a helping paw! Still, you may want to say a prayer before taking this quest on…
- The King Black Dragon expansion grows your RuneScape Kingdoms universe with an infamous new boss to face, Bob the Cat to meet, Prayer skill to master, Wilderness location to explore, and a whole new campaign, A Cat’s Tale of Triple Trouble, that will test your dragon-slaying mettle!
- It’s packed with new side quests, vault cards, and events, plus new items to discover, craft, and equip on your path to victory.
- Please note, you’ll need a copy of RuneScape Kingdoms: Shadow of Elvarg to use this expansion.
What can fans take away from the event?
- RuneFest’s official schedule placed three game communities on the programme: RuneScape, Old School RuneScape and RuneScape: Dragonwilds.
- Jagex presented Reignited as a refreshed entry point into RuneScape’s updates and ongoing foundational changes.
- The RS4 report is a significant possible announcement, but specifics should wait for an accessible official account.
- The event FAQ mentions merchandise stalls, and Jagex describes its official merchandise range as licensed apparel and collectibles. No particular product listing or marketplace availability is established here. RuneFest FAQ · Jagex merchandise
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →
