The Witches Festival is back in The Elder Scrolls Online, bringing spooky cosmetics, valuable loot, and a welcome XP boost to Tamriel. For players looking to make the most of this seasonal event, the real challenge is knowing which bosses to farm, which rewards deserve priority, and how to avoid wasting time on activities that do little for their collection goals. Our team recommends starting with the daily rewards before moving on to targeted farming.
The 2026 event runs from October 21 through November 4, giving players a limited window to collect new outfit styles and returning seasonal items. With a passive 100% XP bonus active throughout the festival, this is also a convenient opportunity to level alternate characters while working toward your collection goals. Whether you are chasing cosmetics or building up your resources for The Elder Scrolls Online Gold-related expenses, a little planning can make each session more productive.
ESO Witches Festival 2026: Dates and How to Start
To join the festivities, pick up the introductory quest, The Witchmother’s Bargain, from the Quest Starters section of the in-game Crown Store or visit Olyve’s Brewery in Glenumbra, Stonefalls, or Auridon. Players who completed the quest in a previous year can skip it.
Completing the introduction unlocks the Witchmother’s Whistle collectible. Use it to summon the Witchmother’s Cauldron, drink the brew, and transform your character into a skeleton. It is a fun seasonal touch, but the bigger reason to participate is the combination of bonus XP and event-exclusive rewards.
| Event detail | Information | Player benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Event dates | October 21–November 4, 2026 | Plan farming sessions before the event ends. |
| XP bonus | Passive 100% bonus to XP gains | Level alternate characters while earning rewards. |
| Introductory quest | The Witchmother’s Bargain | Unlock the seasonal transformation collectible. |
| Main reward containers | Plunder Skulls and Dremora Plunder Skulls | Collect festival loot and outfit style pages. |
| Main farming targets | Bosses across different PvE activities | Work toward daily rewards and collectible drops. |
| Daily quests | Plucking the Crow and The Lord of Fear | Earn additional event rewards. |
For the official event dates, participation details, and reward rules, see the ESO Witches Festival announcement.
Plunder Skulls and Dremora Rewards Explained
Plunder Skulls are the foundation of the Witches Festival reward loop. Defeating eligible bosses grants these containers alongside regular loot, giving players reasons to revisit content they might otherwise skip.
Normal Plunder Skulls can contain festival-themed furnishing and provisioning recipes, furnishings, alchemy reagents, and style items. They are useful for players who enjoy housing, crafting, or collecting seasonal cosmetics.
Dremora Plunder Skulls are more important if you are hunting specific outfit styles. The first eligible kill of each distinct boss category each day can award a legendary Dremora Plunder Skull and 300 Trade Bars. The reward system encourages players to move between different activities instead of repeatedly farming the same boss type.
Our team recommends prioritizing different eligible boss categories rather than repeatedly farming the same encounter. This approach helps you work toward daily legendary skull rewards while making progress on multiple collection goals.
| Boss category | Why it matters | Suggested approach |
|---|---|---|
| Arena bosses | A chance to obtain specific Dremora weapon or armor style pages | Include arena runs if they fit your farming plans. |
| Incursion bosses | Another source of daily legendary skulls | Complete eligible encounters when available. |
| Delve bosses | Convenient targets for shorter farming sessions | Choose these when playing solo or on a tight schedule. |
| Final dungeon bosses | Useful for players already running group content | Combine rewards with regular dungeon runs. |
| Public dungeon bosses | An accessible option for solo players | Use them as part of a flexible PvE route. |
| Trial bosses | Worth prioritizing if you already have a trial group | Coordinate with your group to avoid unnecessary waiting. |
| World bosses | Good targets for coordinated groups | Join other players when the encounter is difficult to solo. |
| Tho’at Replicanum | Connects Infinite Archive runs to the reward system | Consider it if Infinite Archive is already part of your routine. |
Our team suggests prioritizing boss categories you can complete reliably. A quick delve or public dungeon can be more practical than waiting for a full trial group if you only have a short play session. The new Zhekleg outfit style pages are another reason to open your Dremora Plunder Skulls rather than treating every drop as ordinary festival loot.
Daily Quests and the Best Farming Approach
The two Witches Festival daily quests provide additional reasons to participate beyond the regular boss reward loop.
Plucking the Crow
This quest revolves around the Crowborne Horror and is designed for smaller groups. It is a useful choice if you want a more manageable encounter without committing to a large group activity.
The Lord of Fear
This quest sends players against Lord Hollowjack and is designed for larger groups. If you already have a coordinated team, it is worth incorporating into your daily routine.
Both quests can be completed once per day per character and provide their own legendary Dremora Plunder Skull rewards.
Recommended Daily Farming Order
For efficient farming, our recommended order is straightforward:
- Complete the daily quests available to your character.
- Defeat one eligible boss from each category you can comfortably access.
- Open your Dremora Plunder Skulls and check which style pages you still need.
- Continue farming ordinary Plunder Skulls for festival furnishings, recipes, and other collectible drops.
- Spend your remaining time on the activities that best match your personal reward goals.
The key is variety. Repeating the same easy encounter may be convenient, but it will not replace the additional daily rewards available from different boss categories.
New Rewards, Returning Cosmetics, and Trade Bars
The 2026 festival introduces Zhekleg outfit style pages, giving collectors a new cosmetic target to pursue through Dremora Plunder Skulls. Players who missed earlier festivals can also use the event to work toward returning styles and seasonal collectibles.
The Impresario offers a selection of past Witches Festival rewards alongside Sanguine-themed collectible fragments. Depending on your collection progress, these may be more appealing than another random cosmetic drop.
We recommend checking the following before spending your Trade Bars:
- New Zhekleg style: Prioritize farming Dremora Plunder Skulls if this year's outfit style is your main goal.
- Returning outfit styles: Check which pages you already own before investing in older cosmetic collections.
- Sanguine-themed collectibles: Compare the available fragments with your current progress toward the associated pet, mount, recall customization, or housing collectible.
- Housing and crafting rewards: Keep an eye on festival furnishings and recipes if decorating is a major part of your ESO experience.
Trade Bars are earned through the event's qualifying reward activities, so avoid spending them impulsively. A quick collection check can help you avoid buying fragments you no longer need.
Summary: Make Every Festival Session Count
The Witches Festival is more rewarding when you approach it with a clear goal. Start with the daily quests, collect the legendary skulls available from different boss categories, and then focus on the cosmetics or furnishings that matter most to you. The 100% XP bonus makes those sessions even more worthwhile if you have alternate characters to develop.
With the November 4 end date approaching, we recommend prioritizing limited-time rewards and incomplete collections before spending hours on random drops. Players who want to streamline their seasonal plans should also check which items are available through the Impresario and which must be earned through gameplay. A focused approach leaves less to chance and makes it easier to enjoy the festival without turning every session into a grind.
FAQ
When does the ESO Witches Festival 2026 end?
The event runs through November 4, 2026. Check the official event announcement for the precise end time before planning a final farming session.
How do I get Dremora Plunder Skulls?
Defeat eligible bosses across different categories of PvE content. The first qualifying kill of each distinct boss category each day can award a legendary Dremora Plunder Skull and 300 Trade Bars.
Is the Witches Festival good for leveling?
Yes. The passive 100% XP bonus makes the event a good time to level alternate characters while completing bosses and collecting rewards.
What is new in the 2026 Witches Festival?
The new Zhekleg outfit style pages are a major addition. The event also features returning cosmetic rewards and Sanguine-themed collectibles through the Impresario.
What should I prioritize before the event ends?
Start with daily quest rewards and the first eligible boss kills across different categories. After that, focus on missing style pages, limited-time collectibles, and any Trade Bar purchases that complete your collection. If you are planning other seasonal purchases or managing The Elder Scrolls Online Crown items, check your remaining event goals first so that your festival time stays focused on rewards you cannot easily obtain elsewhere.
