HoYoverse will likely run Lantern Rite 2026 during Version 6.3, expected from January 7 to February 17, 2026. The main festivities—including themed events, mini-games, celebration quests, and free wishes—should start around January 25. That timing closely aligns with Lunar New Year, making this a high-value patch for all players.
Lantern Rite remains one of the most anticipated updates. It combines strong visual themes with generous rewards and often teases future regional expansions.
Neuvillette’s Five-Star Skin and Character Cosmetics
Leaks suggest Lantern Rite 2026 will feature Neuvillette’s first five-star skin. This cosmetic reportedly showcases a white, gray, and gold design. It also changes his charged attack animation into a red lightning-style burst, replacing the default Hydro beam. If true, Neuvillette would become the second male character after Diluc to receive a five-star skin.
Although Neuvillette hails from Fontaine, Lantern Rite has previously featured characters from other regions. Lisa and Ayaka both received skins during past editions. HoYoverse seems to focus on player interest and event visibility rather than strict regional relevance.
On the Liyue side, Xianyun—also known as Cloud Retainer—is expected to receive a paid skin. Her involvement makes sense, given her adeptus background and her addition as a playable unit in Version 4.4. The skin will likely follow the four-star rarity model used for other characters in a similar tier.
Leakers suggest HoYoverse will hand out a free four-star skin during the event, continuing a long-running Lantern Rite tradition. They may give this reward to Lan Yan, a new four-star Liyue character likely to debut at the same time. If accurate, this would mark the first time a character receives a skin on launch.
Free Rewards: Pulls, Primogems, and a Liyue Character
Lantern Rite always delivers strong rewards. During Version 5.3, players received 20 Intertwined Fates—10 from login bonuses and 10 from a mail event. None of those pulls were tied to difficult trials or restrictive requirements.
Version 6.3 is expected to repeat that pattern. Here’s what to expect:
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Over 1,000 primogems from event quests and mainline activities
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Festive Fever milestones with Hero’s Wit, mora, ascension items, and enhancement ore
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A free Liyue four-star character to choose from
Past options included Xiangling, Beidou, Xingqiu, and Xinyan. If Lan Yan debuts as expected, she will likely join that list. These free rewards add real value and help players strengthen their rosters without spending primogems.
Rumored Liyue Map Expansion: Blackcliff Forge (Genshin Impact News)
Leaks also point toward a new Liyue sub-region, possibly Blackcliff Forge, unlocking in Version 6.3. Long-time players may recognize the name from item lore. Blackcliff has never been accessible in-game, though lore describes it as a smelting or mining site.
HoYoverse is expected to include Version 6.3 as part of a multi-region arc tied to the Nodcry expansion, introduced in Version 6.0. That structure allows patches to explore different regions even as the main story continues.
Expanding Liyue during Lantern Rite makes sense both thematically and narratively. While Fontaine’s arc wraps up and Natlan approaches, returning to Liyue gives players a chance to revisit its lore-rich locations and characters.
