Hey everyone, it is time to clear your schedules and get those league starters ready. Path of Exile is throwing us back into the arena with the Return of the Ancestors event, and it is shaping up to be an absolute blast. If you missed the original auto-battler tournament or just can't wait to stack those powerful Passive Tree Tattoos again, this is your chance. The event is live right now, running for a strict three-week window, so let's break down exactly when you need to be online and what you can expect.



The Schedule: Lock in the Dates

This is a limited-time event, meaning you have exactly three weeks to push your characters, farm your tattoos, and climb the tournament ranks. Here are the precise times you need to remember:



Start Date: June 25, 2026, at 3:00 PM PDT



End Date: July 16, 2026, at 3:00 PM PDT



Because it is a global launch, it is available across all major platforms simultaneously. Whether you play on PC or console, everyone gets to jump into the action at the same time.



What Makes This Event Special?

If you didn't play during the original Ancestor league, the core mechanic centers around the Trial of theAncestors tournament. You assemble a team of warriors, place them strategically on a battlefield, and fight against different tribes in an auto-battler style minigame. Winning tournaments yields incredible rewards, most notably the Passive Tree Tattoos, which let you replace standard attribute nodes on your skill tree with powerful alternate stats.



But Grinding Gear Games didn't just bring back the old mechanic; they are mixing things up by introducing alternative Phrecian Ascendancy classes. This opens up a ton of room for crazy build experimentation over these three weeks.



No Progress Lost: A Non-Voided Event

One of the biggest questions people always ask about these short-term PoE events is: "Is it voided?" Fortunately, the answer is a resounding no. This is a non-voided event. Everything you do, every piece of insane loot you find, and the characters you level up will safely transfer over to the parent leagues once the event concludes on July 16.



There is just one minor detail to keep in mind regarding your character migration. Because the event features unique Phrecian Ascendancy points, these specific ascendancies cannot exist in the standard permanent leagues. When the event ends and your character moves over, your Phrecian Ascendancy points will reset, and you will revert back to the standard base classes. You will still keep your level and all your gear, so your hard work won't go to waste.



Choose Your Playstyle

No matter how you prefer to experience Path of Exile, there is a bracket for you. The event supports a wide variety of game modes, ensuring everyone can join the fun:



Standard and Hardcore for traditional trade league players.



Solo Self-Found (SSF) versions for both Standard and Hardcore if you prefer the pure solo grind.



Ruthless modes for the players who want a slower, more punishing experience.



Three weeks goes by incredibly fast in Path of Exile, especially when you are balancing normal mapping with tournament runs and build crafting around new ascendancy classes.