Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! As is tradition on 1st September, we’re celebrating the day students head back to the greatest school of witchcraft and wizardry there is… and, like Dumbledore, we have some Back to Hogwarts start-of-term notices to share.
As we celebrate 25 years of the first film and look ahead to the HBO Original series coming this Christmas, here’s everything to get excited about in the world of Harry Potter.
Using some technological wizardry, jump straight to the announcements you’re most excited for!
The latest news from HBO's Harry Potter series
Wizards of Baking Season 3
The new official Sorting Ceremony
Amazing audio announcements
A new chapter for books
Your gaming adventure
Exciting experiences
HBO series news
New teaser for the Harry Potter HBO Original series incoming...
We know you’ve been patiently waiting for a new look at the upcoming Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone series coming to HBO Max this Christmas… and you’ll only have to wait one more day for the next teaser trailer. We promise it’s worth the wait! We’ll deliver it to you (along with commentary worthy of Lee Jordan) as soon as it appears, but in the meantime, here’s just a little taste before you meet us on the pitch tomorrow...
@harrypotter Meet us on the pitch tomorrow. 🧹 #HarryPotterHBO ♬ original sound - Harry Potter
The Harry Potter Official Podcast will return for the new HBO series
If you’ve loved listening to Rhianna Dhillon and her super-fan friends revisit the Harry Potter films over the last few months, then we’ve got great news. She’ll soon be back in her spellbinding studio alongside co-host Law Sharma, poring over all the details of HBO Original Series Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone every week. This will be your official companion podcast, so make sure to carve out some time for this essential post-episode listening.
If that’s too long to wait, we’re delighted to tell you that a bonus episode just Apparated today, featuring none other than Executive Producer to the upcoming HBO Original series and producer on all eight films, David Heyman! Here’s a sneak peek before you dive in:
@harrypotter It's #BacktoHogwarts Day, and the next chapter of the conversation begins here. Ahead of #HarryPotterHBO ♬ original sound - Harry Potter
New LEGO Collection for the HBO series is coming
Here’s one for the brick-lovers… That’s right, the Harry Potter HBO Original series will be getting its own LEGO collection! We’ve only had a small tease so far, but the excitement is sure to build over the next few months.
@harrypotter LEGO sets inspired by the new HBO Max series will be coming soon. #BacktoHogwarts #HarryPotterHBO ♬ original sound - Harry Potter
Magical new Snapchat features
Together with Snapchat, HBO Max is creating new ways to experience the world of Harry Potter all season long. Through immersive AR, interactive features, and shareable moments, there have never been more means of connecting with the world of the new series every step of the journey.
Head to the Harry Potter Snapchat account to try the latest lenses. You can see the new Hogwarts letter, journey aboard the Hogwarts Express, and show your house pride via a Sorting Hat lens!
@harrypotter The magic is just getting started. ✨ Snapchat x Harry Potter #BackToHogwarts #HarryPotterHBO ♬ original sound - Harry Potter
A first this Thanksgiving
Fans in the US, this one's for you! This Thanksgiving morning, Harry Potter will make his first ever appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade (which happens to be the 100th March of the parade)! It will be the perfect way to kick off the holiday season in Hogwarts style, in the lead up to the series debut this Christmas.
@harrypotter Happy #BacktoHogwarts Day! Another festive celebration you don’t wanna miss is just around the corner — #HarryPotterHBO in @Macy’s 100th Parade, this Thanksgiving 🎉 #MacysParade ♬ original sound - Harry Potter
More TV transmissions
Wizards of Baking is back for Season 3: celebrating 25 years of movie magic
Wizards of Baking fans: it’s time to don your aprons once again. The cake-filled competition officially returns this festive season… with a tournament twist. To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone film, the Hogwarts houses will battle against each other with bakes themed around each of the eight films. From a scarily realistic Fluffy to a blown-up Aunt Marge, we can’t wait to see the cake concoctions the contestants will conjure up. Here's the dynamic duo James and Oliver Phelps to tell us more. Lights, camera… bake!
Catch up on the series so far on HBO Max or Food Network if you're in the US, or Amazon Prime in the UK and Ireland.
Time to get sorted again
Introducing the new official Sorting Ceremony
Have you yet to be sorted into your Hogwarts house… or have you ever been curious to try on the Sorting Hat again? Well, now’s your chance, because today we can reveal that the official Sorting Ceremony you know and love has had a magical makeover! Whether you’re new to HarryPotter.com or you’ve already been assigned a house, we are giving you the rare opportunity to experience our exclusive Sorting Ceremony again. It’s been refreshed with brand new animation, music, and more. The questions are the same. The houses are the same. Are you the same?
Time to step up to the stool and give it a go! We’ve answered all your questions about the reimagined Sorting Ceremony here.
Amazing audio announcements
The original audiobook editions of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone are now available to everyone!
If you’ve never spent a cosy evening in bed listening to Stephen Fry or Jim Dale narrate the Harry Potter books to you, then you’ve been missing out. But never fear! We’re very excited to announce first audiobook in the beloved series many of us grew up with – both the Stephen Fry and Jim Dale editions – are available now until Hallowe’en on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, and on the official Harry Potter YouTube channel without needing a paid subscription! Whether you call it the Philosopher’s Stone or the Sorcerer’s Stone, you can now listen these versions of Harry’s first year, wherever you are. In fact, let’s hear those nostalgic voices right now:
Find out more about how Scholastic, Bloomsbury, Pottermore Publishing and international publishing partners are giving fans around the world new ways to experience the Philosopher’s Stone, right here.
A new chapter for books
An inside peek at the new illustrated edition of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
We absolutely adore Bloomsbury’s illustrated versions of the Harry Potter books… and we can’t wait to explore the next in the series. Award-winning illustrator Levi Pinfold (whose work you may know from the Hogwarts House editions of the books) is taking over from Jim Kay to apply his unique storytelling to the Half-Blood Prince… and it looks stunning so far. Levi has given us a glimpse into his creative process and revealed exclusive never-before-seen images from the upcoming edition, out 6th October. From the Pensieve moments to that dramatic cave encounter, it’s already giving us chills.
Your gaming adventure
LEGO Harry Potter has been remastered for Switch 2
The excitement has built up to this moment… the iconic LEGO Harry Potter Collection arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 on 16th October and is available for pre-order now on Nintendo eShop! We’re already preparing ourselves to ‘Wingardium Leviosa’ everything in sight.
Quidditch is back in Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells
Yes, our favourite team sport (sorry Dean Thomas) is back in Puzzles & Spells and it’s better than ever! The new ‘Epic Quidditch’ mode will challenge you to compete with other Clubs in Quidditch-themed puzzles, as part of a multi-day event. Catch a first look here:
A love story unfolds in Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
You’ve heard of the Boy Who Lived, but what about the Girl Who Loved? This September, the tragic love story of Lily and James Potter comes to Hogwarts Mystery, as part of the new ‘Castle Chronicles’ event… as well as many more updates.
Exciting experiences
First stop: the Harry Potter Shop Oxford Street
You may have already heard that London is getting its very own flagship Harry Potter Shop on 4th November. Now we can give you a peek behind the shop windows at this exciting new Diagon Alley themed destination before opening day. With a towering Ukrainian Ironbelly dragon to a full-sized Knight Bus, we can’t wait to check it out. Take ‘er away, Ern!
A new broomstick experience is coming to New York
Watch out for that Bludger! A new greenscreen broomstick experience is zooming its way to the Harry Potter Shop New York this autumn, where you’ll be able to duck and dive your way around the Hogwarts grounds and castle in style. We’re already practicing our player poses.
An update on the Harry Potter-themed lands in Warner Bros. World, Abu Dhabi
First flying brooms, now flying cars… The new Harry Potter section of Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi is about to land on Yas Island and we can soon reveal the names of three new magical themed lands. Keep your eyes on the skies on 7th September for the big reveal…
The wizarding world gets an icy makeover in Texas this festive season
You’ve seen Hogwarts in the snow, but how about carved from ice? This November, Gaylord Texan Resort in Dallas presents a frozen version of 10 famous scenes from the Harry Potter films. The chilly journey begins at the Hogwarts Express and continues through the Forbidden Forest, Honeydukes, the Quidditch pitch and eventually the Great Hall… which we know always looks spectacular at Christmas. Wrap up in your house scarf and take a peek:
Ice! Featuring Harry Potter™ runs from 13th November 2026 – 2nd January 2027. Get more information and tickets here.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour London gets into the house spirit
Are you a brave Gryffindor, a wise Ravenclaw, an ambitious Slytherin or a loyal Hufflepuff? Whichever house you belong in, you’re invited to celebrate your house colours this spring, as Warner Bros. Studio Tour London unveils their Hogwarts House Spirit event. Expect behind-the-scenes secrets on some memorable house moments, as well as wizarding challenges to rack up those all-important house points. Here are some wonderful Interactors to tell you more:
A closer look at those new house crests
Didn't make it to the Back to Hogwarts HBO Max Platform 9 ¾ Fan Experience? As a treat for reading this far, we've got an inside look for you. Feast your eyes on the new Hogwarts house crests and related paraphernalia from the upcoming series, as displayed on 1st September in London! There's plenty to mull over before tomorrow's teaser...
